US becoming ‘one-party state’ – Tucker Carlson
The former Fox News host has accused the corporate press of ignoring America’s real issues
Tucker Carlson has released a video tearing into American news outlets, in his first appearance since parting ways with Fox News, saying genuine debate on major issues is simply “not permitted” in US media.
In a clip shared to Twitter on Wednesday evening, the former Fox host delivered a monologue similar to those heard on his long-time show, ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’, even posting the video to coincide with his previous timeslot.
While he did not directly address his reported firing from Fox News earlier this week, Carlson launched into a scathing criticism of the mainstream media, saying most discussions on TV news shows are “irrelevant” and “unbelievably stupid,” while key subjects go unmentioned.
“The undeniably big topics, the ones that will define our future, get virtually no discussion at all – war, civil liberties, emerging science, demographic change, corporate power, natural resources. When was the last time you heard a legitimate debate about any of those issues?” he said. “It’s been a long time; debates like that are not permitted in American media.”
He went on to argue that both major political parties in the US have “reached consensus on what benefits them” and now “actively collude” to shut down meaningful discussion, saying the American establishment has “given up on persuasion” and is now “resorting to force” and increasing censorship.
“Suddenly, the United States looks very much like a one-party state,” Carlson continued. “That’s a depressing realization, but it’s not permanent. Our current orthodoxies won’t last... This moment is too inherently ridiculous to continue, so it won’t.”
Carlson’s departure from Fox on Monday was a major shake-up for the outlet, as his prime-time show was long one of the highest-rated programs on cable news. Despite reports that he was dismissed, Fox said they had “agreed to part ways” and offered no further explanation for the decision, which has already driven a drop in both the network's ratings and market value.
The former host was a polarizing figure during his tenure at Fox, routinely accused of spreading “hate” and “disinformation” by left and liberal critics while garnering a major fan base among conservative viewers. His show occasionally triggered the ire of US officials, with former Pentagon spokesman John Kirby once addressing Carlson directly during a 2021 press briefing, insisting the military would not “take… advice from a talk-show host.”
Pentagon top brass pleased with Carlson exit – Politico
The popular former Fox News host regularly criticized the “feminization” of the US military
Senior Pentagon officials have welcomed the departure of Tucker Carlson from Fox News, Politico has reported. The popular host regularly criticized the US military’s diversity and inclusivity policies, claiming they were imposed at the expense of battle readiness.
“We’re a better country without him bagging on our military every night in front of hundreds of thousands of people,” a senior Defense Department official told the news outlet, on condition of anonymity. The source claimed Carlson had “made a mockery” of the free press and “repeatedly cherry-picked department policies and used them to destroy DoD [Defense Department] as an institution.”
Commenting on Carlson’s exit from the conservative network, another official reportedly said: “Good riddance.”
The popular former prime-time host regularly accused the Pentagon of undermining US fighting capabilities for the sake of ideologically-motivated inclusivity, imposed under pressure from President Joe Biden’s administration.
In a March 2021 segment, Carlson blasted the introduction of flight suits for pregnant aviators, suggesting that Washington was heading in entirely the wrong direction – unlike its rival Beijing.
“While China’s military becomes more masculine as it assembles the world’s largest navy, our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine,” Carlson said. “This is a mockery of the US military and its core mission, which is winning wars.”
The remarks triggered a rare direct rebuke by the Pentagon, with then-spokesman John Kirby responding: “What we absolutely won’t do is take personnel advice from a talk show host or the Chinese military.”
“We know we’re the greatest military in the world today and even for all the things we need to improve, we know exactly why that’s so,” Kirby insisted.
When asked by Politico what he thought about the reported glee at his departure among senior Pentagon officials, Carlson replied in a text message: “Ha! I’m sure.”
The news that Carlson and Fox News were parting ways broke on Monday, shortly before his prime-time show was due to be broadcast. Neither party has offered an explanation for the split.
