‘Deplatforming Works’: AOC Fundraises Off of Tucker Carlson’s Ouster from Fox News

Caroline Downey
·3 min read
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a victory lap on social media following Tucker Carlson’s ouster from Fox News, declaring that “deplatforming works” and sending out a fundraising pitch touting her efforts to get Carlson off the air.

Ocasio-Cortez frequently cheered on left-wing advertiser boycotts against Fox News, accusing the network of creating an environment that would lead to political violence.

“Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy,” Ocasio-Cortez snided in an Instagram live video.

He is “the person who is arguably responsible for driving some of the most amounts of death threats, violent threats, not just to my office but to plenty of people across the country,” she said.

The congresswoman warned that Carlson, whom she compared to a movie villain, could come back to haunt detractors in the near future.

“But deplatforming works, and it is important, and there you go, good things can happen,” she said.

A message to supporters from Ocasio-Cortez’s office, obtained by Punchbowl News, touts her efforts to silence Carlson, who she accuses of being “directly” responsible for the events of January 6.

“Alexandria directly challenges Tucker Carlson and all the many voices like him that are sadly still on the air. She deftly exposes their hypocrisy, calls out their racism and misogyny, and advances policy that will create the more just, inclusive world they so desperately oppose,” the message reads.

Fox News suddenly announced Monday that Carlson would be leaving the company after holding the 8 p.m. prime time spot there since 2016. Speculation has since swirled about the motivations, timing, and closed-door conversations surrounding the move. The departure comes only a week after Fox was ordered to fork over $787 million to Dominion Voting Systems in a lawsuit dealing with allegedly defamatory statements on-air talent made about its ballot machines after the 2020 election. Carlson was cited across documents that Dominion’s attorneys found during the discovery process.

Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch is believed to have been the driver of the decision to axe Carlson, who had the second-highest-performing program in cable news in 2022, according to the Los Angeles Times. Sources told the publication that Murdoch was concerned about Carlson’s coverage of the January 6 Capitol Riot, about which the host downplayed as “mostly peaceful chaos” and promoted the theory that government agents were involved.

Murdoch was also reportedly motivated by a discrimination lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, a former producer for Carlson who accused his team of anti-semitism and fostering a toxic, misogynistic work culture.

Besides Ocasio-Cortez, other left-wing personalities, such as the women of The View, have been giddy about Carlson’s exit. During a Monday segment, co-host of the progressive panel Ana Navarro led the audience in singing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam to gloat about Carlson’s removal.

“He is responsible for the degradation that we see somewhat of our democracy in this country. And I just see, as a faithful person, look at God,” co-host Sunny Hostin added.

Former Trump staffer Alyssa Farah Griffith also chimed in: “Russian propaganda hardest hit. He’s been the biggest purveyor of pro-Russia talking points, so it’s a good day for the Ukraine people.”

“Karma doesn’t lose anyone’s address,” Hostin said.

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