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Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Tucker Carlson Parts Ways with Fox News

National Review: Fox News’ top-performing host Tucker Carlson is leaving the network after appearing in the prime-time slot since November 2016. The sudden departure did not leave Carlson time to host a final farewell episode of his wildly successful program Tucker Carlson Tonight. His last episode was broadcast on Friday, April 21, the network said. An interim show featuring a rotating cast of Fox News personalities will fill the 8 p.m. hour until a new host is named. While the reason for Carlson’s departure from Fox is unknown, many conservatives have observed that his on-air coverage often appeared to be at odds with the headquarters and other media divisions within the firm (National Review). Wall Street Journal: Mr. Carlson, whose contract was renewed in 2021, will be paid out for the rest of his contract, people familiar with the matter said. Mr. Carlson is paid about $20 million a year, one of the people said. Mr. Carlson found out he was being let go about 10 minutes before the network announced his departure, the people said (Wall Street Journal).

Don Lemon Stirs Additional Drama as He is Fired From CNN

Spencer Brown: Embattled and controversial CNN host Don Lemon announced on Monday afternoon that he’d been fired by CNN after weeks of negative stories swirling around him for his on-air statements and off-camera behavior. “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” Lemon wrote, adding “I am stunned.” Taking a swipe at his now-former employer, Lemon said “It is clear that there are some larger issues at play,” though he did not enumerate what he thought they might be (Townhall). CNN Communications; Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter (Twitter). Benny Johnson: CNN Nuking Don Lemon as a liar on his way out the door is really something else (Twitter).

Susan Rice Departs from Biden’s White House

Washington Post: Susan Rice will step down as White House domestic policy adviser, President Biden announced Monday, praising her work on some of the more divisive issues for his administration, including immigration and health care. Rice, 58, previously served as national security adviser and ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama, and was reported to have been considered as Biden’s running mate in 2020 (Washington Post). Reporter Amuse: Rice has been responsible for the Afghan surrender, the Ukraine proxy war, Taiwanese escalation, and most recently the decision to abandon thousands of Americans in Sudan (Twitter).

Disney Undergoes Massive Companywide Layoffs

CNN: Disney is laying off several thousand workers across the company this week in the second and largest wave of cuts as part of the media giant’s previously announced plan to slash its workforce by 7,000 employees. The latest round of job cuts will impact ESPN, Disney’s entertainment division, Disney Parks, and its Experiences and Product division as part of a larger workforce reduction plan announced in February by chief executive Bob Iger in an aim to save $5.5 billion in costs, the company said (CNN). Wall Street Journal: Disney is set to lay off ESPN employees as it tries to figure out the sports network’s next chapter. ESPN has been a moneymaker for Disney for years but its subscriber base has eroded as more people cancel their cable subscriptions. Disney acquired majority control of the sports channel in 1995. It explored the idea last year of spinning off ESPN but ultimately decided against it, Mr. Iger said in February (Wall Street Journal).

Biden Suggests Children Belong to the State Rather Than Parents

Fox News: President Biden was ripped by critics Monday when he made a statement suggesting the children of parents across the nation belonged to the whole country to raise rather than just their own families. His statement drew sharp criticism on social media from politicians and parents alike, blasting him suggesting the state and the political left had ownership over the children of the country (Fox News). Townhall: BIDEN: “There’s no such thing as someone else’s child. Our nation’s children are all our children” (Twitter).

San Francisco Target Puts Products on Strict Lockdown

New York Post: A San Francisco Target store has been putting all of its products on lockdown amid a shoplifting crisis that has crippled retailers in the Golden Gate City. While it’s common for stores to lock up small valuable items like razors, heaps of inexpensive large items like mouthwash, shampoo and lotion were also being kept out of reach of the grubby hands of would-be shoplifters, the clip showed. The Bay Area has been especially hard hit by a national organized retail crime epidemic that ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading chains such as Walgreens to close five San Francisco stores due to theft (New York Post). Johnny Midnight: So this is what happens when People are lawless, Target in San Francisco (Twitter)!!

Riley Gaines Calls Out Democrat Lawmaker Who is Against Protecting Women’s Sports

Outkick: House lawmakers recently passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act despite not one Democrat voting in favor of the bill that will keep women from having to compete against transgender athletes (biological men). Riley Gaines had the perfect response to the situation, particularly to one Democratic State Representative. State Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland is made it clear that he is siding with the biological boys and men destroying women’s sports with a ludicrous tweet after the bill was passed by the House. According to Ivey, the bill would “mean the forced inspection of student-athletes, which is an egregious violation of a student’s personal dignity” (Outkick). Riley Gaines: Checking birth certificate and/or ensuring everyone has a routine physical before competing = egregious violation of personal dignity. Forcing girls to undress in front of an intact and exposed male = NOT an egregious violation of personal dignity, but rather kind and inclusive (Twitter).

Anheuser-Busch Places Second Marketing Executive on Leave of Absence

National Review: Another Anheuser-Busch marketing executive has taken a leave of absence amid backlash over Bud Light’s creative collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Daniel Blake, who oversees marketing for Anheuser-Busch’s mainstream brands, has stepped away from the job. Blake joins Bud Light vice president of marketing Alissa Heinerscheid, who generated backlash for deriding Bud Light’s traditional customer base in a podcast interview that was resurfaced amid the Mulvaney controversy (National Review). Wall Street Journal: Mr. Blake, who oversees marketing for Budweiser and Bud Light, has worked at Anheuser-Busch for nearly nine years. The company didn’t announce a replacement for Mr. Blake (Wall Street Journal).

New York Times Calls Biden Out for Not Answering Any Questions Just Before His Reelection Announcement

Townhall: President Joe Biden is expected to announce his reelection bid on Tuesday, despite polling showing that even fellow Democrats don’t want him to run. It’s not just the polling that’s not on Biden’s side, but The New York Times, which has ramped up its negative coverage of the president. Last Friday, the outlet published “Biden Has Held the Fewest News Conferences Since Reagan. Any Questions?” This is not a new phenomenon, though, as the low amount of press conferences he had made news in October 2021 as well (Townhall). Just two weeks ago, Karine Jean-Pierre was touting how president Biden has answered an inordinate amount of questions. RNC Research: Karine Jean-Pierre says it’s “unprecedented that a president takes as many shouted questions as this president has.” Reporters groan in unison at the absurdity of her statement (Twitter). Even when asked questions, Biden is given softballs. Chad Gilmartin: Less opportunities to ask critical questions like: “How was your trip?” “How about that crowd?” “Did you have a good time” (Twitter)? New York Times: Traveling in Ireland last week, President Biden abandoned the decades-old tradition of holding a news conference while abroad. On Thursday, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia met with Mr. Biden, but the two did not hold a news conference together, another practice of his predecessors that Mr. Biden has frequently chosen to skip. After the meeting, Mr. Petro took questions from reporters — alone — at microphones in front of the West Wing (New York Times).

10.

GOP Senators Look for Answers on the UN Backing Pedophilia

Fox News: Seven U.S. Republican Senators nationwide demanded answers from the Biden Administration on Monday, asking if officials were aware of the United Nations-backed report suggesting global leaders normalize pedophilia by allowing children to legally decide on engaging in sexual activities with adults (Fox News). Senate: Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have demanded answers from the Biden administration about the United Nation’s (U.N.) recent sponsorship of a report that asserts that minor children can consent to sex with adults. “The U.N.’s effort to normalize sex with minor children is barbaric. It violates kids’ basic human rights and ignores our responsibility to protect them from abuse. American taxpayer dollars shouldn’t fund pedophilia or any organization that promotes it,” said Kennedy of the report (senate.gov).