A popular ESPN host is defying a network policy that prevents employees from talking about politics. Dan Le Batard, a Cuban American, went on a three-minute monologue criticizing Donald Trump and his own network saying, “Nobody talks politics on anything (at ESPN) unless we can use one of these sports figures as a meat shield in the most cowardly possible way to discuss the subject. What happened.. at the rally is deeply offensive, done by the president of our country.” He goes on to say: “There’s a racial division in this country that’s being instigated by the president, and we here at ESPN haven’t had the stomach for that fight.”
The Rolling Stone’s Jamil Smith commented:
Le Batard spoke as we all should be right now, both describing President Trump’s racist attacks as what they are and calling out his own company for its cowardice when it shows reticence to engage in politics.
Dan Le Batard said what good human beings say when confronted with hate and racism. Jemelle Hill did it before him and was punished by ESPN for it.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) July 19, 2019
An ESPN source told The Post on Friday that the company is “making it clear to everyone internally” that the policy on avoiding political commentary “hasn’t changed.” It was not clear if Le Batard, who appeared on his regularly scheduled radio show Friday morning, will be disciplined.
https://twitter.com/adamcbest/status/1152226062555910144
Listen to what he said above.
