Cornel West, a prominent progressive scholar, recently appeared on the podcast “Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” engaging in a conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Despite their significant political differences, West emphasized his refusal to live by others’ expectations.

During the discussion, West addressed questions about his willingness to engage with Hannity, stating, People say, ‘How could you even sit with Brother Sean? Why could you call Sean a brother?’ He explained, I don’t live my life in order to satisfy other people’s expectations.

The episode, released on Thursday, October 1, 2026, highlighted not only their debates on socialism, Iran, immigration, and President Donald Trump but also a personal connection between West and Hannity.

West frequently referred to Hannity as Brother Sean, citing his Christian beliefs that every individual is a fellow human being, irrespective of their political stance. Each person is a brother and a sister, no matter what their politics are, what ideology, what color, their gender, their sexual orientation. They’re human beings at that deepest level, West remarked.

To this, Hannity admitted his surprise at the amiable nature of their conversation, stating, I just can’t help but like you.

Throughout the dialogue, they disagreed on numerous issues yet maintained a respectful tone. On the subject of the conflict with Iran, West criticized the U.S. for committing a war crime by killing Iranian civilians, saying, The precious children who were killed by U.S. bombs, that was wrong. That’s a war crime. Hannity countered by blaming Iran for supporting terrorism and the attacks responsible for American casualties, also referencing the historical context of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings to justify actions against further American losses.

Their conversation also covered topics like education, poverty, and the government’s responsibilities, with West arguing for more robust public institution support for poor and working-class Americans. Hannity, however, disagreed with this viewpoint.

Listeners can access the full conversation between Cornel West and Sean Hannity on platforms like iHeartRadio, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.