Several Fox News contributors have resigned from their positions with the network, claiming that prime-time anchor Tucker Carlson’s recent documentary series on the Jan. 6 assault on the United States Capitol was a turning point in their careers.
Following the airing of Tucker Carlson’s controversial documentary, Stephen Hayes and Jonah Goldberg, two major conservative writers and commentators who have been frequently on Fox since 2009, announced that they had formalised their resignations from the network.
It is presented in the style of an exposé, a hard-hitting piece of investigative journalism,” the two journalists wrote in an entry on their political news and commentary website theDispatch.com. “The special — which aired on Fox’s subscription streaming service earlier this month, and was promoted on Fox News,” the two journalists wrote in an entry on their political news and commentary website theDispatch.com.
According to Carlson’s series, titled “Patriot Purge,” the Jan. 6 rebellion was a “false flag” operation, and the series includes at least one subject who believes the incident was a “false flag” operation. A number of people, including Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) of the House select committee investigating the attack, have expressed their displeasure with the series.
On Sunday, Goldberg and Hayes lamented a pattern they say they have seen, in which Fox’s top opinion presenters have “amplified the bogus claims and weird narratives of Donald Trump or given up their own in his service,” according to their blog.
It is true that “there are still responsible conservatives contributing vital opinion and analysis on Fox Reporting,” they added, adding that “the news side of Fox frequently performs what it is supposed to do: it tells the truth.”
Nevertheless, the irresponsible drown out the voices of those who are responsible, as stated by Hayes and Goldberg at the conclusion of their paper.
To be particular, Goldberg and Hayes stated, “If a person with such a platform spreads such disinformation loudly and over an extended period of time, there are Americans who will believe — and act on — it.”
Fox News did not react to a request for comment on the resignations within minutes of receiving it. A spokeswoman for Fox News refused to comment to the New York Times on the resignations. Carlson, in an email to the Times, expressed delight at the departures, calling them “excellent news.”
In an interview with the New York Times, Goldberg said that he would not second-guess Fox workers who are still employed by the network.
‘There are tonnes of individuals there who I respect and like and consider friends, and they’re making a choice based on how they’re going to provide for their families and deal with their professions and all of that,’ Goldberg said of the decision-making process.
Also, he said, “there are a lot of folks over there that believe the Fox opinion side today is wonderful.”
