The three-letter networks' weekend of bad foreign policy hot takes continued on Saturday’s edition of Today as NBC chief international correspondent Keir Simmons hyped attempts to get Israel banned from the annual Eurovision singing competition for, among other things, its battle with Hezbollah that came about from allying with the U.S. in the Iran War on the grounds this allegedly makes Israel analogous to Russia.
Simmons declared that, “Each May millions tune in, cheer for their favorite singing act and complain about the voting. But this year it's not just divided, it's deeply divisive. During Tuesday's semifinal—”
Ahead of the Eurovision finals, NBC's Keir Simmons hypes people trying to get Israel banned amid the nonsensical claim it is like Russia for, among other things joining the U.S. in fighting Iran, which Hezbollah decided to get involved in, "In the years since the October 7th… pic.twitter.com/rnvA1pufNv
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) May 16, 2026
After a clip of portions of the crowd chanting, “Stop the genoicide!” Simmons rolled on, “Israel's act faced protesters attempting to disrupt the performance.”
He then showed Israeli competitor Noam Bettan taking it all in good stride, “I heard, first of all in the beginning, a lot of booing, and it's fine. It's part of the thing, and a few seconds passed, and I got a huge wave of unforgettable love and support.”
As for Simmons, he did not explicitly blame Israel fighting alongside the U.S. for the cancelation demands, but he implied it when he omitted key information about Lebanon, “In the years since the October 7th Hamas attacks, Israel's war in Gaza, its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and the current conflict in Lebanon has prompted five countries to boycott the competition.”
“The current conflict in Lebanon” was started by Hezbollah. Lebanon was not part of the original joint U.S.-Israeli agenda, just like it wasn’t on Israel’s agenda after October 7 until Hezbollah decided to insert itself into the war.
Nevertheless, Simmons moved on to suggesting all of that could put Israel in the same situation as Russia, “Slovenia, Ireland, and Spain will not even broadcast tonight's event. Once known for its escapism, Eurovision has long been a flashpoint. Russia was banned after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and rumors have flown in previous years that the Israeli government influences the results, promoting a mass voting campaign. NBC News asked the Israeli government about those claims. We have not heard back. Tonight's final may see more protests.”
Simmons then played a clip of Denise Finke, who was described by NBC’s chyron as a “Vienna protest participant,” being more explicit with the Russia analogy, “I do not like the double standard that Israel is being held to. We are all kind of on the same opinion against Russia, and I think international law should be applied in the same way.”
Equivocating, Simmons declared, “Events here in the Middle East impacting politics across Europe and even an event once designed to unite.”
Finke appears to believe that a violation of international law is just anything she doesn’t like. Russia was banned from Eurovision because it launched an unprovoked war of aggression. Finke wants Israel banned because it fought back against the one waged against it.
In other Saturday Today news, Joe Fryer did a brief recap of the week’s biggest stories, which included Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen grilling FBI Director Kash Patel about allegations of excessive drinking. Patel countered by claiming that Van Hollen was the one who was drinking margaritas with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Both men have denied the claims the other made, but Fryer only highlighted Van Hollen’s.
NBC's Saturday 'Today' recounts Patel v. Van Hollen, but note how NBC wants to channel all of Van Hollen's denials of alcohol consumption -- but NOT Patel's denials. And sticking up for Kilmar. pic.twitter.com/kLxiy2sGSw
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) May 16, 2026
Here is a transcript for the May 16 show:
NBC Today
5/16/2026
7:13 AM ET
KEIR SIMMONS: Each May millions tune in, cheer for their favorite singing act and complain about the voting. But this year it's not just divided, it's deeply divisive. During Tuesday's semifinal—
CROWD: Stop the genocide!
SIMMONS: —Israel's act faced protesters attempting to disrupt the performance.
NOAM BETTAN: I heard, first of all in the beginning, a lot of booing, and it's fine. It's part of the thing, and a few seconds passed, and I got a huge wave of unforgettable love and support.
SIMMONS: In the years since the October 7th Hamas attacks, Israel's war in Gaza, its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and the current conflict in Lebanon has prompted five countries to boycott the competition.
Slovenia, Ireland, and Spain will not even broadcast tonight's event. Once known for its escapism, Eurovision has long been a flashpoint. Russia was banned after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and rumors have flown in previous years that the Israeli government influences the results, promoting a mass voting campaign. NBC News asked the Israeli government about those claims. We have not heard back. Tonight's final may see more protests.
DENISE FINKE: I do not like the double standard that Israel is being held to. We are all kind of on the same opinion against Russia, and I think international law should be applied in the same way.
SIMMONS: Events here in the Middle East impacting politics across Europe and even an event once designed to unite.
