Bret Baier and Tucker Carlson exchanged text messages expressing concern about the Fox News Decision Desk’s premature declaration of Joe Biden as the winner of Arizona on Election Night.
To recall, during the 2020 election, Fox News Decision Desk called Arizona for Joe Biden even as voters were still standing in line, waiting to cast their ballots.
Fox News viewers were furious that night because of this.
The Associated Press hadn’t even called Arizona yet, but Fox News did.
Tucker Carlson recognized that Fox News’ decision to call Arizona while the polls were still open would likely anger the network’s viewers.
“I continue to think the company isn’t taking the [sic] seriously enough,” Tucker Carlson texted Baier, the Daily Beast reported. “We need to do something to reassure our core audience. They’re our whole business model.”
During the election, Tucker Carlson reached out to Bret Baier, asking if there was anything he could do to prevent the Decision Desk from prematurely calling more states.
“Is there some way I could help?” Tucker asked. “Obviously I’d never do anything without full approval from the top.”
“We could lose our audience,” he added.
Bret Baier informed Tucker that he had been seeking answers from higher-ups.
“We have been pushing for answers,” Baier told Tucker. “I have pressed them to slow. And I think they will slow walk Nevada. The votes don’t come in until tomorrow.”
“Please let me know if they don’t seem to be obeying,” Carlson replied. “We could really f**k up a lot of what we’ve built.”
“I’ve got four more years here,” Tucker Carlson said. “I’m stuck with Fox. Got to do whatever I can to keep our numbers up and our viewers happy.”
“Yes,” Baier agreed.
Despite the backlash, Fox News maintained its decision to project Joe Biden as the winner of Arizona before the polls closed.
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