Jacob Soboroff calls plan to live‑stream execution barbaric and despicable

Jacob Soboroff, appearing as a guest host on MS NOW’s All In on October 10, 2026, called the reported plan to live‑stream the execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan "barbaric" and "despicable."

The controversy centers on a Pentagon proposal to broadcast Hasan’s December 3 firing‑squad execution to the public, a move framed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as a warning to deter future attacks. Critics argue the live feed would violate humanitarian norms and could serve as a recruiting tool for extremist groups.

“What do you make of this — barbaric is the word — of this barbaric plan to live stream an execution by the military of the United States of America?” Soboroff said.

Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic who supports the death penalty, told reporters he would not watch the execution if it were streamed and expressed doubt that the broadcast would occur at all.

“If it’s ultimately live‑streamed, I’m not going to be watching it,” Vance said.

Hegseth’s comments were echoed by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who said the issue falls outside the FCC’s jurisdiction and that the agency would defer to the Department of Defense’s decisions. Meanwhile, Meta has barred live‑streamed capital punishment on its platforms since 2019, and TikTok’s policy also prohibits depicting a moment of death.

International bodies and advocacy groups have condemned the plan. The United Nations and Amnesty International denounced the proposal, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops labeled it “a barbaric promotion of a culture of death.” Former President Hillary Clinton called the idea “barbaric.”

Rep. Ro Khanna criticized Hegseth’s stance, describing the live‑streamed execution as “the spectacle of the Coliseum for entertainment” and warning it could embolden terrorists and damage America’s moral standing.

“It is twisted. It is despicable. It is a deranged thing,” Soboroff added.

Hasan, convicted in 2013 for killing 13 people at Fort Hood, would be the first U.S. military execution by firing squad since 1961. As the scheduled date approaches, officials have not confirmed whether the live broadcast will proceed, leaving the nation to watch the unfolding debate over the intersection of capital punishment, media, and public policy.