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Using the Internet to effect change for over a quarter of a century. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News

Clearly the huge Dominion settlement played a role, but also the ongoing Smartmatic lawsuit. Fox News is trying to cut its future losses.

John Aravosis

Apr 24, 2023

Well, isn’t that news. Fox News’ top host, Tucker Carlson, was just shown the door. Fox News announced today that Carlson’s last show was this past Friday, at the end of which Carlson told his viewers “see you Monday!” Yeah, not so much.

Surely, this is a result of the Dominion lawsuit settlement of $787.5 million. And just as importantly, Fox News continues to face a $2.7bn lawsuit from voting technology company, Smartmatic. I suspect that played a role in Tucker’s dismissal as well. (Now, we don’t know for a FACT that Fox fired Tucker, but come on — does anyone think he woke up this morning and decided on his own that today was a good day to torpedo his cash cow? Unlikely.)

As for Smartmatic, Dominion’s lawsuit helps them in terms of the information it uncovered (the text messages and emails), but also the simple fact that it was settled for so much. That sets a benchmark for Smartmatic’s settlement — and jury damages — as well. By dismissing Carlson, Fox could be hoping that this shows contrition, that they’re trying to do the right thing and clean shop, and that, hopefully, this either convinces a jury to lessen the damages, or at least helps them bargain for a lower settlement with Smartmatic. But Carlson’s departure does nothing to make Smartmatic whole, which is the entire point of a defamation suit. Fox News destroyed Smartmatic’s business with lies. And the only way to fix that is money.

Where will Carlson land next? Definitely not CNN or MSNBC, or any other actual news network. OAN and Newsmax might have wanted him before all the lawsuits, but now they too are being sued by Dominion and Smartmatic. Hiring Carlson would be a further admission that they truly don’t care about the truth, and their potential damages would sore accordingly. That leaves RT, the Russian propaganda network — and don’t think they won’t ask — or Carlson trying his own gig for a while. Maybe a Substack?

I also wouldn’t put it past Carlson to run for office — president in 2024? There’s a fascist streak in that man. He could very well be the “Donald Trump with a brain” that we’ve all been fearing. Still, today was a good day.

JOHN