CNN “Reliable Sources” host Brian Stelter came after his rival Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson for spreading misinformation (and sometimes, outright lies) about the coronavirus.
During Sunday’s edition of “Reliable Sources,” Stelter said that Carlson is helping create an epidemic of “Foxitis” across the country.
“Murdochworld’s most popular shows have popularized some dark, disturbing, damaging narratives about Covid — first downplaying the virus last year, minimizing the risks, and now, by sowing confusion,” Stelter said, referring to NewsCorp owner Rupert Murdoch.
Not every Fox News anchor has been openly antivax, and Stelter made sure to mention that some of the network’s talent, like Bret Baier and Dana Perino, have told the world they’ve gotten vaccinated. Carlson mentioned that he got his COVID-19 vaccine too, but still continues to spend time on his nightly show fearmongering about the vaccine and spreading dangerous theories about its impact on people’s health.
“He claims to be pro-vaccine and said that he’s just asking questions, but he’s not seeking the answers. So the rest of us have to,” Stelter said.
Stelter added that he knows that there are people inside Fox News who are upset by Tucker’s comments. “He’s scaring his audience so recklessly that even some of his own colleagues called him out for it on Twitter,” Stelter said, adding that some people within Fox News find Carlson’s rhetoric “irresponsible and damaging.”