CNN's Oliver Darcy discusses how a former Tucker Carlson Tonight producer called Fox News' audience “terrorists, but especially dumb ones”
Published
Citation From the March 13, 2023, edition of CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront
ERIN BURNETT (HOST): So Oliver, you have found a fascinating exchange and a very illuminating exchange. What does it reveal?
OLIVER DARCY (REPORTER): It reveals again that, behind the scenes, Fox executives and people working on some of the biggest shows, like Tucker Carlson's program, didn't believe the lies being pushed by Donald Trump and his team and privately trashed them behind the scenes.
I'll read you this exchange. It's between Raj Shah and Alex Pfeiffer, a former producer for Tucker Carlson, Raj Shah texts Pfeiffer. He says, “You might want to address this, but this stuff is so f-ing insane. Vote rigging to the tune of millions? C'mon." Alex Pfeiffer responds, “Is it even worth addressing again tonight? It is so insane but our viewers believe it so addressing again how her stupid Venezuela affidavit isn't proof might insult them." And then Pfeiffer goes on, later on in this exchange, he says, “This whole thing is surreal. Like negotiating with terrorists, but especially dumb ones. Cousin," -- redacted -- “types, not Saudi royalty."
And so, I mean, this really highlights what they thought about Trump's election lies. Privately trashing them behind the scenes, but entertaining them on air because the audience wanted it.
BURNETT: Wow, I mean, it is pretty incredible. And saying directly to -- you say, Raj Shah, right? Who is, of course, with team Trump -- what they thought about it, right? Making it very clear what they thought about it.