Don’t mistake the abrupt nature of Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox as an end, Larry O’Connor and I agree on today’s show. With the shake-up at the top of the cable-news industry the biggest story, Larry and I discuss its implications — and why we both respect Tucker and expect him to innovate his way back to the top. The bigger question, we both agree, is what happens to his audience and to that of Fox News, and why the latter may not treat this with the same equanimity as previous departures. Plus, Larry and I spend as much time on Don Lemon’s departure as it deserves, and also plumb the depths of pop-song lyrics of the 1970s.
Editor’s Note: Join HotAir VIP today and use promo code BEATENPATH to receive 40% off your membership!
Welcome back to our VIP video series “Off the Beaten Path,” featuring my friend Larry O’Connor! The Townhall columnist and Salem News Channel host starts off our week by discussing stories and ideas that may fly under our radar, in culture, politics, sports, and more. Plus, Larry previews tonight’s SNC show!
Tucker’s departure does send a message, or perhaps a reminder, I point out, “If Tucker can get fired,” I tell Larry, “all of us are dispensable.” “Tell me about it,” Larry replies. More seriously, though, “dispensable” is not the issue in today’s media environment, especially with an innovator like Tucker.
“There was a time when you wanted to be with the Washington Post,” Larry explains, “and there’s some cachet with being with the Washington Post or the New York Times. But nowadays, because of the digital media landscape, if you’ve got a personal following, you can take it with you wherever you want.”
“Don’t forget,” I say, “that Tucker Carlson set up the Daily Caller before he finally sold his interest in it. … The guy knows how to build a media organization from the ground up.”
Larry goes on to tell a personal anecdote about Tucker that puts him in a different light than the media portrays. I didn’t have that close an encounter with Tucker, but I also remark on my takeaway from more limited engagements about his graciousness and intelligence.
Other highlights:
- Did Don Lemon’s disastrous exchange with Vivek Ramaswamy really lead to his termination? Larry thinks it did, but I’m more skeptical.
- Larry discusses his need to expose the lies of “gender-affirming care” and the necessity of calling it what it is: sex-change operations and therapies. “That’s the most diabolical euphemism,” Larry says. Conservatives seem reluctant to challenge it “because we have decency, and our decency is used against us,” but it’s time to engage assertively to protect children.
- I joke around about the blue-check issue on Twitter, and that leads us into a fun discussion about the dumbest pop lyrics of our youth. Needless to say, Rupert Holmes looms large in this discussion. And if you’ve never heard “Timothy,” well …. spoiler alert!
Be sure to watch it all, and join the conversation in the comments!
