CV NEWS FEED // FOX News announced Monday that the network would “part ways” with popular commentator Tucker Carlson, spurring speculation about what the commentary giant might do next.

“FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the network announced:

Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named.

CatholicVote Communications Director Joshua Mercer pointed out one intriguing possibility: what if Carlson were to run for president?

Gone from FOX, “Tucker has nothing to lose,” Mercer suggested. His presence in the race could serve to “keep Trump and DeSantis on their toes” and then allow Tucker to “play kingmaker.”

Others suggested Carlson could establish himself as a radio personality. “Tucker can be a $20 million a year man on talk radio,” said Austin Ruse, president of the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam) and a Catholic author. “He can be the next Rush Limbaugh.”

LOOPcast host Tom Pogasic pointed to the possibility of Carlson following in the path of massively popular podcaster Joe Rogan, who bases his work online. “If anyone could do it, it would be Tucker Carlson,” he said. 

The news of Carlson’s departure from FOX came just a day after New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez called on Congress to “explore” shutting down the anchor.

Ocasio-Cortez cited Tucker Carlson as an example of what Congress should make sure is not “allowed on air.” “We have very real issues with what is permissible on air,” she said, adding that it is Congress’ role to “explore” how to apply “federal law” to political commentary. “And when you look at what Tucker Carlson and some of these other folks on Fox do, it is very, very clearly incitement of violence.”

Some believe Carlson was pushed out by FOX executives who believed his often blunt anti-establishment commentaries put the network behemoth in the crosshairs of left-wing lawmakers and social media-based boycotts. Others speculate the decision was more simple: an effort to protect the FOX brand and its financial stability.

“If Tucker can’t have a platform because telling hard truths is too much of a financial liability, that would qualify as an *actual* threat to democracy,” tweeted Jon Schweppe of American Principles Project.

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