92. The previous month Brian Stelter, “Fox Says Its 3-Year Relationship with Palin Is Over,” “Media Decoder” (blog), New York Times, Jan. 26, 2013, http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/fox-news-and-sarah-palin-part-ways/.
93. In meetings Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
94. A day after the shooting Gabriel Sherman, “Fox News Spikes Pro-Gun Column; Writer Told Issue Is ‘Too Sensitive,’ ” New York, Dec. 20, 2012.
95. The reprieve ended Noah Rothman, “Fox & Friends: Obama’s Inauguration Happens to Be ‘The Most Depressing Day of the Year,’ ” Mediaite, Jan. 21, 2013, http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-friends-obamas-inauguration-day-happens-to-be-the-the-most-depressing-day-of-the-year/.
96. “This was an unyielding” Special Inauguration Coverage, Fox News Channel, Jan. 21, 2013.
97. “The GOP couldn’t organize” Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
98. At a speech Roger Ailes, Roy H. Park Lecture at the University of North Carolina School of Journalism (transcript). April 12, 2013, http://jomc.unc.edu/roger-ailes-park-lecture-april-12-2012-transcript.
99. When Ailes re-signed Brian Stelter, “Roger Ailes Signs Up for Another 4 Years at Fox News,” “Media Decoder” (blog), New York Times, Oct. 20, 2012. According to the journalist David Folkenflik’s book Murdoch’s World: The Last of the Old Media Empires (New York: PublicAffairs, 2013), Ailes was “obsessed” with David Zaslav’s compensation. In 2012, Zaslav earned $36 million. Ailes considered leaving Fox News to join Newsmax with a salary of $25 million plus equity.
100. He brought back Joe Pompeo, “John Moody Returns to Roger Ailes, His Murdochian Wire Service in Tow,” Capital New York, June 7, 2012, http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2012/06/6007210/john-moody-returns-roger-ailes-his-murdochian-wire-service-tow.
101. Hannity, O’Reilly Fox News, “Megyn Kelly to Move to Primetime on Fox News Channel,” Business Wire (press release), July 2, 2013. See also Brian Stelter, “Kelly and Van Susteren Are Said to Re-Sign with Fox News,” New York Times, May 8, 2013.
102. Even Sarah Palin was rehired Brian Stelter, “Palin Is Returning to Fox News, Months After They Parted Ways,” New York Times, June 14, 2013.
103. In October 2013 Mike Allen, “The New Fox News Prime-Time Lineup,” Politico, Sept. 17, 2013, http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/09/the-new-fox-news-primetime-lineup-172859.html.
104. In June 2013 Amy Chozick, “Shareholders Approve Plan to Split News Corp.,” New York Times, June 12, 2013. See also Chozick, “Cable Helps News Corp. Post Gains,” New York Times, Feb. 7, 2013; Annlee Ellingson, “It’s Officiaclass="underline" 21st Century Fox and News Corp Split, with New Shares to Be Issued Monday,” L.A. Biz, June 30, 2013; and Gina Hall, “21st Century Fox Finding Its Footing After the Split from News Corp,” L.A. Biz, Aug. 7, 2013.
105. The ratings Katherine Fung and Jack Mirkinson, “Fox News Ratings: O’Reilly, Hannity See Huge Drop-Off in February Demo Numbers,” Huffington Post, Feb. 26, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/fox-news-ratings-february-oreilly-hannity_n_2768265.html.
106. Ad revenue was also down “News Corporation Reports Third Quarter Earnings Per Share of $1.22 on Net Income Attributable to Stockholders of $2.85 Billion,” Business Wire, May 8, 2013.
107. After a News Corp Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
108. Ailes at times seemed Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
109. The Fox Business Network D. M. Levine, “Neil Cavuto Wants Your Business,” Adweek, Feb. 7, 2012, http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/neil-cavuto-wants-your-business-137997.
110. When Murdoch tapped Author interview with a senior executive.
111. Kevin Magee Author interview with a senior executive.
112. One night, the judge Judge Andrew Napolitano, Freedom Watch, Fox Business Network, Nov. 11, 2011.
113. A few weeks later Frances Martel, “Judge Andrew Napolitano Signs Off from the Last Episode of Freedom Watch,” Mediaite, Feb. 13, 2012, http://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-judge-napolitano-sign-off-from-the-last-episode-of-freedom-watch/.
114. “If all the people” Author interview with a senior executive.
115. Shortly before Author interview with a person in the room.
116. In September 2009 Bio of Don Imus on Fox Business, www.foxbusiness.com/watch/anchors-reporters/don-imus-bio/.
117. “Roger passed on her” Author interview with a Fox executive.
118. In November 2013 Bill Carter, “Maria Bartiromo to Leave CNBC for Fox Business,” New York Times, Nov. 18, 2013.
119. Executives noticed Richard Pérez-Peña, “News Corp. Completes Takeover of Dow Jones,” New York Times, Dec. 14, 2007; author interview with News Corp executives.
120. In the fall of 2012 Author interview with a senior Fox executive.
121. Rupert doesn’t have Author interview with a former senior News Corp executive.
122. In one meeting Author interview with a senior Fox executive.
123. Top News Corp brass Author interviews with News Corp executives. See also Alter, The Center Holds, 65.
124. Ailes was more isolated Author interview with a person close to Roger Ailes.
125. On the afternoon Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
126. On August 20 Bill Carter, “Fox News Confirms the Firing of a Top Executive Who Was Once Close to Ailes,” New York Times, Aug. 20, 2013. See also Dylan Byers, “Roger Fires His ‘Right Hand,’ ” Politico, Aug. 20, 2013, and Paul Bond and Matthew Belloni, “Top Roger Ailes Adviser Fired and Escorted from Fox News Building,” Hollywood Reporter, Aug. 20, 2013.
127. On August 27 J. K. Trotter, “Brian Lewis Speaks Out: Roger Ailes and Fox News Should Fear Him,” Gawker, Aug. 27, 2013, http://gawker.com/brian-lewis-speaks-out-roger-ailes-and-fox-news-should-1208497354.
128. In September, Burstein met Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
129. A month before the 2012 election Author interview with Joe McGinniss.
130. A few days after Author interview with Gordon Stewart, to whom Shea later described the meeting. Shea declined to comment on the matter.
131. In June Gabriel Sherman, “In Kennedy Center Speech, Roger Ailes Gets Wild,” New York, June 13, 2013.
132. His acceptance speech Author’s transcript of speech given by Ailes at the Kennedy Center, June 12, 2013.
133. senior center Catherine Garnsey, “Town Has Good News for Seniors,” Putnam County News & Recorder, Aug. 7, 2013.
134. “If I’m going to risk” Eliza Gray, “Roger Ailes’s Border War,” New Republic, Feb. 22, 2013.