A new book by Jason Zengerle critically examines Tucker Carlson's dramatic transformation from a conservative journalist advocating for media responsibility to a far-right firebrand, exploring his career, personal life, and profound influence on conservative media and politics.
Jason Zengerle's new book, "Hated by All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind," offers a critical look at the dramatic evolution of Tucker Carlson. Once a conservative journalist who urged right-wing media to be more responsible and even suggested the need for a "conservative New York Times," Carlson has transformed into an "America first" firebrand, now often perceived as more radical than Donald Trump. The book, the first critical analysis of Carlson, chronicles his career from early roles at CNN, PBS, and MSNBC, through his attempt to establish the Daily Caller as a serious conservative news outlet (which quickly shifted to a more sensational, "Breitbart-like" approach), to his record-breaking success at Fox News. Zengerle highlights the stark contrast between Carlson's private disparagement of Trump, revealed in the Dominion lawsuit, and his public endorsement of the former president. Since his departure from Fox in 2023, Carlson has further embraced nativist, isolationist, and far-right stances, promoting authoritarian regimes and hosting guests accused of white nationalism and antisemitism. The book also delves into Carlson's early life, including his newsman father, his bohemian mother who abandoned him, and a colorful upbringing. It explores his regret over initially supporting the Iraq War, which fueled his distrust of the conservative establishment and led him to embrace figures like Pat Buchanan and Trump. Carlson's strategy at Fox News involved tailoring his show for an "audience of one"—Donald Trump—and consciously aiming to "out-Fox Fox." While Zengerle's book dissects Carlson's media career with precision, it leaves some key questions unanswered, such as the exact reason for his firing from Fox, his potential presidential ambitions, and the true sincerity of his extreme views. Ultimately, Zengerle concludes that Carlson, despite what he describes as a "descent into madness," maintains significant influence, "speaking to millions" and profoundly shaping the contemporary conservative landscape.
