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The Conversation
The Conversation
Politics
Rodney Tiffen, Emeritus Professor, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney

How Rupert Murdoch helped create a monster – the era of Trumpism – and then lost control of it

Rupert Murdoch Donald Trump Jr. Donald Trump Fox News Fox Ron DeSantis Barack Obama Tucker Carlson Republican JD Vance

You can’t help but feel sorry for Rupert Murdoch.

In Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Dr Frankenstein created a monster that took on a life of its own, and which he could no longer control. Murdoch has outdone Frankenstein and created two monsters over which he has now lost control. They have left him floundering and threaten to inflict great damage on US democracy.

Murdoch’s first monster is the Fox News audience, which after long cultivation into the Fox News fantasy land, refuses to believe any news that does not fit its prejudices. Fox, as a result, feels compelled to reinforce its delusions rather than report accurately.

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