This article gives me great hope Jonathan that a news show host earning big money, and enjoying the limelight, can over time develop an independent and questioning mind, like yourself. It’s taken Tucker awhile, but hooray he’s come on in leaps and bounds. I wish him all the best in his next steps.
From Caitlin Johnstone Tucker Carlson is a virulent empire propagandist who's probably responsible for more anti-China sentiment in the US than anyone alive. He's got well-documented overlaps with the CIA and has helped keep Americans roped into the mainstream two-party system. That said, his firing suggests that he probably did become unacceptably inconvenient for the powerful in some way. The mass media are for propaganda first and profit second, and if you're not useful enough at the first it doesn't matter how good you are at generating the second.
Carlson is not antiwar in any meaningful way, but from an antiwar perspective I can't see any reason to be happy about his ouster. The guy who opposed brinkmanship with Russia because he wants to focus on brinkmanship with China will be replaced by someone who wants brinkmanship with both.
Murdoch is not your friend. The Murdoch media empire did not oust Carlson to advance human interests or make the world a nicer place. That seems a safe bet to me.
❖
Every time I criticize Tucker Carlson I get all these wounded and upset responses from people reacting like I just punched their best friend. Don't cultivate parasocial relationships with rich TV pundits, it's gross.
It's a rare L from Caitlin but she has consistently refused to hear any reason or even just plain facts that contradict her propaganda created image of Tucker being Satan. I have had tried discussing it with her for at least 2 years, never got anywhere. We all have our blind spots, even Caitlin.
It's pretty clear that the terms "left" and "right" are useless definitions today. Like all of us living in the hostile twilight of the world's most dangerous empire, we move in one political direction or another as we learn which side of the fence we must stand on and, to our amazement, learn that there are people who will stand with us on at least some important issues. Tucker changed from a boring imperialist shill into one of this century's best objective journalists, and became aware and ashamed of his past politics. Nobody progressive would berate him for this. Those who do are simply registering for the imperial camp, switching to the bullies' side of the fence. Good riddance! I stand with Tucker, Julian Assange, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, China, Palestine. We want peace, development and damn the warmongers!
THANK YOU! A wonderful reporting. I just hope that you are correct in your assessment: “media “consumers” are slowly becoming less passive and more critical of traditional sources of information.”
Thanks. Spot on. Amazing how fast legacy media is imploding. Me thinks Tucker will end up on Substack &/or Rumble. Murdoch cut his own throat in service to the #EmpireOfLies.
I suggest you posit an actual argument rather than stating an opinion and an ad hominem if you wish to prove me wrong.
Rather than making petty snide remarks, you could, for example, explain why some on the left are all too eager to jump into bed with right wing media celebrities.
Tanned testicles to "Tucker". Is that grown up enough for you?
Just because I have a different reaction to the one I'm supposed to have doesn't mean I didn't read the article. That is mere assumption on your part and does nothing to counter my conclusions.
Carlson is NOT an ally of the Left.
Is the MSM corrupt and the mouthpiece of the establishment? Of course it fucking is.
That doesn't mean Carlson was sacked because he suddenly became a Leftist and was openly speaking truth to power.
There are many on the right who are against the establishment for their own fucked up reasons, Carlson included.
I agree with Cook and admire his writings on many issues.
But if I read something I disagree on, I have a right to criticise, and not merely nod along with the rest of his readership.
Cook, imho, has been wrong when it comes to personalities like Brand and Carlson.
You are going to have to do better than "read the article" to convince me otherwise.
Did you read the piece? I'm not 'amplifying' Carlson. I pointed out that his treatment tells us something about the hunger for independent journalism that he tapped, whether for his own cynical reasons or not. We ought to celebrate that, not lament it.
I think what is interesting in this context and supports (well, reinforces) your argument - Gilbert Doctorow, for example, mentioned Tucker Carlson as a voice that is giving a different narrative than the official MSM story. Europe is not as lucky. There all critical media were shut down. So, it seems, now also in the USA.
I think that's a large part of the article. Critical voices can come from anywhere on the spectrum, but are no less valid if their arguments have substance. This does not necessarily equate to some red/brown front, as *often* liberal voices might suggest.
“Yes, over the years Carlson played on white fears, placing him firmly on the right”. Underplaying the violence against black life that he has mobilised.
Excellent and necessary article. Thank you Jonathan.
This article gives me great hope Jonathan that a news show host earning big money, and enjoying the limelight, can over time develop an independent and questioning mind, like yourself. It’s taken Tucker awhile, but hooray he’s come on in leaps and bounds. I wish him all the best in his next steps.
From Caitlin Johnstone Tucker Carlson is a virulent empire propagandist who's probably responsible for more anti-China sentiment in the US than anyone alive. He's got well-documented overlaps with the CIA and has helped keep Americans roped into the mainstream two-party system. That said, his firing suggests that he probably did become unacceptably inconvenient for the powerful in some way. The mass media are for propaganda first and profit second, and if you're not useful enough at the first it doesn't matter how good you are at generating the second.
Carlson is not antiwar in any meaningful way, but from an antiwar perspective I can't see any reason to be happy about his ouster. The guy who opposed brinkmanship with Russia because he wants to focus on brinkmanship with China will be replaced by someone who wants brinkmanship with both.
Murdoch is not your friend. The Murdoch media empire did not oust Carlson to advance human interests or make the world a nicer place. That seems a safe bet to me.
❖
Every time I criticize Tucker Carlson I get all these wounded and upset responses from people reacting like I just punched their best friend. Don't cultivate parasocial relationships with rich TV pundits, it's gross.
❖
It's a rare L from Caitlin but she has consistently refused to hear any reason or even just plain facts that contradict her propaganda created image of Tucker being Satan. I have had tried discussing it with her for at least 2 years, never got anywhere. We all have our blind spots, even Caitlin.
i've noticed recently that he's stopped berating China - possibly the only thing that kept him in his job !
Tucker will do just fine as a true independent.
It's pretty clear that the terms "left" and "right" are useless definitions today. Like all of us living in the hostile twilight of the world's most dangerous empire, we move in one political direction or another as we learn which side of the fence we must stand on and, to our amazement, learn that there are people who will stand with us on at least some important issues. Tucker changed from a boring imperialist shill into one of this century's best objective journalists, and became aware and ashamed of his past politics. Nobody progressive would berate him for this. Those who do are simply registering for the imperial camp, switching to the bullies' side of the fence. Good riddance! I stand with Tucker, Julian Assange, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, China, Palestine. We want peace, development and damn the warmongers!
To my shame, I had not realised that Carlson had reached our beyond Murdock control. Thanks for enlightenment.
Good piece, but as other commenters have inferred it begs the age old question, “Is my enemy’s enemy necessarily my friend?”
Did you watch all the videos ? The answer is fuck YES !
THANK YOU! A wonderful reporting. I just hope that you are correct in your assessment: “media “consumers” are slowly becoming less passive and more critical of traditional sources of information.”
Thanks. Spot on. Amazing how fast legacy media is imploding. Me thinks Tucker will end up on Substack &/or Rumble. Murdoch cut his own throat in service to the #EmpireOfLies.
Excellent article, thank you once again. I always look forward to your articles, as they are unfailingly intelligent.
As a longtime MoA barfly (mostly lurking) I heartily pledge your next drink is on me! Cheers and carry on sir!
Poor Tucker.
My heart bleeds for him. Such a stalwart for the truth.
He sure is part of the problem, I'll agree with that.
I'm starting to see an unfortunate trend of praising right wing polemicists and crackpots, just because they are anti-establishmentarian.
Sorry if I don't share your enthusiasm for sharing bed with kooks and fascists.
Mainstream media be bad. Yes we know. Murdoch is a ghoul. Yes we know.
A ghoul sack a subordinate ghoul who will be replaced by another ghoul.
Before I get accused of sucking up to the MSM; bollocks, I have no TV and don't consume liberal media online either.
Oh, and newsprint is much too coarse for my pile riddled arse.
Not a shepherd, a sheep!
That's right, I'm not a shepherd.
Not much call for them in the middle of Barnsley.
I'm actually a sheppard, from shipyard, ie a boat builder.
Equally not much call for them in Barnsley.
As for being a sheep, have you ever considered that calling people sheep isn't exactly an indication of free and critical thought.
Especially when used in lieu of an actual argument in response to something said.
But I thank you. Haven't heard the "Shepherd where's your sheep?" line since 1975.
Brings back memories of unoriginal witless wankers.
Whoosh!!
"Whoosh!!"
The sound made when rushing to embrace a fascist.
Sometimes the enemy of one's enemy is still an enemy.
Handwaving away Tucker's motives as unimportant does nothing to instil confidence in your thinking on this issue.
i suggest you read the piece & watch all the videos . Tucker has changed . You need to grow up .
I suggest you posit an actual argument rather than stating an opinion and an ad hominem if you wish to prove me wrong.
Rather than making petty snide remarks, you could, for example, explain why some on the left are all too eager to jump into bed with right wing media celebrities.
Tanned testicles to "Tucker". Is that grown up enough for you?
the argument is the article that you're commenting on without reading
Just because I have a different reaction to the one I'm supposed to have doesn't mean I didn't read the article. That is mere assumption on your part and does nothing to counter my conclusions.
Carlson is NOT an ally of the Left.
Is the MSM corrupt and the mouthpiece of the establishment? Of course it fucking is.
That doesn't mean Carlson was sacked because he suddenly became a Leftist and was openly speaking truth to power.
There are many on the right who are against the establishment for their own fucked up reasons, Carlson included.
I agree with Cook and admire his writings on many issues.
But if I read something I disagree on, I have a right to criticise, and not merely nod along with the rest of his readership.
Cook, imho, has been wrong when it comes to personalities like Brand and Carlson.
You are going to have to do better than "read the article" to convince me otherwise.
Thank you Jonathan for your excellent analysis.
Like clockwork: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkab7z/tucker-carlson-russia-fox-news
The Russia solution.
I would not trust Vice......but then again.....
LOL I know. I was being facetious. It was only a matter of time before someone started calling Carlson a Russian agent.
lol i thought they were bankrupt. Who paid that writer!?
Not sure if you really want to be amplifying anyone Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are praising?
Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are against the US war against Russia in Ukraine. Are you?
But it gets worse!!! Now "Putin" is praising him!!!
https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkab7z/tucker-carlson-russia-fox-news
Did you read the piece? I'm not 'amplifying' Carlson. I pointed out that his treatment tells us something about the hunger for independent journalism that he tapped, whether for his own cynical reasons or not. We ought to celebrate that, not lament it.
I think what is interesting in this context and supports (well, reinforces) your argument - Gilbert Doctorow, for example, mentioned Tucker Carlson as a voice that is giving a different narrative than the official MSM story. Europe is not as lucky. There all critical media were shut down. So, it seems, now also in the USA.
I think that's a large part of the article. Critical voices can come from anywhere on the spectrum, but are no less valid if their arguments have substance. This does not necessarily equate to some red/brown front, as *often* liberal voices might suggest.
“Yes, over the years Carlson played on white fears, placing him firmly on the right”. Underplaying the violence against black life that he has mobilised.
I'm not here to emphasise what everyone else is saying; I'm here to emphasise what they're not saying.