The Rest Is Politics A Deal With the Devil? Murdoch and New Labour (Part 2)
16 snips
Oct 16, 2025 
Michael Wolff, a two-time biographer of Rupert Murdoch, shares insights into the media mogul's influential role in British politics. The discussion reveals how Murdoch's partnership with Margaret Thatcher transformed both his identity and the media landscape. Wolff delves into the motives behind Murdoch's acquisition of the Times, highlighting the clash between his tabloid roots and desires for prestige. The conversation also uncovers the implications of Thatcher's closeness to Murdoch, which allowed him unprecedented power and set new dynamics within the political-media system.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Power Through Political Alignment
- Rupert Murdoch cultivated political influence by backing winners and aligning with leaders who amplified his interests.
- His relationship with Margaret Thatcher helped shape his politics and granted him political impunity in Britain.
Why Murdoch Wanted The Times
- Murdoch sought the Times not for tabloids' mass reach but for prestige and influence over elites.
- Owning both tabloid and broadsheet gave him a 'megaphone' across classes and global ambition.
Establishment Ambivalence
- Murdoch oscillated between wanting establishment respectability and rejecting it, shaping his media strategy.
- This tension made him both an insider-seeking figure and an insurgent creator of a new establishment.
