New analysis offers prediction of Fox News’ future without Tucker Carlson

28 April 2023

With Tucker Carlson out of the door at Fox News, there are now questions about the network's future given his large following.

In a new analysis, Yahoo! News' Mike Bebernes is highlighting political experts' opinions of what's to come for the right-leaning news network. He began with an overview of all that has transpired this week.

"News reports suggest [Carlson] may have been let go for fostering a toxic work environment, vulgar criticisms of Fox management, the way he talked about religion, or yet-to-be-seen allegations included in a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former producer on his show," Bebernes wrote.

He added, "In a video posted to Twitter on Wednesday, Carlson lamented the 'inherently ridiculous' nature of today’s political debate, but did not discuss his departure from Fox."

Noting Carlson's influence on the network, Bebernes wrote:

Carlson’s massive ratings and ability to both follow and shape the GOP’s ideological direction made him one of the most influential conservatives in the country, as well as the target of intense criticism. The New York Times described him as promoting an "apocalyptic worldview" centered around '"white panic" and "catastrophic views of immigration and the country’s shifting demographics."

He was also viewed, by both critics and far-right supporters, as serving as a kind of pipeline for extremist conspiracies — like the "great replacement" theory that white Americans are being systematically replaced by people of color for political purposes — to move from fringe online forums into the mainstream political discourse.

Given the impact of Carlson's influence on Fox News' viewership, Bebernes laid out a theory about the possibilities that could lie ahead as the network embarks on a new path without the popular conservative news host. A number of political experts weighed in with their take.

According to The New Republic's Michael Tomasky, things will likely "get worse" for the network. He also explained why.

"Fox will get worse because Fox is the unchained id of the American right, and there exists no superego (the self-critical conscience) on the right to check it," Tomasky said. "This is very important for non-righties to understand. … Fox doesn’t have to care about mainstream credibility. It despises mainstream credibility. All it has to care about is its viewers, and to its viewers, mainstream credibility is right up there on the desirability meter with syphilis."

Although viewers will likely miss Carlson's presence, CNN's David Zurawik explained why the network may be more interested in replacing him with a less dominant voice.

“Given the price tag of getting out of the Dominion lawsuit and the defamation actions pending, it is hard to imagine Fox going for someone even more transgressive than Carlson in his time slot," Zurawik said. "Here’s hoping Carlson’s departure will come to mark a pivot point toward less divisive, outrageous and polarizing primetime programming on Fox in this coming election year.”

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