Tatiana Maslany faulted Tom Selleck on Mehdi Hasan’s Zeteo podcast Monday for refusing political remarks so he would not upset a large share of viewers. Hasan recalled Selleck telling CNN he skips such topics because his role is to entertain the nation, plus Michael Jordan’s observation that Republicans also buy shoes.

Maslany replied that creative work always carries a viewpoint on society, acceptable humor and visual reality, so performers must identify those elements. She said the two wealthy men risk substantial losses by taking stands, that art should unsettle audiences, and that it communicates through shock or laughter as dialogue with the world, making any split from politics impossible.

She also opposed the Paramount merger, expecting it to apply conservative filters, restrict even veiled comments on the current administration, cancel programs for that reason and shrink the range of voices heard.