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This reporting appeared as a part of this week’s version of Confider, The Each day Beast’s media publication. Subscribe right here to get it in your inbox each Monday. Ship questions, suggestions, and complaints right here.
Within the ongoing battle between Fox Information and Newsmax, Mike Huckabee has lengthy appeared to play either side.
The previous governor had been a paid Fox Information contributor since 2008 (minus a break throughout his 2016 presidential bid), whereas on the identical time turning into a fixture on Newsmax programming. Newsmax has lengthy syndicated his weekly present that airs on a Christian cable channel (the identical present that initially ran on Fox Information till 2015).
This double-dipping occurred all whereas Newsmax shamelessly exploited MAGA rage over the 2020 election and commenced taking wild swings at its a lot bigger rival (and its greatest star in Tucker Carlson) in an effort to win over pro-Trump viewers. Even Huckabee appeared to take a potshot at Fox Information, regardless of being on their payroll, in a tweet bragging about how Newsmax refused to name the election that Fox famously referred to as—a lot to the chagrin of MAGA world.
After which, as The Each day Beast reported, the previous Arkansas governor even appeared in an advert for Newsmax touting him for example of its “sincere evaluation” whereas not-so-subtly jabbing at Fox Information.
In current months, Huckabee’s obvious enjoying of either side reached seemingly new ranges: Even if he had lengthy been a paid commentator for Fox Information, he appeared as a pundit on Newsmax’s political discuss exhibits at the very least 12 occasions since late February. On the identical time, he continued to make frequent appearances on Fox, popping up 15 occasions prior to now month, per transcript searches.
Huckabee even confirmed up on each networks on the identical day—Could 2—to salivate over the potential for Roe v. Wade being overturned.
All the scenario has been particularly curious given how little these two retailers look after one another and the way uncommon it's for a community—particularly Fox Information—to permit a paid contributor to look on a rival channel (Fox, as chances are you'll recall, famously blocked Jeanine Pirro from operating to Newsmax even simply to advertise her guide).
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Huckabee’s Twitter bio nonetheless lists him as a “Fox Information contributor,” and as of final week his official web page on the Fox Information web site billed him as such. And so we needed to inquire: How was Fox Information okay along with his continued twin presence throughout the 2 networks?
When Confider inquired about his obvious double-dipping with Newsmax, a Fox Information spokesperson revealed that Huckabee hasn’t really been on the payroll for months: “Huckabee isn’t a contributor—he hasn’t been one for the reason that finish of August final yr.”
Curiously, after that preliminary remark request, Huckabee’s bio web page was changed with an error message.
A Huck-free Fox Information payroll could clarify why the cable titan didn’t appear to thoughts him internet hosting a Newsmax Christmas particular late final yr starring former President Donald Trump and airing dozens of occasions throughout and after the vacation season.
Newsmax declined to remark, and Huckabee didn't reply to Confider’s question.
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