Fox Power Play: Is the Murdoch, Carlson, DeSantis Three-Way Over?
By J. Max Robins, March 23, 2023
Ron DeSantis, currently on the undeclared presidential campaign trail, recently parroted his pro-Putin stance on the Ukraine War before an elated Tucker Carlson on Fox News. The move was significant for reasons beyond DeSantis’ character. It quickly raised a raft of crucial questions. First, who is the omnipotent GOP media kingmaker right now? Is it really Tucker Carlson, or network supremo Rupert Murdoch?
The $1.6 billion Dominion lawsuit against Fox News revealed deep inner tension among the network’s fiefdoms that remain at odds with one another. Among other things, all the back chatter may have weakened Carlson’s position with Murdoch and put his power position in peril.
Clearly, Murdoch’s views on Ukraine differ from those of his biggest star. When the Florida Governor’s response to a Carlson questionnaire – sent to prospective Republican 2024 candidates – confirmed he was in lockstep with him on Ukraine, the Murdoch-controlled New York Post and Wall Street Journal tugged tighter on DeSantis’ leash.
On the heels of the governor’s statement about the war, the Post headline for an op-ed by Dalibor Rohac, a senior fellow at the staunchly conservative American Enterprise Institute shouted “Ron DeSantis is flat out wrong on Ukraine and the Role the U.S. Should Play.” That same day, the newspaper’s editorial board opined that if DeSantis wants to take up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, he must change his tune on Ukraine. The op-ed slammed DeSantis for describing the war as a “territorial dispute,” when it has “included savage attacks on civilians and a host of other war crimes.”
Do Better, Ron
The Murdoch news machine’s slapdown was the first truly rocky moment in a full throttle bromance that’s been going on for more than a year as DeSantis emerged as a Fox News favorite for a 2024 White House run. It’s a shame; the sailing had been so smooth. For example, one evening last April Laura Ingraham gave her hour over to a DeSantis town hall that drew a healthy 2.5 million viewers. Guest spots and favorable coverage of the anti-woke warrior are a noticeable presence on the network, as is the virtual disappearance of that also-ran Donald Trump.
Purposely, the New York Post editorial employed a firm yet gentle hand on disciplining Gov. Ron, as well as using it to take a swipe at The Donald. “At least DeSantis didn’t go full Trump and declare himself firmly isolationist on Ukraine, much as left-wing media may pretend,” the editorial board wrote. A day later, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board echoed similar sentiments about DeSantis tacking toward The Donald’s wing of the GOP, calling the move a “puzzling surrender to the Trumpian temptation of American retreat. DeSantis must have felt the tight Murdoch tug on his collar. On Thursday’s edition of Piers Morgan’s Fox Nation show, he walked back his description of the Ukraine War as “a territorial dispute.”
Be Careful, Tucker
The Wall Street Journal and New York Post editorials sent a clear message to DeSantis that he had displeased his powerful media benefactor and was threatening his status as the 2024 chosen one. But the moves could inadvertently – but quite clearly – also be read as a signal to Tucker Carlson to cool it on his Putin love affair, and the claim that the January 6thrioters “weren’t insurrectionists, they were tourists” claptrap in the wake of airing ridiculously edited footage from that tragic day. Murdoch may be front and center with his criticisms but he’s not alone – numerous Republican power brokers have been harshly critical of Carlson’s dangerous rabble rousing nonsense regarding Jan. 6 and his isolationist stance on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Carlson has walked back scathing comments revealed in the Dominion lawsuits about how he “passionately” hates the twice-impeached ex-POTUS and worse. As a guest earlier this week on WABC radio’s Bo Snerdley’s Rush Hourshow, Carlson was all kiss and makeup, declaring, “I love Trump.” Murdoch’s disdain for the Mar-a-Lago commander-in-chief is still firmly in place. Clearly, Carlson is pandering to his core audience and not the guy who signs his checks.
Yes, Tucker Carlson Tonight dominates the ratings in primetime; still, many major advertisers shy away and see the association as toxic. It’s important to note that Murdoch has a history of dictatorially jettisoning his most potent stars when they become liabilities. That’s what happened with Glenn Beck when he sailed off the reality rails, with his rallies and proto-QAnon conspiracy mongering. Likewise, Bill O’Reilly, when he got caught up in multiple sex scandals. In the wake of both those high-profile career executions, Fox News found others to take their place—in the case of O’Reilly it was Carlson and with Beck it was “The Five”— and scored even better than before.
Carlson is wise to memorize the media equation: Fox News makes stars, not the other way around. And no one knows that truth better than Rupert Murdoch. Carlson getting whacked and going to NewsMax or some other rightwing Fox News wannabe is unlikely to move the Nielsen needle at those outlets much at all. Certainly, one of the best spectator sports in media now is to watch if Carlson and DeSantis modify their collective stance on the Ukraine War, and if the Fox News superstar tones down the insurrection garbagio and Trump butt-kissing as well.
The 92-year-old Murdoch, who is about to get married for the fifth time (congrats!!!), appears very much alive and in charge of his news empire. He knows the ultimate aphrodisiac is power, which he enjoys wielding, as much as he does those wedding nights. And the most powerful man in rightwing media has no problem divorcing his news stars and political favorites. Just ask Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly.
J. Max Robins (@jmaxrobins) is executive director of the Center for Communication. He was formerly editor-in-chief of Broadcasting & Cable, and has contributed to many publications including the Wall Street Journal, Columbia Journalism Review and Forbes.
Interested in more news about right-wing websites curated especially for mainstream audiences? Subscribe to our free daily newsletter.
It’s important to note that Rupert Murdoch (above) has a history of dictatorially jettisoning his most potent stars when they become liabilities. That’s what happened with Glenn Beck when he sailed off the reality rails with his rallies and proto-QAnon conspiracy mongering. Likewise, Bill O’Reilly, when he got caught up in multiple sex scandals. (Image: Flickr)
