A new book, 'Hated by All the Right People,' explores Tucker Carlson's dramatic evolution from a conventional conservative journalist who criticized his own side to a radical 'America First' media personality, revealing his private views and the forces that shaped his controversial career.
Jason Zengerle's new book, 'Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind,' critically examines the dramatic transformation of Tucker Carlson, tracing his path from a conventional conservative journalist to a radical 'America First' firebrand. In 2009, Carlson advocated for responsible right-wing media, even proposing conservatives build their own 'New York Times,' and privately held disparaging views of Donald Trump. However, after a series of career setbacks in traditional media, he realized the public craved 'line-crossing, muckraking, anger-feeding' content, leading him to pivot the Daily Caller in that direction. His shame over initially supporting the Iraq War, despite his gut instincts, fueled a distrust of the conservative establishment and opened him to figures like Trump. At Fox News, Carlson's show became the highest-rated in cable news history, with him even crafting content for 'an audience of one' – Trump – despite private disdain for the president. Since his 2023 departure from Fox, Carlson has embraced an even more extreme nativist, isolationist stance, promoting authoritarian regimes and platforming controversial figures. Zengerle, who once knew Carlson as a 'gifted young writer,' views his evolution as a metaphor for the broader unraveling of conservative politics and media. The book also delves into Carlson's unconventional upbringing, including a pioneering newsman father, an abandoning bohemian mother, a frozen food heiress stepmother, and a Korean intelligence officer nanny. While the book dissects his media career, it leaves some burning questions unanswered, such as the exact reason for his Fox firing, potential presidential aspirations, and the sincerity of his increasingly extreme views. Despite his 'descent into madness,' Carlson maintains significant influence, reaching millions and holding the ears of global leaders and billionaires.
