VIDEO: Tucker Carlson’s Twitter Video Crushes Fox News Time Slot Ratings
LISTEN HERE:
Tucker Carlson, a former host on the-right leaning news network known as ‘Fox News’, has managed to beat the ratings of his previous time slot on the channel with his first Twitter video since being fired. The network, owned by Rupert Murdoch, had recently cut ties with Carlson after they had to pay a staggering $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit that was centered around election misinformation propagated by the network’s key figures. As a result, Carlson put out a Twitter video on Wednesday at 8 PM, the same time as his previous prime-time slot, to address the situation.
The video, filled with conspiracy theories, gained remarkable traction, accumulating over 1.8 million views during the first hour of its release. The numbers continued to climb, with more than 5 million people seeing the video on their timelines on Elon Musk’s social media platform, as reported by Mediaite. By Thursday 1 PM ET, the video had been directly watched by an impressive 17.3 million users and appeared on the timelines of over 57.8 million individuals.
Meanwhile, in a less-than-stellar comparison, on 25 April at the 8 PM slot, Tucker’s replacement host, Brian Kilmeade, only managed to attract 1.7 million viewers. This falls woefully short of the earlier 3.3 million viewers who regularly tuned in to watch Carlson. It’s important to note that the comparison between Twitter user data and television ratings isn’t directly equivalent, but it does showcase the extent of Carlson’s popularity as a respected conservative media icon.
Good evening pic.twitter.com/SPrsYKWKCE
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) April 27, 2023
In an attempt to defend their ratings, Fox News provided an emailed statement. Citing Nielsen Media Research, the news channel stated that they remained the most-watched cable news network among total viewers at 8 PM/ET. Additionally, the statement reads, ‘Fox News continues to be the highest-rated cable news channel in viewers and the younger demographic’
Tucker Carlson’s two-minute video was far from conciliatory, instead taking subtle jabs at Fox News and the mainstream American media industry as a whole. The former host expressed how, after being ‘outside the noise’ for a few days, he realized the sheer idiocy of most television debates. He decried them as ‘completely irrelevant’ and boldly claimed that they ‘mean nothing.’
With a confident assurance, he stated that five years from now, no one would even recall these debates, a sentiment he backed by citing his own experiences from participating in them. Carlson criticized the lack of ‘legitimate debate’ in American media on significant topics shaping the nation’s future. These topics include war, civil liberties, scientific advancements, demographic shifts, corporate power, and natural resources.
He emphasized that both political parties and their donors had reached a consensus on what benefits them and actively conspire to obstruct any meaningful conversation on these matters. According to Carlson, America now ‘looks very much like a one-party state’ as a result of their meddling. He described it as a ‘depressing realization’ but remained hopeful that this wouldn’t be a permanent situation.
Carlson admitted that the ‘current orthodoxies’ the nation adheres to won’t prevail. He denounced them as ‘brain-dead’ and suggested that few people truly believe in them, let alone have their lives improved by their implementation. He confidently stated, ‘This moment is too inherently ridiculous to continue, and so it won’t. The people in charge know this and that is why they are hysterical and aggressive, they are afraid.’
Carlson maintained that, having abandoned persuasion as a tactic, those in power were now resorting to force to maintain their stranglehold on the nation. However, he expressed optimism by asserting that this wouldn’t work. He put forth the idea that when honest individuals speak the truth calmly and without embarrassment, they become formidable. As a corollary, he noted that those who lie and attempt to suppress the truth become weaker in the process.
He referred to this phenomenon as the ‘iron law of the universe,’ emphasizing that truth will inevitably prevail in the end. The question he posed was where one might find Americans speaking the truth in this climate of censorship and suppression. He acknowledged that while such places were scarce, they did exist, and as long as their voices could be heard, hope would remain.
As the video drew to a close, Carlson offered a parting message to his supporters, promising them that he would be back soon: ‘See you soon.’ While Tucker Carlson might no longer be part of the Fox News network, his influence and reach are clearly not diminished, as evidenced by his recent Twitter video’s unprecedented success.
Conservatives who find themselves dismayed by the current state of American media can take comfort in the knowledge that there are still individuals like Tucker Carlson out there, willing to speak up and provide an alternative viewpoint. His message that honest people stating the truth will ultimately prevail offers hope and encouragement to those who feel increasingly alienated by a one-sided narrative being dictated by powerful forces.
As Tucker Carlson continues to make waves and challenge the prevailing narratives, the conservative demographic is presented with a powerful option outside of mainstream media channels. The incredible success of his Twitter video demonstrates that there is still room for alternative voices, even in a seemingly increasingly homogenized media landscape.
The conservative movement can also take heart knowing that the existing political orthodoxies are, as Carlson suggests, unsustainable, paving the way for new ideas and genuine debate in American discourse. It is a message that resonates with those who believe in the inherent strength of the free market of ideas and those who have grown weary of the relentless march of a seemingly unopposed, monolithic narrative.
As the future unfolds and the conservative circle searches for champions who can provide balance in American media and political landscapes, Tucker Carlson’s resilience and determination will serve as a beacon of hope. His unwavering persistence in the face of adversity ensures that the message of the conservative demographic will not be silenced or forgotten.