During a discussion Monday about the heated Islamic-extremism debate between Bill Maher and Ben Affleck on HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” Friday night, New York Times political reporter Nick Confessore told “Morning Joe” hosts that neither ISIS nor radical Islam is the greatest existential threat America faces.
What could be worse? Global warming, said Confessore.
“In 2014, what is the gravest threat to civilization right now?” Scarborough asked NBC foreign correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin.
“I would not say any of those. I would not say that radical Islam is the greatest threat to civilization today,” said Mohyeldin.
Scarborough interjected, asking, “What is?”
“Global warming,” said Confessore.
“Says the man from The New York Times,” a laughing Scarborough noted.
Mohyeldin seemed to agree with the NYT reporter, his fellow panelist.
“Listen, it’s hard to say that ISIS presents an existential threat to the United States,” said Confessore. “Is our country going to fall because of radical Islam, ISIS? I don’t think so. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go after them, but they aren’t coming over our borders and taking over Washington.”
“When you say existential threat, your talking about existential: can our country survive it. I don’t know,” said a shrugging Confessore.