Shep Smith was forced out at Fox News after he was told to stop attacking one of Trump’s favorites, Tucker Carlson.
Gabriel Sherman, the most plugged in Fox News journalist out there tweeted:
Been traveling, but this is what I’ve heard re: Shep. Sources say negotiations over Shep’s exit have been going on for days in wake of him being directed by Fox mgmt to stop attacking Tucker Carlson
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) October 11, 2019
The pro Shep camps says he left totally on his own volition. But another way to look at this is the Murdochs forced his hand by reigning in his coverage. The Murdochs/Fox chose Trump.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) October 11, 2019
Both points can technically be correct. Smith did decide to leave on his own, but the decision was made for him by the conditions that Fox News placed on his staying with the network. Smith was either going to stop criticizing Trump’s friends or leave. Smith chose to leave.
Fox News is siding with Donald Trump. America has never seen a president exert so much influence over a television network. Rupert Murdoch is gambling that Trump wins a second term. If he doesn’t, Fox News will be stuck with a roster full of pro-Trump talking heads to lead a gutted Republican Party that was remade in the image of Donald Trump.
Fox chose Trump over journalism, and they forced one of their few on-air talents with journalistic credibility out the door to appease a soon to be impeached president.
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Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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