🇺🇸 Tuckered Out

POWERED BY

Good morning, and happy Wednesday! Another World War II veteran — this time a British man — just celebrated his 105th birthday. He received more than 3,000 cards from kind-hearted strangers, including one from someone pretty famous...

Plus, this is not what you want in your tequila when it's being shipped from Mexico...

Also, despite all the market volatility over the last couple of years, today's partner is a company that’s been delivering double (and even triple) digit annualized returns for investors.

FLAG POLLS

📉 Tuesday, April 25, President Biden Job Approval: Approve 41, Disapprove 59 (CBS News)

📉 Tuesday, April 25, President Biden Job Approval: Approve 43, Disapprove 50 (NPR/PBS/Marist)

📉 Tuesday, April 25, President Biden Job Approval: Approve 49, Disapprove 50 (Rasmussen Reports)

📉 Monday, April 24, Direction of Country: Right Track 37, Wrong Track 58 (Rasmussen Reports)

TRENDING

Right: Biden Corruption Enough To Disqualify Him From Office Andrew McCarthy, New York Post

Right: Trans Rights Means No Rights at All Stephen Green, PJ Media

Right: What If Biden Can't Finish the Race? Shane Harris, AMAC

Left: Biden & Dems Must Run an Unprecedented Campaign Michael Tomasky, TNR

Left: Religious Right Has Never Been Smaller or More Powerful Eric Levitz, NY Mag

Left: The Unequal Media Treatment of Trump vs. DeSantis Heather Parton, Salon

POWERED BY MASTERWORKS

A million dollar Banksy got everyday investors a 32% net return

That’s right. Despite all the market volatility over the last couple of years, there’s a company that’s been delivering double and even triple digit annualized returns for their investors.

It’s called Masterworks, and they’ve already built up an impressive track record.

In addition to Banksy, they recently sold three paintings for 13.9%, 10.4%, and 35% in net annualized returns each.

They even sold a sculpture for a 15.4% net gain after just 36 days, handing investors a triple-digit return on a net annualized basis.

And with over $10 trillion expected to pour into all alternative assets by 2026, this company is sitting at the heart of a major market megatrend.

Don’t you think it’s time you checked it out? The Flag readers can skip the waitlist with this exclusive link. Membership is free and there’s no obligation once you join.

See important disclosures: masterworks.com/cd.

QUICK CLICKS

Biden's Back, Struggles in Sudan, RIP Calypso King

US: Biden Announces Re-election Bid, Defying Trump and History (New York Times) + 2024 GOP hopefuls respond after Biden throws hat in ring for another term: 'Attacking our patriotism' (Fox News)

US: Montana transgender lawmaker silenced again, backers protest (AP)

World: Fourth cease-fire falters in Khartoum as people struggle to flee Sudan (Washington Post)

US: Trump-aligned super PAC bankrolls $6 million ad campaign attacking DeSantis (ABC)

Entertainment: Ed Sheeran in NYC court for federal copyright trial over Marvin Gaye classic (NY Post)

Entertainment: Harry Belafonte: Singer and civil rights activist dies aged 96 (BBC)

CULTURE

Tuckered Out

On Monday, Fox News let go of its marquee prime-time host, Tucker Carlson. No clear explanation was provided by Fox News, but sources have claimed the decision came from Fox Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch. According to one person familiar with the situation, Murdoch’s son Lachlan and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott decided late Friday that Carlson's tenure must end.

Reporting from The Right: Tucker Carlson leaves Fox News: Vivek Ramaswamy says ex-host would be 'good addition' to 2024 election Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner

Reporting from The Left: Tucker Carlson ousted at Fox News following network's $787 million settlement David Folkenflik, NPR

From The Flag: Carlson's ouster from Fox News coincides with the firing of veteran CNN personality Don Lemon and the shuttering of BuzzFeed News. Many are debating what these recent developments in the news media landscape may mean and wondering what comes next. Here's more from both sides.

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

An Uncertain Future (Plus, the Left is Pro-Censorship)

• Carlson's exit will present considerable challenges for Fox as his unique style and sizable audience will be difficult (if not impossible) to replace.

• The last few weeks have seen major changes and consequences for the media, signaling an uncertain future in the news landscape.

• Democrats like AOC are reveling in Carlson's firing and highlighting the value of deplatforming, which show they're the party of censorship.

Fox News Braces for Impact After Carlson's Exit Jeff Charles, RedState: "All indications suggest that this might just be the beginning of Fox News’ woes related to Carlson’s departure. … With an average of over three million viewers per night, Carlson commanded a large audience and played a key role in shaping Fox News’ conservative narrative. His absence is likely to have serious implications for the network. … His departure could easily lead to some of his loyal viewership seeking out alternative conservative voices on other networks or platforms. Secondly, Fox News may face challenges in filling the void left by Carlson. To put it simply, it will be nearly impossible to replace him with a personality that could match his contributions to the network. … Furthermore, Carlson’s departure may have implications for Fox News’ editorial direction. … His departure may signal a shift in the network’s editorial stance or tone, as his absence may leave a void in the type of content and perspectives presented on Fox News."

The Ruins of Our Media Landscape Jeffrey Blehar, National Review: "And so, Tucker Carlson goes to’t — Fox News will not be the same for quite a while, given his unique narrative-driving talents and viewership… Conservatives shocked by the firing of Tucker Carlson can at least take solace in the — almost as if astrologically balanced — simultaneous canning of Don Lemon at CNN today, which happened for far different and infinitely more entertaining reasons. … There may be a Tucker Carlson media empire sometime in the future; rest assured, there will be no Don Lemon media empire. But then empires, as we have seen, crumble so easily, and sometimes so suddenly. All that’s left is the ruins to pick among, as a new landscape is built atop their detritus. What comes next for the future of Fox News, CNN, and digital journalism, after the ructions of the past few weeks have sent so many pillars tumbling?"

One more opinion piece from the Right: AOC Revels in Tucker Carlson Leaving Fox News Kristina Wong, Breitbart

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

A Reckoning Has Come for Right Wing Media

• Carlson's firing is a sign that the MAGA movement is losing traction, as those who've promoted their agenda are beginning to face the consequences.

• This isn't the end for Carlson, and he'll find another way to "spew his toxic lies." It's just unlikely to be broadcast on basic cable.

• Without the massive platform that Fox News offers, Carlson's rhetoric and influence may weaken.

Tucker Carlson's ouster is another sign that MAGA is shrinking Greg Sargent, Washington Post Opinion: “The Post’s initial reporting indicates that Carlson’s comments about Fox News management, as revealed during the lawsuit against the network, played a larger role than the evidence that personalities such as Carlson knowingly deceived their viewers about Jan. 6 and the 2020 election out of fear that they would bolt to competitors if they heard the truth. Still, it does appear that Carlson’s texts about this very same deception campaign helped to bring him down. It’s hard not to see this as more evidence that MAGA’s lies continue to implode, and their most determined purveyors are sinking along with them. Carlson’s removal from Fox News, coming right at the moment that one of the leading victims of his lies struck back at him, is only the latest in a string of reasons for cautious optimism. Two and a half years ago, if you had predicted the sort of outcomes we’ve seen since, it would have seemed hopelessly, almost absurdly, naive.”

Tucker Carlson was Fox News’ biggest star. Then he became its biggest liability Margaret Sullivan, The Guardian: "Carlson is smarter than most of his TV peers, but he has used that intelligence in the service of tearing down the democracy whose very first amendment protections have allowed him to spread his lies and hostility. …reporters speculated, how will the deposed host resurface? Will he drift to an even farther right network? Will he run for president as a spoiler against Trump whom Carlson has said privately he despises, despite continuing to give him valuable airtime? … But what we do know for sure may be more important: one of the worst influences in American media and politics has been knocked off his extremely prominent perch. For now, his voice is – if not silenced – quieted. … Carlson won’t stop what he’s doing. And he won’t disappear. His outrages will probably get even worse, since they will be freed of even the weak constraints at Fox News."

One more opinion piece from the Left: Tucker Carlson’s Fox News platform was uniquely dangerous Zeeshan Aleem, MSNBC

FLAG THIS

Carlson's Departure Leaves a Big Hole

According to Wall Street, Tucker Carlson represented $560 million in value for Fox News.

Following his firing, Fox Corp’s stock swiftly plunged more than 5% on Monday when news broke of Carlson's exit. This wiped about $900 million off the company’s market value.

FLAG FINDS

Banksy Bucks, Classic Pet Snacks, Portable (and Affordable) Propane Pit

🖼️ Want a taste of those sweet Banksy bucks? Over the last couple of years, Masterworks has been delivering double and even triple digit annualized returns for their investors. In addition to Banksy, they recently sold three paintings for 13.9%, 10.4%, and 35% in net annualized returns each. Skip the waitlist with this exclusive link. (And see important disclosures with this one.)

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WATERCOOLER

Polio Vaccine Trials Begin, Storing Kitchen Towels, My Life as a Spy

On April 26, 1954, the Salk polio vaccine field trials, involving 1.8 million children, begin at the Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, Virginia. One year later, on April 12, 1955, researchers announced the vaccine was safe and effective. It quickly became a standard part of childhood immunizations in America.

Apartment Therapy: The Best Way to Store Kitchen Towels

WIRED: Diseases Didn’t Just Shape History, They Control the Future

Narratively: My High-Flying Life as a Corporate Spy Who Lied His Way to the Top

Today I Learned that Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street, was blacklisted for refusing to testify to the House Un-American Activities Committee.