Daniel Perry's case is the latest example of the influence Fox News host Carlson appears to have on GOP politics in Texas.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to call for a pardon for a man convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester in Austin is just the latest example of the influence Fox News host Tucker Carlson appears to have on GOP politics in Texas.
THE LATEST: Daniel Perry, convicted of murder, wrote of wanting to kill protesters, Muslims, Black people, new court docs show
Last Friday night, Carlson was on air calling out Abbott for not agreeing to appear on his show to address the murder conviction earlier that day of Daniel Perry. Carlson said Abbott’s office suggested they talk to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton instead.
“So that is Greg Abbott's position — there's no right to self-defense in Texas," Carlson told his estimated audience of over 4 million viewers.
Less than 24 hours later, Abbott took to social media to make his first public comments on Perry’s case and declare Texas has one of the strongest self-defense laws in the nation.
“I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry,” Abbott said, making no mention of the Carlson jab the night before.
Carlson’s not new at this. Here are past examples of the pressure he’s applied.
Troops on the Texas border
In September 2021, Carlson was ripping Abbott on air for not doing more about securing the Texas border, even though the governor had already committed more than 2,000 National Guard troops and 1,000 DPS officers to protect the border.
But that didn’t matter to Carlson.
“We've asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott many times to come on this show to explain why he hasn't called the National Guard to seal the Texas border and protect the rest of us from this invasion. Greg Abbott has refused to come on, repeatedly,” he said then.
Two months later, Abbott’s ramped up his border program, sending more than 10,000 National Guard members to the border.
Abbott eventually went on the show, only to have Carlson quiz him on why he hadn’t sent 19,000 guard members to the border.
Support for Ukraine
Carlson has vocally opposed U.S. sending aid to Ukraine, even as most Republicans and Democrats backed the idea. Carlson in May 2022 specifically went after U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, for supporting a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine in Congress.
While Crenshaw has remained firm in his support of Ukraine, Carslon’s constant political pressure appears to have had an impact on other Republicans. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had taken a hardline against Russia in some other interviews, told Carlson that the war was a “territorial dispute” that is not a top national security interest of the United States.
When the war started in Ukraine, Abbott was an outspoken supporter of the nation, lighting the Governor’s mansion in the colors of the blue and yellow flag of that nation and declaring: “The U.S. must do more to end this war. Sanctions are not enough. Ukraine needs weapons.”
But in a written statement to Carlson in March, Abbott said President Joe Biden must do more to secure the Texas border before sending more aid to Ukraine.
“Before he sends any more money or assets to Ukraine's border, he must enforce our immigration laws and secure our southern border,” Abbott said.
Border militia bill
Carlson doesn't just influence Abbott and other governors, as evidenced by his call for Texas to recruit regular citizens to go to the border to help repel migrants trying to cross.
In an interview with Abbott, he pressured the governor and the Legislature to send volunteers to the border.
"Why don't you say, 'any person with military or law enforcement experience can join up? We are starting our own force, it's volunteer ...'" Carlson said.
While Abbott didn't fully support that idea, the Texas House has been debating House Bill 20, which would create a new state border guard unit that would recruit former military and law enforcement, just as Carlson had suggested.
Why Carlson?
There are dozens of cable television hosts who go after Republicans and Democrats almost daily. But Carlson's show is a heavyweight.
According to Ad Week, Carlson had more than 3.6 million viewers last week — by far the most views of any cable TV news show. That's almost 1 million more viewers than other hosts such as Sean Hannity or Jesse Watters. It's nearly double any program on MSNBC or CNN.
Carlson has had various roles at Fox News since 2009 and has hosted his own primetime show since 2016. Before his tenure there, he had programs on CNN and MSNBC.
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