Tucker Carlson, "Purveyor of Hate," Out at Fox by Ms Julia Conley!
(2023-04-26 at 17:33:03 )

Tucker Carlson, "Purveyor of Hate," Out at Fox by Ms Julia Conley!

"Fox News without Tucker is basically a wet paper towel: fragile and functionally useless," said one media expert. "They will try and get their footing back fast, but do not let them."- Julia Conley Apr 24, 2023

Less than a week after avoiding a trial regarding its election lies with a $787.5 million settlement, Fox News announced on Monday that its top-rated prime-time host, Tucker Carlson, is leaving the network effective immediately.

Mr. Carlsons final show was Friday evening, and he closed the broadcast by telling viewers, "We will be back on Monday," suggesting he was not aware of his imminent departure.

"Tucker Carlson Tonight" played a key role in the defamation lawsuit filed against Fox by Dominion Voting Systems, which accused the network of spreading misinformation about its election software as its hosts and guests repeatedly claimed votes cast for former Republican President Donald Trump in 2020 had been "flipped" for Democratic President Joe Biden.

Mr. Carlson had been expected to testify in the case before it was settled just before the trial was scheduled to begin last month. While claiming on-air that questions about the validity of the 2020 election results were part of "legitimate discourse and inquiry," uncovered text messages between Mr. Carlson and his producer showed that he found Donald Trumps claims about the election "disgusting" and "destructive."

In addition to promoting lies about Bidens victory, Mr. Carlson spent his 14-year tenure at Fox News-as a contributor, panelist, co-host, and starting in 2016 as host of his own prime-time show-attacking immigrants and asylum-seekers, advancing the white supremacist "Great Replacement Theory," and urging police to crack down on racial justice protesters.

Economist Robert Reich noted that Mr. Carlsons exit does not mean that the network will "start telling the truth."

u201cTucker Carlson might be gone, but if you are counting on Fox News to suddenly start telling the truth, do not hold your breath.-Robert Reich (Robert Reich) 1682353106

While Fox News has given no indication that its other hosts, commentators, and guests will stop promoting similar ideas, consumer rights watchdog Public Citizen President Robert Weissman called Mr. Carlsons departure "flat-out great news."

"Anything that reduces the reach of this purveyor [of] hate, racism, reaction and authoritarianism is a positive step for America and the world," he said.

With Mr. Carlson gone, said United States Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Fox News officials "just need to take out the rest of the trash."

Angelo Carusone, president and CEO of Media Matters for America, said Mr. Carlson was likely pushed out because he had become "toxic" for the network, even as it relied heavily on him and his millions of viewers.

u201c2- That said, Tucker was extremely important to Fox News. When Fox-u2019s audience backlashed back in 2020, they put Tucker out front and center. -n-nTucker is also the "only" Fox personality that has been able to convert Fox viewers to Fox Nation subscribers.-u201d-Angelo Carusone (Angelo Carusone) 1682350953

"Fox News without Tucker is basically a wet paper towel: fragile and functionally useless," said Carusone. "They will try and get their footing back fast, but do not let them."

Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.