“I was 13 years old when I first heard of the Sultan of Brunei. The absolute ruler of a tiny, oil-rich kingdom in Southeast Asia, Hassanal Bolkiah was the subject of a much-discussed TV documentary by the British filmmaker Alan Whicker in 1992. As a young teenager, sitting in front of the television, I was in awe of this Muslim king.”

British-American broadcaster, journalist, and progressive political commentator, born 1979

Mehdi Hasan is a British-American broadcaster, journalist, and progressive political commentator. He was born in 1979 and is the founder of the media company Zeteo. He is also known for presenting The Mehdi Hasan Show on Peacock and later on MSNBC. His work has centered on political commentary and interview-led broadcasting. He became widely known through his television show, which ran from 2020 until its cancellation in 2023, and through his public role as a sharp, progressive voice in political debate.