Conservative commentator and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has announced a new version of his show on Twitter. In a video posted on the platform, Carlson offered few details about the show but repeated his familiar criticism of the news media and praised Twitter as the “last big one remaining in the world” for free speech. This move comes after Carlson parted ways with Fox News last month, where he hosted “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” one of the most-watched shows on American cable news.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk welcomed Carlson to the platform but also made it clear that he would be subject to the same rules and rewards as all users, including content moderation and subscription revenue. However, Musk’s public persona has veered sharply to the right in recent years, and he has dabbled in fringe conspiracy theories, as detailed in his prolific tweeting. On Tuesday, Musk pushed a discredited theory that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg swung the 2020 election and cast doubt on reporting that showed the man who recently killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall was linked to extremist social media posts.
Carlson, who is known for promoting conspiracy theories and disinformation, such as the racist “great replacement” theory, found on fringe sites like 4chan, used his Fox News platform to target people. A former producer for Carlson, Abby Grossberg, has alleged in a lawsuit that he fostered a work environment that “subjugated women based on vile sexist stereotypes, typecasted religious minorities and belittled their traditions, and demonstrated little to no regard for mental health.”
The move to Twitter highlights the growing influence of social media on news consumption and reinforces the belief that these platforms are the new battlegrounds for information. However, it also raises concerns about the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories, particularly when promoted by influential figures like Carlson and Musk.
As a society, we need to take responsibility for our consumption of news and remain vigilant against sources that promote hate, division, or messages that have no basis in reality. We must remain committed to the principles of truth and accuracy, even as we navigate the complex and fast-moving world of social media. The stakes are simply too high to do otherwise.
<< photo by Fábio Magalhães >>
