With cable news figures, it’s often hard to tell where the commentator’s personal brand stops and the network’s influence begins.

Channels like Fox News, Newsmax, or MSNBC aim to attract as many viewers as they can by confirming the biases of their audiences without offending their sponsors and advertisers.

Individual personalities sometimes become emblematic of the network, as happened with Keith Olbermann and then Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, and Bill O’Reilly and Tucker Carlson on Fox News.

But it’s always unclear how much autonomy the hosts have in setting the agendas for their shows—or, more pointedly, if the substance of what they say on air matters at all.

Back in late April, when Carlson’s show was yanked off the airwaves at Fox, I wrote a column arguing that the networks were the real stars of these shows, despite all the ways the Internet has placed an emphasis on individual personalities in the news business.

Those of us in the media who have appointed ourselves as ombudsmen of cable news—I count myself as part of this crew—tend to obsess over the faces onscreen.

Carlson, in particular, was heavily analyzed and mythologized.

Depending on who you asked, he was popular because he was spouting white-nationalist propaganda to a racist audience, or he was a uniquely talented communicator who could cut through the nonsense of mainstream media.

In reality, the modern news consumer, saddled with an unprecedented number of choices, most likely just scrolls through the day’s news without much thought to the peculiarities of the people behind the takes.

On Tuesday, almost a full month after he announced his new show would air on Twitter, Carlson released a ten-minute video on the platform with the caption “Ep. 1.”

The set was writer’s-retreat chic—an old-timey lantern and decorative books sat on shelves behind him, and Carlson, a bit overdressed for the occasion in a blazer and tie, sat at a round blond-wood table.

As far as débuts go, “Tucker on Twitter” was more puzzling than provocative.

He led his show with the Kakhovka dam disaster—certainly an important story, but not exactly the typical Fox News fare about wokeness, drag shows, and trans children.

His point, which was neatly made in the course of five minutes of monologue, was that unwavering support for Ukraine had become something of a tautology in the media, one that clouded the way in which people assessed blame in the war.

The second half of his monologue was about U.F.O.s and what he called a “whistle-blower” who had come forward and claimed the United States had possession of multiple downed non-human aircrafts, and even had remnants of their pilots.

“In a normal country, this news would qualify as a bombshell. The story of the millennium,” Carlson said.

He alleged that the Washington Post and the New York Times had both ignored the story, before concluding that this type of suppression of the news was why the country is so “dysfunctional.”

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FOX News ERUPTS: Tyrus Humiliates Jasmine Crockett—Her Stunning Exit Leaves Everyone Frozen!

Jasmine Crockett, a rising star within the Democratic Party, recently found herself at the center of a firestorm of controversy following remarks she made at a rally that many have condemned as racially insensitive. The comments, which appeared to link the current immigration crisis with the painful legacy of slavery, have sparked outrage across the political spectrum and raised uncomfortable questions about her political direction. As a relatively young and vocal member of the Democratic Party, Crockett’s words have ignited a debate about race, immigration, and how the party engages with sensitive topics.

The Controversial Remarks

The controversy began during a discussion of immigration and labor during a rally, where Crockett made a remark that many listeners found troubling. With a sarcastic tone, she commented on the reluctance of Americans to take up agricultural jobs, particularly in farming, which has historically relied on immigrant labor. Crockett said, “Ain’t none of y’all trying to go and farm right now,” before adding, “We done picking cotton.”

The implication of this remark was clear: Crockett was drawing a comparison between the reluctance of African Americans to take on certain types of hard manual labor in today’s economy and the forced labor of enslaved individuals during the Civil War era. While the statement was clearly an attempt to comment on the economics of labor and immigration, it struck a nerve due to the painful historical references to slavery and its ongoing impact on African American communities.

Backlash and Criticism

The immediate response was one of discomfort, particularly because of the “picking cotton” reference, a direct and painful reminder of the brutal labor endured by enslaved Black people in the United States. The comment, which drew uncomfortable laughter from the audience, was quickly shared online and sparked widespread criticism. Many commentators pointed out that comparing modern labor issues with the history of slavery trivialized the suffering of generations of African Americans and misrepresented the complexities of today’s economic and immigration challenges.

Critics accused Crockett of using slavery as a rhetorical tool to make a political point, while also dismissing the significant legacy of racism and exploitation that Black Americans continue to face. The remark, made in an offhand manner, quickly gained traction on social media, with many questioning whether she understood the historical weight of her words.

Crockett’s Defensiveness and Public Outcry

In the face of mounting criticism, Crockett has yet to publicly address the controversy directly. However, some have speculated that her comments were an unfortunate slip of the tongue, a case of speaking too hastily while trying to make a point about immigration and labor issues. But for many, the damage was already done.

Fox News’ Jesse Watters was one of the more vocal critics, calling the remarks racist and pointing to the real-world consequences of immigration policies, such as job displacement and wage suppression in working-class communities. Watters, who has a history of challenging Democratic rhetoric on immigration, highlighted how such comments could fuel resentment and division, particularly in areas that are already grappling with economic struggles.

The situation has prompted discussions about the broader implications of Crockett’s comments on the Democratic Party, especially as it relates to how the party navigates sensitive issues like race, immigration, and labor. For some, the controversy signals a disconnect between progressive rhetoric and the realities of working-class Americans.

A Deeper Divide in the Democratic Party?

Crockett’s remarks highlight an ongoing ideological rift within the Democratic Party. Her comments, while attempting to address the intersection of immigration and labor, were criticized for focusing too much on identity politics rather than proposing concrete policy solutions. Some have argued that the Democratic Party’s increasing focus on identity politics, such as race, gender, and “wokeness,” is alienating moderate and working-class voters who feel that their concerns are being overlooked in favor of more divisive rhetoric.

The Democratic Party has struggled in recent years to balance social justice issues with economic concerns. Critics of Crockett’s approach believe that the party needs to refocus on the issues that matter most to ordinary Americans—like job creation, healthcare, and affordable housing—while ensuring that the voices of marginalized communities are heard in a meaningful way.

Moreover, the situation exposes a broader tension regarding the language used in political discourse. The backlash against Crockett’s comments shows that language that may be seen as politically charged or controversial can quickly backfire, especially when it involves historical trauma and deeply rooted societal issues.

As one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party, Crockett’s controversial remarks have significant implications not just for her personal career, but for the party’s future. Some believe that the party’s increasing reliance on divisive language and identity-based politics is eroding its ability to connect with voters across the spectrum. Crockett’s comments raise critical questions about how the party addresses race and immigration, and whether it is doing enough to engage in substantive discussions about economic inequality, while also addressing the concerns of working-class Americans.

There are also concerns about how the public reacts to such controversies, especially in the age of social media. What begins as a single misstep can quickly snowball, making it difficult for politicians to recover from their words. Whether Crockett’s comments ultimately harm her political future depends on how the Democratic Party decides to address this issue and whether it continues to push forward with the same strategies that have led to recent electoral losses.

The controversy surrounding Jasmine Crockett’s remarks underscores the ongoing battle within the Democratic Party over the balance between identity politics and practical, solution-oriented policy. The party’s internal divide is becoming increasingly evident, and Crockett’s comments are just the latest example of how difficult it is to navigate these issues in today’s polarized political landscape.

As the party moves forward, it will need to reflect on how it engages with both its progressive base and working-class voters, ensuring that it doesn’t lose sight of its core values while addressing the realities of a changing world. Crockett’s comments, while controversial, could serve as a critical moment of reflection for the Democratic Party as it seeks to redefine its vision for the future.