Brian Stelter took aim at Tucker Carlson’s “obnoxious” continued success with thoughts about the commentator’s “darkened heart.”

“I think he’s changed as a person.”

Fired from CNN in 2022 after being identified as one of the many pieces that drove down the network’s sinking ratings, Stelter has yet to relent in quixotic attacks on Fox News. With the release of a new book, “Web of Lies,” focused on coverage of the 2020 presidential election, the one-time corporate media host focused on Carlson and also spoke candidly afterward on the cable

Appearing on Mediaite’s podcast, “The Interview,” Stelter spoke with editor Aidan McLaughlin and revealed that he personally stopped responding to Carlson’s texts in 2022 “because it was getting so hateful.”

When asked, “Do you think it has changed?” the former CNN personality suggested, “Yeah, I think he’s changed as a person.”

“You know, he was an unconventional, contrarian, libertarian-leaning conservative commentator. He was a burst of energy on ‘Crossfire’ 20 years ago. And even more recently, I interviewed him when he started his job at Fox News.” , Stelter detailed. “I was at the New York Times. I was just starting out at Fox. Basically, you know, he was willing to do whatever Roger Ailes told him. You know, he needed a job … but, you know, people forget that he being in the desert for years. I was hosting ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.’ I was miserable on that couch.”

As for Carlson’s meteoric success in occupying the 8 p.m. time slot and dominating the cable news ratings, averaging more than 3 million viewers a night, the guest continued: “So when he got the prime-time job, you know, that was it; it was such a critical promotion, such a critical change in his life. And I really think he convinced himself because believe all the BS he says on the air. You know, he presents this picture of America as armageddon, as an apocalypse, that we’re doomed. At least that’s what he was doing on Fox. The interviews he’s doing now are slightly different; he’s doing interviews with X. Most of them are just the predictable far-right figures who share his desperate worldview.”

“But the image that Fox portrayed, actually, I would say it’s not American. The way it portrayed the doomsday scenarios, the way it portrayed the cities of America, the way it portrayed liberals, not as people with different ideas, but as evil enemies,” Stelter noted, focusing on the personal attacks he received from the prime-time host. .

“And to your point, a lot of name-calling, a lot of names from media reporters and stuff. He loved to call me a eunuch, which, it doesn’t even make any sense. . . . But look, that’s it, it’s a darkened heart. That it is what it is. This comes from a darkened heart,” he lamented.

Since Carlson was taken off the air at Fox News, many have argued that his non-X content has been even more successful with a wider reach than he had on cable. With nearly 11 million followers on the platform compared to Stelter’s nearly 800,000, social media users reacted with considerable disdain.

Of couse. Anything Steltor disagrees with comes from a darkened heart. This nonsense is so old now.

— Cresto (@JoannaDeP1) November 19, 2023

He’s mad that everyone thinks he’s a colossal man.

— Patrick Cox (@patrickfcox_cox) November 20, 2023

Brian seems like a sanctimonious egotist.

— WalkAgainstTheWoke (@WalkWoke) November 20, 2023

pic.twitter.com/OtxmbjDjvW

— JR (@jorrzz) November 19, 2023

Staff writer

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College, where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and seeker of truth, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and dog, and when he’s not researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel ·the.

Latest messages from Kevin Haggerty (see everything)

We have zero tolerance for comments that contain violence, racism, profanity, profanity, doxing, or rude behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it, click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for engaging with us in a fruitful conversation.

JOIN OUR NEW COMMENT SYSTEM! We love hearing from our readers and invite you to join us for feedback and good conversation. If you’ve commented with us before, we’ll need you to re-enter your email address for this. The public won’t see it and we won’t share it.