Tucker Carlson is Out at Fox News – Tucker Carlson was Fox News’ highest-rated and most controversial primetime news anchor. Having been a regular journeyman for the network a decade before rising to prominence, filling in as guest host, and sitting down to discuss various political topics on the different shows, Tucker was a familiar face on the network.
But the downfall of Fox News’ first 8 pm primetime host with a massive following, Bill O’Reilly, was Carlson’s ticket to the big leagues. And he took the opportunity with great aplomb.
Alas, business is still business.
The network was being savaged by a massive defamation lawsuit initiated by Dominion Voting Systems, a company that makes voting machines. Dominion claimed that various Fox News hosts had defamed their company by accusing the firm of being complicit in a widespread conspiracy to steal the 2020 Presidential Election cycle from then-President Donald J. Trump.
Firing Tucker Carlson: Going After the Wrong Target?
The only problem was that the machines that those in the Trump Campaign were saying were “hacked” were not Dominion voting machines at all. They belonged to other companies. Some of Fox’s top-rated anchors, though, ran with the story anyway.
Dominion sued the network for $1.6 billion. Recently, the network’s owner, Rupert Murdoch, directed a settlement for $787 million. Because Tucker was so prolific and one of the staunchest voices claiming election impropriety by Dominion Voting Systems, the network chose not to renew Tucker’s contract.
Fears abound that similar decisions by the network will begin trickling down over the weeks and months—with insiders whispering that people like Laura Ingraham, Maria Bartiromo, and Jesse Watters might soon find themselves on the chopping block (though these are purely rumors).
The fact is, Tucker was the flagship of the network. Whether he believed in Donald Trump and the movement he spawned, Tucker derived his power and influence from them. That even MSNBC noted Tucker’s massive viewership (the host averaged three million viewers per broadcast) with wonder indicates how significant this loss will be for the embattled Fox News Channel.
Tucker’s removal also serves as a warning to other hosts with smaller viewerships: get your fact-checking in order and give up Donald Trump’s narrative that the 2020 election was stolen. It’s literally costing us now—which means it’ll cost you, and not even ratings will save you from the executioner’s blade.
The question everyone must be asking at Fox now is: how deep should the cuts be to satisfy those whose bloodlust is on?
Is Fox Killing the Goose That Lays the Golden Egg?
Normally when one slays the goose that lays the golden egg, as Tucker was doing for the network for the last several years, nothing good will come from it. That the network might be looking at other top-rated talent to dispose of because of these lawsuits is a very dangerous threat to the survival of the network in the aggregate.
Yes, Fox lost $787 million in the settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. That’s a boatload of money. But NewsCorps, the parent company of Fox News and Fox Business, is a multinational corporation worth far more. Their ability to generate interest, clicks, and viewers globally is what gives this company its ability to survive legal headaches like the one they just went through.
Killing the network’s top talent all at once, however, might not yield the intended results the network leaders think that it will.
Even when the network axed Bill O’Reilly over alleged sexual misconduct, the damage was limited and its negative impact was blunted by the presence of a deep bench of new talent—including Tucker Carlson, who ultimately replaced O’Reilly. Those days, however, are gone. Fox doesn’t have a deep bench (yet). If they lose the other top-rated talent after having let Tucker go, the network might be seriously damaged for years to come.
Fox Must Tread Carefully Going Forward
Fox must tread carefully going forward and not let lawsuits drive their content. Their content and willingness to take risks—such as promoting Tucker Carlson as they did these last several years—is what got them rich.
Don’t change a successful formula, even in the face of increased opposition. Losing one’s audience is the death knell for any media venture. Fox must be careful going forward and not overreact to negative press.
Some questions that need answers still: where is Tucker going next? Are the higher-ups at Fox orchestrating a reimagining of their brand by dumping older, conservative viewers for what they hope will be younger, more Liberals viewers by doing an epic rebranding in real-time? Will Tucker’s massive viewers follow him onto his next venture, whatever—and wherever—it may be?
The answers to these essential questions in the wake of Tucker Carlson being let go by Fox will determine the success or failure of the network going forward.
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A 19FortyFive Senior Editor, Brandon J. Weichert is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, as well as at American Greatness and the Asia Times. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower (Republic Book Publishers), Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life (May 16), and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy (July 23). Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
