Middle East politics dominate Nate Blouin's interview with Hasan Piker

SALT LAKE CITY — Nate Blouin said hiding the fact that he is a progressive Democrat to appear more moderate in Utah's 1st Congressional District race isn't what Utahns need — or want.

In a conversation with controversial online streamer Hasan Piker, Blouin said voters want someone who doesn't change their politics to match constituents — but they instead, "should be electing people who are, you know, true to their convictions."

Blouin appeared with Piker on Thursday for about an hour on his show on Twitch. Piker, 34, is a self-described Marxist who has more than 3.1 million followers on the streaming platform, where he records a daily seven-hour show.

Other congressional candidates who have campaigned with Piker have been criticized for appearing with the streamer, who has made controversial statements on issues like stealing, the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and 9/11.

In a recent New York Times podcast, Piker endorsed stealing in certain cases and said it was understandable that Luigi Mangione allegedly killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Following Hamas' attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Piker defended the atrocities committed by Hamas as "acts of resistance," saying, "It doesn't matter if rape happened." He also said "Hamas is a thousand times better" than Israel, and praised Hezbollah and the Houthis for their attacks.

Piker has referred to ultra-Orthodox Jews as "inbred," compared liberals who support an Israeli state to "liberal Nazis" and claimed "America deserved 9/11." He also called — he says rhetorically — for the killings of Florida Sen. Rick Scott and landowners to redress disparities.

Blouin and Piker find agreement on progressive issues

On Piker's livestream Thursday, Blouin discussed the political issues he'd hope to pass if elected to Congress. Both men say they support Bernie Sanders-style policy, with Blouin's campaign endorsed by the Vermont senator.

In a political upset last month , Blouin and other Democratic candidates finished behind democratic socialist Liban Mohamed at the state party's convention, making Mohamed the Democratic Party's nominee for Utah's newly redrawn 1st Congressional District.

On the livestream, Blouin shared his support for geothermal energy, his disdain for the approved northern Utah 40,000-acre data center plans and the potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Salt Lake City.

He said he is "absolutely" in favor of neighborhood watch initiatives to track ICE agents, likening it to the Black Panther group. "It's heartening to see people watching out for their neighbors," he said. "I wouldn't like direct people to go out and do that if they're uncomfortable, but I think for folks that are willing to go out and play that role, I would applaud them."

Middle East conflict repeatedly mentioned

Hasan often tied questions back to U.S. foreign policy, specifically the ongoing war in the Middle East, and his contempt for Israel.

A conversation about campaign finances became a discussion about "pro-Israel money" and AIPAC influence. Piker asked why Utahns should "care about the people of Gaza, the people of Palestine."

Blouin criticized Israel for its war against Hamas in Gaza, saying it was just "death and destruction."

Questions about bombs, defensive aid and sanctions repeatedly circulated back to Israel and Iran. Piker asked whether Blouin believes Israel should receive defensive aid from the U.S., to which he replied, "No."

Conversations about patriotism and the idea of "America First" were also framed around opposition to U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Piker linked domestic affordability issues to U.S. military spending abroad.

Blouin's 'Zohran method'

To get a clear representation of what Blouin represents, Hasan hit him with a set of rapid-fire questions and asked what his top five priorities would be if elected — what Piker called the "Zohran (Mamdani) method."

His first priority, Blouin said, would be "unrigging" the American political system by "banning gerrymandering and empowering voting rights" and taking the monetary incentives out of politics.

Halfway through the list of rapid-fire questions, Blouin responded, "These are easy."

He said he supported the following:

• Medicare for all.
• Universal childcare.
• Green New Deal.
• Ending all aid to Israel (including defensive aid).
• Raising taxes on billionaires.
• Ending Citizens United.
• Abolishing private prisons.
• Abolishing ICE.
• Ending sanctions on Cuba.
• A sovereign Palestinian state.

Contributing: Brigham Tomco, Eva Terry

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