The Rest Is Politics Murdoch's Succession Battle and the Fight for Fox News
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Nov 7, 2025 
Join journalist Michael Wolff, a two-time Rupert Murdoch biographer, as he dives deep into the intricate dynamics of the Murdoch family. Wolff reveals how Lachlan and James Murdoch's rivalry reflects their chaotic family ties, resembling the drama of Succession. He discusses Rupert Murdoch's regrets about Fox's influence on Trump and his attempts to pivot toward DeSantis. The conversation also covers the internal crises facing Fox News and the implications for its star anchors amid shifting political tides.
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Ambition Culminated In Bitter Irony
- Rupert Murdoch's lifelong goal was to elect a U.S. president and that ambition shaped his media strategy.
- The irony is he succeeded with Donald Trump, whom he personally detests and views as unfit.
Backing DeSantis Was A Strategic Misfire
- Murdoch tried to replace Trump by backing Ron DeSantis and instructing Fox to limit Trump coverage.
- The strategy failed because DeSantis lacked charisma and couldn't match Trump's ratings pull.
Ratings Trump Editorial Directives
- Fox's survival depended on ratings, which made excluding Trump commercially untenable.
- Once DeSantis faltered, Trump naturally reasserted himself as Fox's audience driver.