Russian State Media Airs Tucker Carlson’s Show Amid Controversy

Controversial conservative commentator Tucker Carlson’s show will now regularly air on Russia’s state-run television channel, Rossiya 24, despite the anchor’s claim he is not involved.

Dean Thompson, the head of programming and production at the Tucker Carlson Network, asserted, “Any use of our content on that channel is without legal permission.” 

Carlson’s show, known for conspiracy theories and pro-Russian rhetoric, has long been a source of concern, and his claims have ranged in idiocy from suggestions that Lyme disease is a bioweapon targeting the poor to downplaying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a mere “border dispute.”

Carlson’s affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin is no secret, and earlier this year, he traveled to Moscow for a widely criticized interview with the Russian leader, which was seen as a softball session. Despite Putin’s subsequent mockery of Carlson, the conservative has defended the Russian dictator’s actions. One of them is the killing of dissidents, a stance that came under intense scrutiny after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Russian custody.

The Russian government’s decision to air Carlson’s content on the state-run Rossiya 24 channel is unsurprising, given his history of pro-Russian rhetoric and his apparent willingness to amplify the Kremlin’s narratives. In a country where independent media outlets face severe restrictions and are often labeled as “foreign agents” or “undesirable organizations,” the inclusion of Carlson’s program on a national TV channel suggests a calculated move to bolster the Kremlin’s influence.

The situation has also caused tensions within the Republican Party, and even senior figures like Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) have criticized Carlson’s stance on aid to Ukraine, which they believe has contributed to the hesitancy of some Republicans to support the ongoing war effort.

As Carlson faces diminished popularity in the United States, it remains to be seen whether he can cultivate enough Russian audience to make up for the viewership losses. However, the massive Western sanctions imposed on Russia may make it difficult for him to profit from this arrangement.