This week the Mediaverse was startled by the news that Rupert Murdoch, Master of Fox News and myriad other right-wing propaganda, has retired. While this was an unexpected announcement, it is not particularly earthshattering. Murdoch had previously put his son Lachlan in charge and was not making day to day decisions.
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However, the biggest beneficiary of Murdoch's ultra-conservative Fox News Channel in recent years has undoubtedly been Donald Trump. They featured him on the air, covered his cult rallies, defended every criticism, and attacked his political opponents. For all intents and purposes, they had become the "Trump News Network." And what did they get for it?
SEE THIS: Trump Viciously Attacks Fox News, the Network He Says is 'Dead, Totally Fake, Unwatchable'
After having been the recipient of perpetual Trump-fluffing from the moment he descended on his golden escalator, Trump is now somewhat less than grateful. It took him 24 hours to even mention the retirement of Murdoch. And when he did so, he neither thanked nor praised Old Rupe. Instead, he took a backhanded slap by passively-aggressively taking credit for Murdoch stepping down...
"Many people are saying that,'You forced Rupert Murdoch into retirement!' I do not believe this is so, but while we’re at it, how about getting rid of 'Democrat' Mitch McConnell, who gives the Radical Left Lunatics, together with his small band of automatic 'yes' votes, EVERYTHING they want. There is ZERO Republican Leadership in the United States Senate. MAGA!!!"
Don't be fooled by Trump claiming that he doesn't believe that he "forced Rupert Murdoch into retirement." His cliché assertion that "Many people are saying..." is his way of pretending that it's others - always unidentified - not him, who are giving him the credit that he so plainly doesn't deserve.
There are other, better reasons for Murdoch retiring. For starters, he is 92 years old and has had some recent health problems. He is also likely to be seeking relief from all of the legal tribulations of Fox News. They just agreed to a 3/4 of billion dollar defamation lawsuit settlement, and more lawsuits are pending. Now he can dump all of that in Lachlan's lap and set sail on his yacht.
SEE ALSO: With Lawsuits, Lost Hosts, and Lying Pundits, the Future of Fox News Has Never Been Weaker
Don't expect much change at Fox News under Lachlan's reign. He is at least as conservative as his father. However, when Rupert passes on, his voting shares in the corporation will likely be distributed among his four eldest children. And since James and Elizabeth are more left-leaning, their combined shares could be enough to oust Lachlan and take over.
Trump's ungrateful neglect of Murdoch was made worse by his exploiting the opportunity to lash out at a different foe. Trump has been bashing Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell for several years. And now he is openly calling for him to retire. Which isn't much of a stretch considering McConnell's recent cognitive glitches.
However, Trump goes further with an utterly deranged description of McConnell as a "Democrat" who "gives the Radical Left Lunatics...EVERYTHING they want." This is the same McConnell whose knee-jerk conservativism delivered three Supreme Court justices for Trump. Then Trump closes by insulting the rest of his congressional confederates as providing "ZERO Republican Leadership in the United States Senate." That includes reliable Trump toadies such as Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Tommy Tuberville.
All of this is further evidence of how deeply disturbed Trump is and how rapidly his decline is accelerating. He can't distinguish between rational Democrats and extremist Republicans. He is obsessed with even the slightest bit of perceived criticism, and he has forsaken his most adamant admirers at Fox News. He is becoming more and more isolated in his own anxieties and fantastical delusions. And yet, he remains the leading candidate for the Republication nomination for president. Which tells you all you need to know about the Republican Party, Trump, and Fox News.
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