Jul 25, 2025 #politics #debate #jubilee Now that the dust has settled on Mehdi Hasan’s viral ‘Surrounded’ debate on Jubilee, Zeteo’s editor-in-chief sat down with subscribers to answer their questions about the experience.

Why did he do the debate? How did he feel when it was over? Did he expect that level of extremism and antagonism? Is there any value in debating with extremists? Did he talk to any of the participants after? Would he have done anything differently? And would he do it again?

This was a live Town Hall with Zeteo subscribers that was first published on zeteo.com. If you’d like earlier access or to join the next one, make sure to sign up at zeteo.com/subscribe

00:12 - How did you feel being attacked? 1:52 - Did you fear for your safety? 3:04 - How do you recall so many facts? 5:06 - Emotional response to debating fascists? 7:18 - Were you able to sleep that night? 7:46 - Has this debate reached new audiences? 10:39 - What would you have said differently? 11:57 - How do you decide which arguments to focus on? 14:26 - Did you change anyone’s mind? 14:59 - Why won’t you debate a fascist? 16:28 - Would you do Jubilee again? 17:53 - How safe did you feel going into the interview? 18:11 - How do you prepare for a hostile engagement? 20:30 - What was the most alarming thing? 21:36 - Why was it only young debaters? 22:09 - Did Joseph apologize after the debate? 22:30 - How did you process after? 24:58 - Does ‘Surrounded’ embolden extremists? 28:10 - Do debates like these change minds? 29:30 - Is the US education system to blame? 30:23 - Does the Jubilee format actually change minds? 31:12 - Do the debaters have their ideas challenged? 32:03 - What are the Jubilee rules? 32:16 - Risk of Zeteo having to leave the US? 33:12 - How did you keep your composure? 33:44 - How can the left make use of this exposure? 34:05 - Will racism die out with older generations?

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