Deep Weekend Thoughts From Fox News Frat Boy: ‘Liberals Like War’ – Observer
When Roger Ailes discussed advancing Alisyn Camerotas career at Fox News Channel, he suggested a special location for his personal journalistic tutoring.
It might have to happen in a hotel, the Fox boss said. Do you know what Im saying?
Yes, she did. She spoke of this moment on Reliable Sources on CNN Sunday morning in a conversation with host Brian Stelter. Camerota now works at CNN. Ailes left as Fox News emperor last summer in a sexual harassment scandal.
I knew in my head at that moment that Im never going to that hotel under any circumstances, Camerota recalled of her conversation with Ailes. . . . And I remember vividly that I had sort of an out-of-body experience hovering over us in the office and thinking Is this it? Is this the end of my time here? Will I be fired if I dont do this?
A different sexual harassment scandal led to the departure last week of Foxs Bill OReilly, the host of The OReilly Factor, the highest-rated program on the highest-rated cable news channel.
The Mad Men culture of sexual coercion grew at the right-wing outlet in the 20 years that Ailes, OReilly and other brilliant but diabolical propagandists pushed racial and religious resentment along with reactionary rage to a frightened and dwindling white American middle class.
Along with help from Russian spies, Foxs distorted but powerful world view provided the momentum for a takeover of the entire government of the United States last fall by radicals and grifters under the impulsive and vindictive leadership of amateur President Donald Trump.
Like OReilly and Ailes, Trump has denied all charges of sexual misconduct, even the stuff hes bragged about. These three men of power have been allies, collaborators and friends for decades. Small world, huh?
Camerota said the harassment by Ailes was humiliating . . . embarrassing, demeaning. She said after she rejected his sexual proposition, Ailes switched to emotional harassment based on her unwillingness to say the things he wanted us to say during Foxs biased and fear-mongering reports.
I didnt share his world view, Camerota said. And he said Youre not saying the conservative things I want you to say. Seeking objectivity, she said she asked Ailes Isnt this supposed to be Fair and Balanced, which is Foxs ludicrous motto.
There is no other side, Ailes told her.
Camerota said she avoided being alone with Ailes in his office.
He would boom and bellow at me about how I was getting it wrong, she said.
Of the overall toxic culture at Fox, she said There was a lot of suffering in silence and people who felt humiliated and people who felt scared and people who felt intimidated.
It has been reported that a federal investigation of Fox is underway in Manhattan regarding the reporting of payments to female victims of Ailes and OReilly, because that hush money may have been reported falsely as compensation, a trick that could mislead investors.
Stelter devoted the first 39 minutes of his one-hour show to the news about Fox News. One highlight came early when Stelter showed a video clip of OReilly in 2004 explaining why big-shot stars like himself must be wary of chicks, dames and broads.
I think that the sexual harassment thing is used as a club, as I said, by many women, all right? OReilly said. Its something they have against men, a threat to keep men at bay.
MEDIA BUZZ: The Wisdom of Brother Tucker
Around the middle of his one-hour show on Fox, host Howard Kurtz found about eight minutes for the OReilly story, much of it hyping Foxs new prime-time schedule.
Tucker Carlson Tonight will move from the 9 p.m. hour to OReillys old 8 p.m. hour. The Five, a panel chat, moves from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sean Hannity remains at 10 p.m. to puff up and fluff up Trump.
In that the pre-recorded shows of OReilly and Hannity in recent months have been canned, stale and predictable, Kurtz saw a silver lining for the folks who sign his paychecks.
More live programming at night is a good thing in this breaking news environment, Kurtz said.
His super-duper, extra-special guest wasSurprise!Tucker Carlson himself, who addressed the Murkin people.
Liberals like war, Brother Tucker said. Its true.
THIS WEEK: Sessions sets you straight
Trumps henchmen dont always know the difference between strong and strict versus cruel and mean.
An example is Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, who spoke to ABC host George Stephanopoulos.
Trump has said the Dreamers can rest easy, although there have been detentions of some of these immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as undocumented children and grew up American.
STEHANOPOULOS: So, can they rest easy?
SESSIONS: Well, well see. I believe that everyone that enters the country unlawfully is subject to being deported. However, we dont have the ability to round up everybody and theres no plans to do this.
Sessions also pushed for Trumps delusional wall on the Mexican border which, Sessions says, will keep drugs and criminals Mexicans on the other side.
You sound quite confident, Stephanopoulos said. Do you have any evidence that Mexicos going to pay for it?
(This was one of Trumps campaign threats).
Well, Sessions said, were gonna get it paid for one way or the other.
Sessions last week ridiculed the state of Hawaii as some island in the Pacific where a federal judge there dared to rule against Trumps religiously bigoted Muslim ban.
Why not just call it the state of Hawaii? the host asked.
Heh-heh-heh, Sessions said. N-nobody has a sense of humor anymore.
Another guest was radio talk-show goofball Bill Cunningham, from Cincinnati.
Donald Trump is a rock star, Cunningham said. We love Donald J. Trump.
A third right-winger was Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, who said Donald Trump is the most divisive president since Abraham Lincoln. He represents an alternative world . . . You have two parallel universes here.
STATE OF THE UNION: Dana Bash subbed for host Jake Tapper on CNN and had a tough time keeping her panelists from talking over each other. One of the louder ones was Darrell Issa, the Republican Congressman from southern California, who offered only faint praise for The Great Leader.
The people in my district who did vote for me have some doubts at times about certain aspects of the Presidents behavior, Issa said. But Ill tell ya something: They dont have any question that hes appointed good people.
Another Republican House member to drop in was Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a member of the so-called Freedom Caucus (whatever that means). They blocked the attempt by Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan to destroy American health insurance.
Under the half-baked and failed Republican plan, about to be resurrected, the Republicans would take healthcare money away from poor and sick people and give it instead to healthy and wealthy people in the form of fat tax cuts.
Sanford didnt appreciate Trumps threat to back a primary candidate against him in 2018.
Those kinds of threats are counter-productive, he said. I dont work for him.
In defense of Sanford, it must be noted that the Freedom Caucus opposed Trumpcare not because it attacked peoples health insurance but because it wouldnt do enough damage.
FACE THE NATION: Who, exactly, are the bad dudes?
During the campaign, Trump often railed against bad dudes and bad hombres that he would send back to Mexico. So host John Dickerson on CBS asked Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly about the Dreamers caught up in the increasing amount of immigration busts.
They dont fit into the category of `bad dudes, Dickerson said. But theyre still being deported, anyway.
Kelly explained that sometimes the deportation cops find their targetan undocumented immigrant convicted of a crimein the company of five, six seven other people who, Kelly said, cant produce some form of proof of American citizenship but are otherwise without crime.
These are the kind of people Trump, Sessions and Kelly will deport if they come across them while persecuting someone else.
People fall into our hands incidentally, he said.
FOX NEWS SUNDAY: And whos gonna pay for it?
Host Chris Wallace interviewed Mick Mulvaney, Trumps director of the Office of Management and Budget. In that Trump has vaguely threatened to shut down the government or deny medical insurance subsidies to the poor if he doesnt get at least a $1 billion down payment from Congress to start his wall on the Mexican border, Wallace asked Mulvaney Will he sign a government-funding bill that does not include funding for the border wall?
Mulvaney replied, in part, We dont know yet.
WALLACE: Can he back down on the border wall given the fact that youve set this up?
MULVANEY: Sure. Let me put it to you this way: I like you. Ive met you a couple times. Im not going to negotiate with you on national television on Sunday. Well negotiate with the Democrats.
Another elected Republican not bowing to Trump is Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who has called for Trump to release his tax returns, as he promised in the campaign.
The president should be able to keep his word, Lankford told Wallace. This will be a distraction to his presidency all the way through . . . He said he was going to do it.
Even Karl Rove himself questioned the tactics of Trump, who keeps belching out promises to do major things quickly, easily and just as he commands.
This town doesnt work that way, Rove said of Washington. You may be able to cut a real-estate deal that way, but you cant govern the country that way.
Agreeing was Charles Lane of The Washington Post who said This is a guy who very often used the word quickly. He presented himself as somebody who had these extraordinary capabilities to transcend . . . normal politics.
MEET THE PRESS: None of your business
Host Chuck Todd on NBC welcomed Reince Priebus, Trumps chief of staff, who said the public has no right to know the names of the members of Trumps country clubs for millionaires in Florida and New Jersey.
Those members, Todd said, have access to Trump and his staff on Trumps frequent and expensive golf trips. Camp David, where most presidents spend many weekends, is not up to Trumps glitzy standards
Priebus said not to expect Trump to release names of fat cats who pay big bucks to schmooze with the Trump gang.
No, I dont think its anyI mean, this is the private business, its a private organization, its a private club, Priebus said. Of Trump, Priebus added Hes the boss.
Reliable conservative Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal expressed amazement at the chaos and random policies of the Trump administration.
This sense of confusion, she said. Is the White House really talking to the Congress? Is there really a tax bill thats being put together? I mean, a sense of Wow! Whats going on here?
In reference the ousting of OReilly from Fox, Noonan said I dont know what was in the water over there, but it wasnt good, it was poisonous. And Im glad theyre doing environmental cleanup.
More here:
Deep Weekend Thoughts From Fox News Frat Boy: 'Liberals Like War' - Observer
- US liberals license antisemitism when framed as Israel criticism psych study - The Times of Israel - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Libman: Too soon to write off the Quebec Liberals - Montreal Gazette - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- One Nation enters the fray in Tasmania while Liberals suffer big swing since last poll - DemosAU - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals Adjourn Debate on Conservatives' Call for Probe of Vancouver Condo Bailout and Brookfield Connection - The Bureau | Sam Cooper - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - The Spec - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - Winnipeg Free Press - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - TorontoToday.ca - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Liberals set to hold nomination for upcoming Toronto byelection - meadowlakeNOW - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- How ICACs Operation Rosny will give NSW Liberals months of hell - AFR - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Why Have Liberals Abandoned a Moral Reading of the Constitution? - The New Yorker - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- Political lobbyists, NSW Liberals and a fugitive developer are facing corruption allegations. Heres what you need to know - The Guardian - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- Liberals named in NSW corruption inquiry - The Saturday Paper - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- John Tory Jr. intends to run for Liberals in Beaches-East York: report - CityNews Toronto - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- John Tory Jr. announces intention to run for Liberals in Beaches-East York - CityNews Toronto - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- Carney doubled our deficit and the policies that the Liberals have brought forward': Poilievre - CTV News - July 3rd, 2026 [July 3rd, 2026]
- The unlikely cause bringing liberals and conservatives together - vox.com - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Quebec Liberals say housing crisis has become an affordability crisis as moving day arrives - The Pulse of the Eastern Townships - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- View from The Hill: Liberals now wedged in tunnel, staring at a sinkhole - The Conversation - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- View from The Hill: Even when theyre doing quite well, Liberals find a way to put their foot in it - The Conversation - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Afternoon front page: How Conservatives say they can gain on the Liberals; the Canadian who fled to Mexico for safety; and more - Yahoo News Canada - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Nassif, top Liberals named in ICAC branch-stacking and donations probe - AFR - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Liberals eat their own, harass Scott Wiener over Gaza stance: Robby Soave | RISING - The Hill - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Conservatives gain ground on Liberals as federal race narrows: poll - Toronto Sun - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Investigation declared into ties between fugitive developer and Liberals - SMH.com.au - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Liberals swoon over Southern Democrat who just has the sauce: But does he want to run in 2028? - AL.com - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Battle lost for Zempilas and WA Liberals in hope of winning war ahead - ABC News & Headlines Australian Broadcasting Corporation - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- The late-night speech that blew apart the NSW Liberals - SMH.com.au - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- On borrowed time? Why Liberals are starting to chatter about Angus Taylor - SMH.com.au - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Afternoon front page: How Conservatives can gain on the Liberals - National Post - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- The 2016 election sparked the demise of the Liberals - Sky News Australia - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Senior Liberals reject brain fart party rebrand call - The New Daily - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Conservatives are dying at higher rates than liberals. A new study points to mistrust in medicine - Fast Company - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Conservatives view addictive products more favorably than liberals, study finds - PsyPost - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Op-Ed: Rep. Buddy Carter: It is time for liberals to rediscover patriotism - Washington Reporter - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Opposition parties up in arms as Liberals use majority to speed up legislation before summer - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals ramming through legislation 'without proper scrutiny': Scheer - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals tout 21 bills passing House of Commons this year as MPs break for summer - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Conservatives blast Liberals for trying to 'ram' controversial lawful access bill through House - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Bloc says Liberals 'working as if they are the only party in the House' - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Navdeep Bains plans to run for the Liberals regardless of whether he wins the leadership - Toronto Star - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals set to force committee to wrap up review of lawful access bill - iPolitics - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- How the Quebec Liberals plan to protect the French language - CBC - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Liberals continue to be in the drivers seat with comfortable double-digit lead in polls: Nanos - CP24 - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Bill Maher tells liberals to stop 'partisan sulking' and join America 250 party - AOL.com - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Israel's Liberals Are Anything but Liberal - Haaretz - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Newsroom edition: Are the Liberals already surrendering to One Nation? Full Story podcast - The Guardian - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Rising inflation concerns. Liberals ahead while Conservative support hits a low not seen since November 2022. (Nanos) - Nanos Research - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Democrats Just Won The Midterms: Liberals Take Victory Lap Over Trump Declaring I Love the Inflation - Mediaite - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Ritz in The New York Times: Liberals Must Oppose Nationalizing AI - Progressive Policy Institute - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Beliefs Matter: New Study Shows Widening Mental Health Gap Between Conservatives and Liberals - Focus on the Family - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- What happens in the meantime? Critics question long road for Liberals' 'soft ban' on social media - The Hill Times - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Loyal Liberals: Deeply liberal at home and abroad, they feel well-represented by the Democratic Party - Pew Research Center - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Tony Abbott backs One Nation preference deal and says Liberals cant just be a little less woke than Labor - The Guardian - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Globe editorial: The Liberals think small on AI - The Globe and Mail - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- View from The Hill: Tony Abbott to tour the country, trying to energise Liberals - The Conversation - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Afternoon Update: Barnaby Joyce on foreign ownership; Liberals eye One Nation preference deal; and Australias path to World Cup glory - The Guardian - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Hanes: Are the Quebec Liberals poised for a different tone on language issues? - Montreal Gazette - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- In wake of protest, Liberals may avoid political price for vet cuts - CBC - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- The Really Big Show: Liberals tighten their control on Canadians - PentictonNow - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Liberals to accept Senate change to anti-hate bill, paving the way for C-9 to become law - iPolitics - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- The Really Big Show: Liberals tighten their control on Canadians - KelownaNow - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- The Really Big Show: Liberals tighten their control on Canadians - VernonNow - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- VIDEO: Will the Liberals make a preference deal with One Nation? - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Carney to unveil pitch for a 'more resilient, affordable food system' as Liberals aim to put more bills on the fast track - iPolitics - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Liberals Locking in Native Forest Destruction - tasgreensmps.org - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- GOLDSTEIN: Cmon Liberals, admit the Trudeau climate policy doesn't work - Toronto Sun - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Mixed reactions as Liberals step into a new Abbott era - AFR - June 12th, 2026 [June 12th, 2026]
- Conservatives and Liberals Have Diverging Health Outcomes. Why? - The Dispatch - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Tory leader takes aim at Liberals with a call for emergency debate on the economy - Canada's National Observer - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Tory leader takes aim at Liberals with call for emergency debate on the economy - CityNews Halifax - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- 'Backbiting and undermining': Leanne Castley calls it quits on the Canberra Liberals - The Canberra Times - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Why Tony Abbott could be the answer to the Liberals woes - The Nightly - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Guilbeaults exit is the best of a bad scenario for Liberals - The Hill Times - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Former opposition leader quits Liberals over bullying - The Canberra Times - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Tory leader takes aim at Liberals with call for emergency debate on the economy - CityNews Calgary - June 3rd, 2026 [June 3rd, 2026]
- Tory leader takes aim at Liberals with call for emergency debate on the economy - Yahoo! Finance Canada - May 31st, 2026 [May 31st, 2026]
- Tory leader takes aim at Liberals with call for emergency debate on the economy - Toronto Star - May 31st, 2026 [May 31st, 2026]
- CTV QP: Examining Steven Guilbeault's exit from the Liberals - CTV News - May 31st, 2026 [May 31st, 2026]
- Tory leader takes aim at Liberals with call for emergency debate on the economy - The Lethbridge Herald - May 31st, 2026 [May 31st, 2026]
- What will the Liberals do to fix the budget? Tell us, Mr Parton - Region Canberra - May 31st, 2026 [May 31st, 2026]