BUCK: We are still wondering what is gonna happen in Ukraine. I know a lot of us are saying, “Well, we’re not sending soldiers into Ukraine, so at least that seems clear and not our war, not our fight.” That seems clear. But what’s gonna happen? It would be a major military escalation in Europe if this actually occurred.

Well, there’s some reporting out there, right — I should say there’s some talking points out there — from the Biden regime that there is a desire to create some kind of false flag, Russian false flag in Ukraine to create the pretext for some kind of military intervention. And the State Department spokesman — a guy I’ve actually known, believe it or not, for a long time, Ned Price — had a back-and-forth with a journalist from the Associated Press.

And this was a pretty fun one because it really shows you how much they expect the press to be the stenographers — stenographers of the Biden regime including on matters of war and peace. Not so fast. This is Matt Lee. Hat tip to him over at the Associated Press. Play clip 17.

PRICE: Russia also has already prepositioned a group of operatives to conduct a false flag operation in eastern Ukraine. So that, Matt — to your question — is an action that Russia has already taken.

LEE: No, it’s an action that you say that they have taken, but you have shown no evidence to confirm that, and I’m gonna get to the next question here, which is: What is the evidence that they’ve planned this? I mean, this is… Like, “crisis actors? Really? This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now. What evidence do you have to support the idea that there is some propaganda film in the making?

PRICE: Now, this is derived, uh, from information known to the U.S. government — intelligence information that we have declassified. I think you know —

LEE: Okay, well, where? Where is it? Where is this information?

PRICE: It is intelligence information that we’ve declassified.

LEE: But where is it? Where is the declassified information?

PRICE: I just (pause) delivered it.

LEE: No, you made a series of allegations and statements.

PRICE: Would you…? Would you like us to print out the topper? Because you will see a transcript of this briefing that you can print out for yourself.

LEE: That’s not evidence, Ned. That’s you saying it. That’s not evidence. I’m sorry.

Reporter: “It’s an action that you say they have taken, but you have shown no evidence to confirm that. […] This is like – crisis actors? Really? This is like Alex Jones territory you’re getting into now.”

Must-watch exchange between @APDiploWriter Matt Lee and @StateDeptSpox. pic.twitter.com/RPIPb2zwf5

— The Hill (@thehill) February 3, 2022

BUCK: (laughing)

CLAY: That is phenomenal. So sometimes… Look, this is what real media should do — and you know this, Buck. If you really want to cover something aggressively, you have to kind of be a total jerk. That’s what the media should be. There is so much fear laced into media now that you might lose your access if you push back too hard or if you ask too many difficult questions that that kind of confrontation is really rare.

That’s what we should have. That’s what speaking truth to power actually entails, not the kind of grandstanding Jim Acosta-style issues that we saw with Donald Trump over the years. Just sitting there and grilling an elected official. I loved it. Not an elected official, but he’s an appointed official. I loved it. I thought that was fantastic. If there were more journalists doing that, to the Biden or whoever might be in the Republican administration at some point in time, I would respect it because that’s the job, that’s what the job should be.

BUCK: This is about the possible start of a war.

CLAY: Yes.

BUCK: You would think that it wouldn’t be a shock, that just would say, “No, no, no. You saying a thing happened is not the same as you showing me that there’s reason to believe a thing happened.”

CLAY: Yes.

BUCK: So hat tip Matt Lee. The guy’s been in the game awhile. I think at some point you get salty no matter what your politics are.