Tucker Carlson Is Leading the Anti-Vax Right

In this version of reality, nothing you read or see can be trusted—except, that is, for Tucker Carlson, a champion of all the people fed up with being told what to do and say and think. Thankfully, they have a frozen-food heir with a perennially pursed lip to turn to. 

Carlson is making vaccines a part of his larger cultural narrative. This is profoundly cynical and could have life and death consequences for his viewers. It’s also cowardly—Carlson is hiding behind the pretext of “just asking questions,” allowing him to deny that he has any insidious intent at all. 

It’s all bullshit, of course. Despite Carlson’s claims, there is conclusive evidence that the vaccines are safe for the vast majority of people. If a debate is being shut down, it’s because having one isn’t necessary. Carlson isn’t even trying to have one. It’s not like his show features public health experts debating vaccine science. Last week, his show featured Alex Berenson, a former journalist and thriller writer who has risen to prominence as a Covid truther. 

Carlson is hardly alone on Fox, whose coverage of the vaccine has shifted markedly since Joe Biden became president. Laura Ingraham hosted Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vax king, on her podcast last month; Sean Hannity has admitted he has “doubts” about the vaccine. These hosts are well positioned to talk to actual public health experts and to provide their viewers with the truth about vaccines, which no one is suppressing. They invite cranks on instead. 

*** This article has been archived for your research. The original version from The New Republic can be found here ***