A discussion on Twitter Spaces between influential voices in the conservative media ecosystem revealed new insights into the abrupt departure of Fox News' most popular host, Tucker Carlson.
According to Justin Hart, Carlson was preparing to go live tonight, eager to relitigate the Fox News-Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit. Executive Producer Justin Wells, also out at Fox News (FNC), was prepping guests and outlining Monday night's episode schedule.
Carlson reportedly had creative control over his show and wanted to dispute Dominion's claims. But, according to multiple sources, News Corporation Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch wasn't interested in his host's vendetta.
And Carlson was reporting on Murdoch's air.
Sources speaking on the call said that Fox News executives have one interest above all else: cutting their losses. As far as FNC is concerned, Dominion's defamation lawsuit is over. FNC unequivocally admitted it is at fault by virtue of paying the electronic voting company $787.5 million.
However, other costly legal battles remain. Smartmatic, a competitor to Dominion, also sued FNC and seeks $2.7 billion in damages. Fox faces another lawsuit from a former producer, Abby Grossberg, who accused Carlson of leading a toxic, misogynistic work culture.
Perhaps more than anything, Tucker's perceived unwillingness by network executives to hew closely to the company line wasn't worth the cost of future controversies, especially if election falsehoods continued to cost FNC hundreds of millions of dollars. Or more.
In that case, Murdoch may have decided it was cheaper to terminate Carlson's contract effective immediately and quietly hand him a massive golden parachute.
However, for millions of viewers, Tucker Carlson was more than Fox News' top-grossing anchor. He was Fox News or what remained of it.
Will Fox's audience evaporate and left-wing outlets overtake the once-unstoppable cable news behemoth? Only time will tell.
According to Justin Hart, we may know what's next for Tucker Carlson “in the next 48 hours.”
“If you hear nothing, that means he's taking his own sweet time,” Hart added. The consensus among those on the call was that Carlson would “go the independent route,” following in the footsteps of Megyn Kelly and creating his own podcast. That option would give him complete editorial control and plenty of time for fly fishing.
Carlson's stock value is at its zenith in the conservative media ecosystem. Neither money nor fame is his driving factor. Continuing to cover what he wants is.
How many viewers will follow Tucker? Bree A. Dail of The Daily Wire noted that Fox News' core audience comprises Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. While the share of those 65 and older using tech has grown, they don't rely on the internet for news the same way younger generations do. Instead of seeing notifications on their smart phones, their televisions are tuned to Fox News, which provides commentary in the background at their homes. Will they stay with FNC?
The answer may lie with who Fox gets to replace Tucker. Regardless, Dail called the decision “terrible PR.”
Since announcing Carlson left the network, Fox Corporation shed $962 million in stock value.
Despite that, some on the call said that from a long-term business standpoint that it was better for Murdoch to get rid of Carlson now than pay out more money later.
Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump-aligned GOP operative, had a different take on Carlson's exit. Bruesewitz said he's transitioned away from Fox since 2020 and expects millions of “hardcore viewers” to do so now. Bruesewitz, a close ally of Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancé Kimberly Guilfoyle called the timing of Carlson's departure “suspicious” as the network “detrumpifies.”
Bruesewitz added that Tucker's biggest problem was that he wouldn't simply “read the script.” He argued that whether it's MSNBC, CNN or Fox News, “that's what corporate media wants these days.”
When asked about a political hypothetical, Bruesewitz admitted he's a fan of the idea of a Trump-Carlson ticket.
“I think he's got a great political future if he wants it.”
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Hmm, “a Trump Carlson ticket”…. interesting thought, but I don’t think it will fly. First off, no-one knows the exact terms dictated in the Dominion settlement. Suspect it may have contained a requirement that Carlson be silenced. Second, to get the parachute, he may have been likely required to sign away any American right to work in public office, in any capacity…… but that is just speculation. Let’s see where he lands and what happens next..
No more FOX at my house
I can’t jump to that decision. Currently, there are still some great reporters at fox…
Sean, Laura, Mark, Greg and several more.
I certainly hope Tucker is not muzzled by any contract provisions, or a non-compete. As for we retired folk (ages 68 and 71) we are quite comfortable with getting our programming from the internet, thankyou! We’ll follow where Tucker goes. (I still am a fan of Jesse Watters, though – I wonder if Fox is considering throwing him off the boat too.)
He was far too influential. It used to be that anchormen could cite any opinion on the air. Now I wonder if Carlson was too near the hidden truths and the technocrats and the incipient totalitarian party could no longer tolerate him.
Politics for firing?
Best Fox reporters: Ingraham, Hannity, The 5, Varney,
Remember, Liberals are so sick mentally. THEY CANNOT STAND THE TRUTH. No more Fox For me
Murdough has been bought out by dominion. Coward that he is
‘Every man has his price,’ right, Mr. Murdoch?