Inside the Chaos in the GOP

Sep 24, 2023 | As infighting among House Republicans threatens to push the country into a government shutdown, Jonathan Capehart and his panel discuss the roots of Republican extremism including the influence of retiring Fox Chairman, Rupert Murdoch.

The Murdoch Story Is the Endless Pursuit of Control, Power and Profit – Rupert’s Resignation Is Unlikely to Change That

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: Despite being deeply ensconced in global media, business and political circles, Rupert Murdoch liked to portray himself as an outsider ‘sticking it’ to the elites

Rupert Murdoch is handing the reins of News Corp to son Lachlan but he will remain involved with the media empire he built. Photograph: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
On 9 September 1953, a small page-two item in the Adelaide News announced: “Mr Rupert Murdoch, son of the late Sir Keith Murdoch, is to join the staff of News Ltd.” Seventy years later almost to the day, the news of his resignation as chairman of the global media empire that company became arrived to noticeably more fanfare.

When I started writing about the 92-year-old’s early years, the inevitability of his exit presented a poignant vantage point to take stock of how the Murdoch model came to be, when the endpoint — and the damage — is clear.

Like News Corporation’s new chair, Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert was groomed for success by his father, Sir Keith. One of Australia’s most prominent and controversial newspapermen, Murdoch Sr had spent his final years acquiring companies such as News Ltd as part of a small family chain for his occasionally wayward son to inherit — a son he regarded as a “zealous Laborite” with “alarming left-wing views”, but hoped might lead a “useful altruistic and full life” in the media. » | Walter Marsh | Monday, September 25, 2023

The Guardian View on the Murdoch Handover: Lachlan Inherits a Dark Legacy

THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: Through his businesses, Rupert Murdoch pushed a world view with the pursuit of money at its heart

Rupert Murdoch ‘had his most malign effects in the US’. Photograph: Mary Altaffer/AP
There are not many chairmanships of companies that would so fascinate writers, and television producers, that they would make four series about them. Rupert Murdoch’s long tenure at Fox and News Corp was one. For viewers of Succession, this week’s announcement that Mr Murdoch is handing control to his eldest son, Lachlan, is a real-life coda to a dynastic struggle in which they are already immersed – in fictionalised form. Lachlan’s reputation, as the most rightwing of the three siblings seen as plausible successors, is deeply dismaying, given the power he will now wield and the context in which he will wield it – above all in the United States, where Donald Trump aims to run for president next year. » | Editorial | Friday, September 22, 2023

Former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Says Rupert Murdoch’s ‘Anger-tainment’ Damaged the Democratic World

GUARDIAN – INTERNATIONAL: Longstanding Murdoch critic says mogul leaves ‘hell of a legacy’, as minister suggests he will still play ‘very big role’

Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says Rupert Murdoch has left a ‘hell of a legacy’ after the media mogul announced he was stepping down as chair of News Corp. Composite: AAP/AP
Rupert Murdoch has been accused of doing “enormous damage to the democratic world” by a former Australian prime minister, as senior political figures in his country of birth greet news of the mogul stepping down as chair of his media empire with scepticism.

Malcolm Turnbull, a former Liberal prime minister and advocate for a royal commission into the Murdoch media empire, said the media mogul had created an “anger-tainment ecosystem” that had left the US “angrier and more divided than it’s been at any time since the civil war”.

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, described Murdoch as a “controversial but influential” figure, while other senior political figures have noted that his decision to step down as chair of Fox and News Corp – but serve as “chairman emeritus” – will still allow him a “big role” in his media empire. » | Paul Karp, Chief political correspondent | Friday, September 22, 2022

Key takeaways from Michael Wolff’s book on Murdoch, Fox and US politics: Here’s what we’ve learned so far from the eagerly awaited book The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty »

Rupert Murdoch Turned Passion and Grievance Into Money and Power

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The retiring Fox leader built a noise-and-propaganda machine by giving his people what they wanted — and sometimes by teaching them what to want.

Rupert Murdoch on Thursday announced his retirement from the boards of Fox and News Corporation. | Mike Segar/Reuters
The polite way to describe the legacy of a man like Rupert Murdoch is to leave aside whether his accomplishments were good or bad and simply focus on how big they were. It is to eulogize him like Kendall Roy memorializing his father, Logan, in “Succession,” the HBO corporate drama none too slightly based on the Murdochs, among other dynasties. Maybe he had “a terrible force,” as Kendall put it, but “he built, and he acted. … He made life happen.”

But the polite way is exactly the wrong way to assess Mr. Murdoch, who on Thursday announced his retirement from the boards of Fox and News Corporation. Mr. Murdoch achieved nothing the polite way. His style and his work were direct and blunt. Let us take his measure his way.

Rupert Murdoch’s empire used passion and grievance as fuel and turned it into money and power.

His tabloids ran on the idea of publishing for readers as they were, not according to some platonic ideal of how one wished them to be. That meant pinups and prize giveaways and blaring scandal headlines. » | By James Poniewozik | Published: Thursday, September 21, 2023; updated: Friday, September 22, 2023

Steve Schmidt Explains Why Rupert Murdoch's Retirement Could Mean the End for Fox News | The Warning

Sep 21, 2023 | Steve Schmidt reacts to Rupert Murdoch stepping down as chairman of NewsCorp. He discusses how Rupert harmed American democracy and why Fox News could be in trouble under Lachlan Murdoch's reign.

Thanks for speaking the truth, Mr Schmidt. We wouldn't have had that stupid Brexit had it not been for Rupert Murdoch and his poison. – © Mark Alexander

Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Fox and News Corp. Chairman, Son Lachlan Now Chairman of Both

FilmMagic
VARIETY: Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as Fox and New Corp chairman, the companies announced today. His son, Lachlan, will take over the role at each company as Rupert moves into a chairman emeritus role. Rupert’s career at Fox began nearly 70 years ago in 1954. The new board moves will be effective as of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of each company in mid-November.

“On behalf of the FOX and News Corp boards of directors, leadership teams, and all the shareholders who have benefited from his hard work, I congratulate my father on his remarkable 70-year career,” said Lachlan Murdoch in a statement. “We thank him for his vision, his pioneering spirit, his steadfast determination, and the enduring legacy he leaves to the companies he founded and countless people he has impacted. We are grateful that he will serve as Chairman Emeritus and know he will continue to provide valued counsel to both companies.” » | Zack Sharf | Thursday, September 21, 2023

Rupert Murdoch Often Wishes Donald Trump Dead, Michael Wolff Book Says

THE GUARDIAN: Media mogul has become ‘a frothing-at-the-mouth’ Trump critic, Fire and Fury author writes in new book, The Fall

Donald Trump speaks to Rupert Murdoch at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, in June 2016. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Rupert Murdoch loathes Donald Trump so much that the billionaire has not just soured on him as a presidential candidate but often wishes for his death, the author Michael Wolff writes in his eagerly awaited new book on the media mogul, The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty.

According to Wolff, Murdoch, 92, has become “a frothing-at-the-mouth” enemy of the 77-year-old former US president, often voicing thoughts including “This would all be solved if … ” and “How could he still be alive, how could he?” » | Martin Pengelly in Washington | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Murdoch Tells Trump He Will Not Back Fresh White House Bid – Report

THE GUARDIAN: Media mogul turns to ‘DeFuture’ Ron DeSantis after ex-president’s poor showing in midterm elections

Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump in 2016. His media outlets have now rounded on the former president, calling him a loser and a flop. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Rupert Murdoch has reportedly warned Donald Trump his media empire will not back any attempt to return to the White House, as former supporters turn to the youthful Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

After the Republican party’s disappointing performance in the US midterm elections, in particular the poor showing by candidates backed by Trump, Murdoch’s rightwing media empire appears to be seeking a clean break from the former president’s damaged reputation and perceived waning political power.

Last week, Murdoch’s influential media empire, including right-leaning Fox News, his flagship paper the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post, each rounded on Trump, calling him a loser and a flop responsible for dragging the Republicans into “one political fiasco after another”. » | Mark Sweney | Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Rupert Murdoch’s Disinformation Media Empire | The Mehdi Hasan Show

Jul 23, 2021 • An undervaccinated population in the United States where the government literally can’t give Covid-19 inoculations away; the Donald Trump presidency; and the January 6th insurrection on the United States Capitol. There’s a case to be made that none of these things would have happened without Rupert Murdoch and Fox News. Fellow Australian Malcolm Turnbull, the former prime minister, joins Mehdi to discuss Murdoch, Trump, the spread of disinformation and the rise of authoritarianism.

Murdoch Gets Vaccinated as His Media Outlets Spread Lies, Attack Essential Workers | All In | MSNBC

After getting vaccinated, Rupert Murdoch strongly encouraged people to get the vaccine and thanked essential workers. Meanwhile, his minions at Fox News and the New York Post are spreading lies about the coronavirus and bullying health care workers. Aired on 12/18/2020.

Rupert Murdoch Paper Prints Picture of Duchess of Cambridge's Bare Bottom

A Rupert Murdoch paper has followed German tabloid Bild in
publishing photos of the Duchess of Cambridge's bare bottom
snapped on her Australian tour with Prince William.

THE GUARDIAN: Sydney Daily Telegraph criticises 'ridiculous' UK media ban as it follows German tabloid Bild in printing controversial image

One of Rupert Murdoch's Australian newspapers has published a picture showing the Duchess of Cambridge's bare bottom, refusing to follow a "ridiculous" ban imposed by the British media.

The image was taken during the royal couple's tour of Australia in April when they showed off their infant son George, and was run in the Sydney Daily Telegraph a day after it appeared in German tabloid Bild, which declared she had a "beautiful bum".

It shows the Duchess of Cambridge's blue and white summer dress lifted by a gust of wind when the royal couple got out of a helicopter in the Blue Mountains, 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Sydney.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph said British newspapers had refused to run the photo out of respect to the royals, but in a comment piece said this was "an antiquated code of etiquette" under the headline "My bare lady: Derri-heir to the throne is fair game."

"It seems a bit ridiculous to expect the rest of the world's media to follow suit, particularly in a world in which flesh and commercialism go hand in hand," said Telegraph social writer Annette Sharp.

"If the duchess can't be bothered protecting herself by having hem weights sewn into her garments, why should the media protect her?" Read on and comment » | Agence France-Presse | Wednesday, May 28, 2014

THE SYDNEY DAILY TELEGRAPH: Why should the media stick to an antiquated code of etiquette when Kate doesn’t bother to protect her own modesty? » | Annette Sharp | Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Danke für dieses arschgeile Wochenende! »

Wendi Deng's 'Love Note for Tony Blair' Published

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Wendi Deng, former wife of Rupert Murdoch, wrote about loving Tony Blair's "good body" and "piercing blue eyes"

Wendi Deng, the former wife of Rupert Murdoch, allegedly developed a passionate obsession with Tony Blair and wrote a note in which she rhapsodised about his “good body and really really good legs [and] Butt”.

Miss Deng is said to have become infatuated with the former Prime Minister while she was still married to the media mogul.

In the note, Chinese-born Miss Deng wrote in broken English: “Oh, s***, oh, s***. Whatever why I’m so so missing Tony. Because he is so so charming and his clothes are so good.

“He has such good body and he has really really good legs Butt… And he is slim tall and good skin. Pierce blue eyes which I love. Love his eyes. Also I love his power on the stage… and what else and what else and what else… [all sic]”

The contents of the sensational note are detailed in Vanity Fair magazine, which described it as “a steamy, lovelorn missive”.

Mr Blair has denied all allegations of an affair with Miss Deng. Friends of Miss Deng say the pair were never more than friends. » | Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor | Wednesday, February 05, 2014

DAILY EXPRESS: Murdoch spitting blood after 'love' note from ex-wife to Tony Blair surfaces: IT has always been one of the weirdest true stories in modern history. ¶ Time was when Rupert Murdoch and leaders of the Labour Party hated each other with a vengeance but in the mid-Nineties Tony Blair shocked the traditional wing of his own party by jetting off to a shindig hosted by the News Corp tycoon on an Australian island. From then on it was kissy-kissy all the way, with Murdoch a frequent visitor to No 10 once Blair was in power. » | Simon Edge | Thursday, February 06, 2014

Farage Suggests Conservative Pact at Secret Dinner with Murdoch

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, held a private dinner with Rupert Murdoch earlier this week in which he suggested he would form an electoral pact with the Conservatives if the Prime Minister stepped down.

The media tycoon invited Mr Farage to a dinner at his central London flat on Tuesday evening in the wake of Ukip’s strong performance at the Eastleigh by-election.

It was the pair’s first meeting and underlines the growing political influence of the fringe party. The Ukip leader is understood to have told Mr Murdoch that he hopes to win half of the seats in next year’s European election.

He said he will then set out plans to join forces with the Conservatives to fight Labour in the 2015 general election, but only if David Cameron agrees to step down as the party leader, well-placed sources said.

Mr Murdoch is said to be supportive of Mr Farage’s views towards Europe and his backing for new grammar schools, but more sceptical about Ukip’s stance on immigration. The emergence of the secret meeting is likely to add to the growing pressure on the Prime Minister amid speculation that Cabinet ministers are positioning themselves for future leadership bids. » | Robert Winnett, Political Editor | Thursday, March 07, 2013

Tweeter Murdoch Savages 'Lying' Biden
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: WASHINGTON: Rupert Murdoch has taken to Twitter to savage the Obama-Biden campaign, appearing to throw his full support behind the Republican challenger, Mitt Romney.

The 81-year-old News Corporation chief accused the Vice-President, Joe Biden, of lying about his administration's relationship with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and, over the deadly attack on the US consulate in Libya. ''Nightmare for Israel if Obama wins. Biden outright lied about personal relations with Bibi. Susan Rice for State real nightmare,'' Mr Murdoch wrote. » | Arthur Macmillan | Monday, October 15, 2012

British PM Appears Before Media Inquiry
The cosy relationship between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Rupert Murdoch's media empire has been exposed at a government inquiry in London. Cameron has been facing uncomfortable questions over his ties to Murdoch's UK operation, and its former head Rebekah Brooks. Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports from London.

Murdoch Insider Rebekah Brooks Charged in Phone Hacking Investigation

Murdoch 'Unfit' to Run Global Empire
A group of British members of parliament say media boss Rupert Murdoch is unfit to lead a global business empire. They found him responsible for what they called a culture of illegal phone hacking. Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports from London.

Related »

UK Lawmakers: Rupert Murdoch Unfit to Run Company

REUTERS.COM: Rupert Murdoch is unfit to run a major international company, British lawmakers said on Tuesday, finding him responsible for a culture of illegal phone hacking that has convulsed his News Corporation media empire.

Pulling few punches, the lawmakers listed failings of the 81-year-old News Corp chief, his son James and a company they said had showed "willful blindness" about the scale of hacking that existed at the British News of the World tabloid.

The cross-party parliamentary committee, which approved the report by a majority of six to four, also scolded News Corp's British newspaper arm for misleading the British parliament during its five year investigation into the hacking of the phones of celebrities, murder victims, politicians and soldiers.

But it split along party lines, with members from Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party voting against the report, saying they did not agree with its view that the Australian-born Murdoch was not fit to run a major company.

Cameron, who has acknowledged that Britain's political elite had been in thrall to the Murdochs for years, is facing criticism ahead of local elections this week that he was too close to the media tycoon.

The report said there had been huge failures in corporate governance which raised questions about the competence of Rupert's 39-year-old son, James. » | Georgina Prodhan and Kate Holton | LONDON | Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Cash for Cameron: Murdoch’s Glee?
BBC: Hell hath no fury like a media mogul scorned.

Witness Rupert Murdoch's tweet: "@rupertmurdoch: Of course there must be a full independent inquiry on both sides. In great detail, and with consequences. Trust must be established."

And the Sun's editorial which says: "Millions will wonder if Osborne scrapped the 50p rate after a few cosy lunches with millionaire backers."

Could it be that Rupert Murdoch wishes to see the man who set up the Leveson Inquiry go through the same agonisingly painful scrutiny as he has?

And why not, many will ask, after the extraordinary video of the Tory co-treasurer offering to sell access to the prime minister's private dinner table and his policy unit. Shouldn't we be told which donors the PM has meetings and dinners with?

Number 10 are for now sticking to the line that what happens in David Cameron's private flat is, well, private. However, they must know that it is very hard to explain the distinction between what happens downstairs on official business and upstairs on private business. So, the pressure will mount, particularly as Mr Cameron himself has said that transparency "is the best disinfectant".

We are already told who gives money to political parties, but what access they get in return is not published. On the Today programme this morning Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude confirmed what the Conservative website advertises - that you can pay to have dinner with the PM by spending £50,000 to join the Leader's Group. » | Nick Robinson | Political Editor | BBC | Monday, March 26, 2012

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