In a revealing podcast appearance, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has emphatically ruled out the possibility of ever taking the helm at CNN, a network where he once worked, labelling it as "totally irrelevant." His comments come amidst significant corporate upheaval, as Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has just rejected a monumental $108 billion all-cash acquisition offer from Paramount.
The Hypothetical Offer and a Blunt Rejection
During a recent episode of the All-In Podcast, hosted by investors including Jason Calacanis, Carlson was posed a direct question. Calacanis asked what the political commentator would do if he were "forced" to run CNN as its CEO for a decade. "Well, actually, I've had that conversation," Carlson responded, referencing his tenure at CNN as a political correspondent from 2000 to 2005.
He did not mince his words in his dismissal. "No way," Carlson stated. He compared the prospect to a depressing return to a childhood home, describing the network as "musty" and filled with "sad posters from the 80s." He further explained his drastic solution: "I would just shut it down and build something new." Carlson, who now runs his own Tucker Carlson Network, argued that legacy outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post are "speaking to no one."
The $108 Billion Deal That Never Was
This media drama unfolds against the backdrop of a failed mega-merger. David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, made a last-minute bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, CNN's parent company. The proposed deal, worth a staggering $108 billion, was formally rejected by WBD's board.
In a sharp statement, WBD Chairman Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr. urged shareholders to reject Ellison's offer, criticising its financial backing. The board claimed the offer relied on "an unknown and opaque revocable trust" and lacked the full financial "backstop" from the Ellison family that had been suggested.
Political Overtones and a Potential CNN Overhaul
The potential acquisition carried profound political implications. David Ellison's father, 81-year-old billionaire Larry Ellison, is a known ally of former President Donald Trump. Sources told the Wall Street Journal that if the deal had succeeded, David Ellison planned sweeping changes at CNN, a network Trump frequently derides as "fake news."
Reports from The Guardian indicated that Larry Ellison had discussed firing specific CNN hosts disliked by Trump, such as Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar, during talks with White House officials. Trump himself has reportedly expressed a desire for new ownership and programming changes at the network.
The rejection of the Paramount bid leaves CNN's immediate future under the current Warner Bros Discovery ownership, even as high-profile figures like Tucker Carlson publicly write off its relevance. The network continues to be a focal point in America's intense media and political landscape.
