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What Those Who Knew Uncle Joe Benson Best Learned From a Classic Rock Legend

Mike Stern
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What Those Who Knew Uncle Joe Benson Best Learned From a Classic Rock Legend

The Classic Rock world lost one of our best recently when Uncle Joe Benson passed away late last month at the age of 77.

Possibly best known for his three decades behind the mic at KLOS, Benson also worked at Classic Rock stations like KLSX (97.1), Arrow 93.1 KCBS-FM, and 100.3 The Sound KSWD. He also hosted the syndicated show Ultimate Classic Rock for three years and the weekend show Off the Record from 1998 until 2025.

The outpouring of love and grief that followed Benson’s passing was profoundly moving. So many people in the industry took to social media to share their memories, and I felt that, even though I never got to meet Uncle Joe, it was important to memorialize him in this Classic Rock column.

But I didn’t want to just chronicle his career or how people felt about him. Instead, I wanted to see if it was possible to create something positive out of this loss. I asked several people who knew Uncle Joe if they would share lessons they learned from collaborating with him.

The people kind enough to assist me are:

  • Rita Wilde, a legend in her own right, worked with Joe at KLOS starting in the early 1980s as a fellow host and as his Program Director.
  • Michael Sherry, a producer, worked closely with Joe when he came back to KLOS in 2003 and stayed with him continuously until his last Ultimate Classic Rock broadcast in 2024.
  • Michael Haase, an account executive who worked with Joe for two decades at KLOS and 100.3 The Sound.
  • Dave Beasing, the Program Director who hired Joe at 100.3 The Sound in Los Angeles.
  • Joe Limardi, Classic Rock Format Lead for Townsquare Media, who programmed Ultimate Classic Rock when Joe was the host.
  • Kurt Johnson, President of Local Programming at Townsquare Media, who hired Uncle Joe to host Ultimate Classic Rock.

I asked them each to share a radio lesson they learned from Uncle Joe, and here’s what they wrote:

“The biggest impact on me was his relationship with the audience. Joe helped me understand that to really know your listeners, you needed to become their friend, because that is who you are talking to every day.” – Rita Wilde

“Be yourself, be natural. Don’t fake it. Also, don’t become friends with the rock stars. He was kidding, of course. He had great friendships with Steve Miller, Steve Perry, and Billy Gibbons, to name a few.” – Michael Sherry

“No matter your success, stay humble, work hard, and stay true to yourself. Legacy and reputation were everything.” – Michael Haase

“Every break he did was a reminder to be in the moment — solely focused on one listener. Everything on the air revolves around that. Also, he was incredibly connected to the music, and the listeners could feel it.” – Kurt Johnson

“His show was seamless. He made every break count. In what could have been a ‘nothing,’ Joe would find a way to make it a something with just the right inflection, tone, and content.” – Joe Limardi

“Watching Joe, I saw that an audience is built one listener at a time. When Joe wasn’t on the air, he was probably out meeting people at a concert, a remote, the state fair — wherever he could find listeners.” – Dave Beasing

I also asked each of them to share what made Uncle Joe such a great air talent:

“Joe was a program director’s dream. Every break was ‘tight and bright,’ got everything said quickly and efficiently, was positive, upbeat, and so warm. On air and off, Joe was the same — always laughing and smiling.” – Dave Beasing

“The first thing that stood out was his voice. Those unmistakable pipes commanded your attention without pretense or ego. It was authoritative and credible with every story, every anecdote, and every interview.” – Joe Limardi

“He brought it every show. Joe instinctively understood the alchemy of radio, rock music, people, personality, and point of view. He was one of one.” – Kurt Johnson

“The band relationships and knowledge that Joe had were unmatched, along with the incredible interviews and stories. People loved the music, but more so they loved Uncle Joe — especially if they had the honor to meet him.” – Michael Haase

“He really was like the cool uncle who knew everything about music and had such joy telling you about it. You could hear his smile coming through the speakers. He also knew how to edit himself in the moment. I think that’s a really important tool that the great DJs have.” – Michael Sherry

“Joe researched and read constantly and always took notes on everything having to do with music. He also constantly hosted station events whether he was paid or not. When KLOS used to partner with the American Red Cross, Joe would be one of the first to volunteer his time. I have never known a better self-promoter than Joe Benson. He loved what he did, and the audience loved him.” – Rita Wilde

Finally, I asked each person for a story about Uncle Joe, and they had so many great anecdotes there is simply not enough space to include them all. So I made the difficult editorial choice to close with a story from Rita Wilde that hopefully imparts one more lesson.

“One thing that I didn’t know about him was how much he mentored other people. An important part of the legacy of KLOS was the Community Switchboard, which consisted of volunteers who helped with the request lines and contest giveaways. So many of them told me their stories of how Joe would listen to their airchecks and give advice about making it in the radio business or their chosen field and line of work.” – Rita Wilde

Hopefully, reading this column taught or reminded you of something that helps make your radio show or station great. While I didn’t have the honor of knowing him, I hope that trying to find wisdom for the industry in Uncle Joe’s passing is a fitting tribute.

My humble thanks to all six people who shared their thoughts for this column.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The Case for Killing the FCC — And What It Would Mean for Radio

Dr. Ed Cohen
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The Case for Killing the FCC — And What It Would Mean for Radio

We see protests on a regular basis in the US. Pro-Trump, anti-Trump, for and against whatever issue is bothering enough people to get them out of their homes and into the streets. After reading this column, some group may head down to L Street, Northeast, in Washington, carrying their “Abolish the FCC” signs!

Recently, Radio World, which focuses on engineering topics, ran an article about a paper entitled “Disbanding the Federal Communications Commission.” The author was Professor Mark Jamison of the University of Florida. He is also director of their Public Utility Research Center. The paper was written as a working paper for the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative DC think tank.

Of course, I downloaded the paper and read the whole thing to spare you the effort!

The Idea

Some readers would probably be very happy if the FCC were abolished. Odd and/or outdated rules, paperwork, and limitations on what your station can do — as against the freedom given to streamers and SiriusXM — well, it’s understandable. Dr. Jamison offers other reasons for eliminating this piece of the federal government.

The argument in favor of the FCC stems from a word I’ve used in this column before: “scarcity.” When I was growing up, most markets had three commercial television stations and one public TV operation. If you lived in a top 10–20 market, there might have been an independent TV station as well. Most markets also had perhaps 10–20 radio stations, and no entity could own more than one AM and one FM. Then there was the telephone situation, also regulated by the FCC.

There was a landline company, typically owned by Ma Bell, which also handled long distance. A few independent phone companies existed, but this didn’t mean competitive — it meant that each one had its own monopoly service area. My hometown had Rochester Telephone, which was not part of the Bell system. For decades, if you wanted phone service, you used them. Your phone or phones were supplied by the company as well. All of that represented “scarcity” and lack of consumer choice.

Let’s consider the current media environment. Assuming you have decent internet access — essentially a given almost anywhere in the US — how many video choices do you have at any given time? An unlimited amount. How about audio? Same answer.

How many phone companies can you choose from? Plenty, even if there are only three true nationwide cell networks. Do you have to lease a phone from the same company? Not at all — BYOP (bring your own phone)!

Dr. Jamison’s argument is that the raison d’être for the formation of the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934 no longer exists.

Dr. Jamison also argues that eliminating the FCC would remove the political aspects that come with a federal agency able to regulate content, either de jure or de facto. This “political intrusion,” as Dr. Jamison calls it, started in the Clinton administration with respect to the internet. It then moved to content under the Obama administration in 2012. Later, “net neutrality” became an issue under Chairman Wheeler in 2013, along with other issues favored by Congressional Democrats.

Per the report, the first Trump administration was lighter on the FCC under Chairman Pai. However, when Commissioner O’Reilly said he didn’t believe a Trump executive order targeting Twitter and Facebook for alleged bias was within the FCC’s authority, his nomination for another term was withdrawn.

Less political influence at the FCC occurred under President Biden. Much of that was due to having an equal number of Democratic and Republican commissioners for much of his term. You may remember the failed attempt to get Gigi Sohn confirmed as the fifth commissioner, and the subsequent delay in nominating a more Senate-acceptable candidate.

Now, Chairman Carr has his agenda, which hews closely to President Trump’s views. It seems that no matter which party is in the White House, the FCC becomes a political football.

What Would Replace the FCC?

If the FCC is gone, what replaces it? Dr. Jamison cites some FCC positives — for example, the spectrum auction process. He suggests staff and operations could be transferred to another agency, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Broadband subsidies could be handled by state telecom offices. Remaining functions could move to the Federal Trade Commission, NIST, and elsewhere.

That leaves our world — broadcasting. On this point, Dr. Jamison is nearly silent, except to say that “broadcast content oversight would end.” The biggest need is ensuring broadcast spectrum licensing continues to operate, keeping interference to a minimum and ensuring operators can keep their stations on the air.

The lack of an FCC would not be carte blanche to drop F-bombs on the air. Laws exist to keep George Carlin’s Seven Words off the airwaves for the foreseeable future. While I don’t expect the FCC to go away any time soon — papers like these are released regularly to influence policy and legislation — it’s an intriguing idea.

Let’s meet again next week.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Brendan Carr is Auditioning for a Conservative Cable News Job While Running the FCC

Garrett Searight
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Brendan Carr is Auditioning for a Conservative Cable News Job While Running the FCC

At some point, you have to stop calling it a pattern and start calling it a strategy. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr spent part of his weekend at Mar-a-Lago with President Donald Trump — and sure enough, the latest round of license-revocation threats wasn’t far behind. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Carr was putting together an audition reel for a prime-time slot on Fox News, Newsmax, or OAN.

That’s not an insult dressed up as a joke. It’s an honest observation about where Carr’s priorities seem to lie.

On Saturday, Carr posted a warning on social media aimed at broadcasters, declaring that those “running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news — have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.”

Bold words. They’re also largely empty ones. The FCC hasn’t denied a license renewal in decades, and any government action against a licensee would trigger a protracted legal battle with First Amendment implications. Anna Gomez, one of Carr’s contemporaries at the FCC, said as much in a post on social media. “The FCC can issue threats all day long, but it is powerless to carry them out,” she said. “Such threats violate the First Amendment and will go nowhere. Broadcasters should continue covering the news, fiercely and independently, without fear of government pressure.”

Legal experts agree. “Chairman Carr’s threats are hollow,” public interest lawyer Andrew Jay Schwartzman told CNN.

But hollow threats, where the threatmaker seems like the big bad wolf, make for great television, and that seems to be the point.

Carr was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday and was seen talking with Trump there, according to a report from CNN’s Brian Stelter. Coincidence? Doubtful. Carr’s post on X came directly after Trump criticized The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and “other lowlife papers” for their coverage of the U.S.-Israel war in Iran.

The sequencing wasn’t subtle. Trump posts. Carr amplifies. That’s the arrangement, and Carr’s more than comfortable playing his role.

It’s worth being clear about what Brendan Carr is doing here. He’s not acting as an independent regulator operating in the public interest. He’s functioning as a mouthpiece — a more than willing and eager one — for the President of the United States. That might be acceptable if it came paired with meaningful regulatory work. It doesn’t. Instead, Carr’s chairmanship has been defined by headline-chasing and culture war theatrics. His bully-pulpit strategy has been evident for more than a year, as he’s railed against alleged media bias and welcomed disputes with the likes of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel.

Here’s the thing about the FCC — and really, about most regulatory bodies. Most Americans couldn’t tell you who chairs it. That’s not ignorance, it’s the way it’s supposed to be. Think about the referees working an NFL game on Sunday afternoon. You don’t know their names. You don’t notice them until something goes wrong or until one of them decides to make the broadcast about themself rather than the game being played. The best officials are invisible. They do their jobs quietly, competently, and without demanding attention.

The same should be true of the people running the FCC. The commission has real work to do. The problem is none of it is glamorous. Most of it won’t land you on a talk show. It won’t get your name trending on social media. But it matters, and it’s what the job actually requires.

Carr’s apparently not interested in that version of the job. He’d rather be the story than run the agency. Media advocacy groups have argued that Carr is trying to pressure media companies into submission and self-censorship — achieving what Trump wants without explicit government action and plausible deniability, even when the dots aren’t hard to connect.

That’s a damning characterization, but it’s hard to argue with given the evidence. Nexstar and Sinclair were accused of backing down before Carr when they pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s show from their ABC affiliates — both companies had pending business before the FCC at the time.

There’s a reason people in broadcasting know Brendan Carr’s name. There’s a reason the general public has started to recognize it, too. It isn’t because he’s made a series of consequential regulatory mistakes. It’s because he keeps showing up on your timeline, echoing the president, threatening broadcasters, and making sure the cameras find him in the process.

That’s not what an FCC chair is supposed to be. Then again, maybe that’s not what Brendan Carr actually wants to be.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Tucker Carlson: CIA Preparing Criminal Referral Against Me For Texts to Iran

BNM Staff
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Tucker Carlson: CIA Preparing Criminal Referral Against Me For Texts to Iran

Tucker Carlson claims the CIA is preparing a criminal referral against him to the Department of Justice, alleging he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act by communicating with Iranian contacts prior to a recent conflict.

Carlson addressed the matter directly, saying the agency was viewing conversations he had with people in the country as part of its investigation.

“What’s that crime? Well, talking to people in Iran before the war,” he shared. “They read my texts. So, the crime under consideration apparently would be the Foreign Agent Act or something like that, acting as an agent of a foreign power.”

Tucker Carlson dismissed the seriousness of the potential case, stating, “I don’t expect this to go anywhere.”

He pushed back firmly on the underlying allegation, arguing, “I’m not an agent of a foreign power. Unlike a lot of people commenting on US politics and global affairs, I have only one loyalty, and that’s the United States, and have never acted against it.”

The former Fox News host also denied ever receiving outside financial compensation — “I’ve also never taken money from anybody. Don’t need it, don’t want it. And that’s provable” — and framed his conversations with foreign nationals as a core part of his professional responsibilities.

“It’s my job to talk to everybody all the time and try and figure out what’s happening around the world,” he said. “That’s literally what I do for a living.”

Carlson expressed confidence that the matter would not advance into a formal criminal case.

“Legally, I think the case is ludicrous, and I doubt it will even become a case,” he said. He added that he has every right to engage with foreign sources as an American. “I have no secrets to divulge.”

Neither the CIA nor the Department of Justice has issued a public statement after Carlson’s comments.

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Neal Sharpe Announces His Retirement, Signs Off as PD of Mix 100.9 & 99.3 in Charlotte

BMM Staff
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Neal Sharpe Announces His Retirement, Signs Off as PD of Mix 100.9 & 99.3 in Charlotte

As first reported by RAMP, Neal Sharpe is signing off after more than four decades in radio.

The longtime programmer, who most recently served as Program Director of Mix 100.9 & 99.3 in Charlotte, announced his retirement on Friday. The news came during a celebratory week at the station, as Mix morning co-host Matt Harris marked his 25th anniversary with the Charlotte Hot AC outlet.

Sharpe’s radio journey spans more than 45 years. It began while attending Buffalo State College in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. An internship at 97 Rock helped launch his career, followed by early stops at WBTF in Attica, NY, WESB in Bradford, PA and WLVL in Lockport, NY.

From there, Sharpe joined WKSE (Kiss 98.5) in Buffalo, playing a role in the station’s well-known “worst-to-first” turnaround story. He also programmed stations in Jacksonville and spent a decade as Operations Manager for Saga Communications’ Asheville cluster.

Neal Sharpe signs off in Charlotte, having programmed WLNK twice. He initially arrived to guide the brand in 2000, working for Greater Media. He then returned in April 2022 under the ownership of Radio-One.

Reflecting on his career, Sharpe noted that he’s done nearly everything in radio — from air talent to News Director, Sports Director, Music Director, Program Director, and even a brief run as General Manager. Summarizing his journey, he told RAMP’s Kevin Carter, “That’s my story. And it’s been a blast.”

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Clay Travis Honored After $10 Million Donation to Vanderbilt Law School

BNM Staff
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Clay Travis Honored After $10 Million Donation to Vanderbilt Law School

Clay Travis has been honored by his alma mater for a large donation to its law school in an effort to continue its First Amendment Clinic and debate series.

Vanderbilt Law School thanked Travis and his wife, Lara, for their support of the university to not only continue the series, but to provide merit and need-based scholarship aid to aspiring students.

“Lara and Clay have given the Law School a powerful opportunity to deliver on our educational promise in several important ways,” said Vanderbilt Law School Dean Chris Guthrie. “I am beyond grateful for their generosity, vision and commitment to the Law School.”

Clay Travis completed his J.D. in 2004 and went on to earn his MFA in Creative Writing from Vanderbilt in 2008. Lara Travis earned her M.Ed. in Human Development and Counseling from Vanderbilt in 2007. She returned to complete her J.D. in 2023.

“We had an amazing experience at Vanderbilt Law School and believe deeply in the transformative power of a Vanderbilt legal education,” according to the Travis Family. “We want to enable students from all backgrounds to enjoy this same experience, and we want to support the Law School’s commitment to civil debate and discourse and to educating lawyers who respect the rule of law and are committed to providing legal representation to all.”

Since graduating from Vanderbilt, Clay Travis founded OutKick. He also hosts The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show for Premiere Networks.

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Former ESPN/FOX Personality Marcellus Wiley Wants To Be Mayor of Los Angeles

BSM Staff
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Former ESPN/FOX Personality Marcellus Wiley Wants To Be Mayor of Los Angeles

Former sports media personality Marcellus Wiley says the idea of entering politics has recently crossed his mind, revealing during a recent interview that he would welcome the opportunity to run for mayor in Los Angeles as he begins to consider how he might impact his hometown beyond television and digital media.

Wiley shared the thought while speaking with Vibe Magazine, explaining that the concept of pursuing elected office surfaced within the last year and has gradually become something he is willing to explore while balancing family life and his current professional pursuits.

“Yes. I want to be the mayor of L.A. and see how that goes,” Wiley said. “That just entered my mental space maybe within the last year.”

Although Wiley has not announced a campaign or any formal political plans, the former NFL defensive end suggested that public service could represent a natural extension of the work he has tried to do throughout his career — particularly when it comes to encouraging dialogue among people who may not share the same viewpoints or backgrounds.

“A lot of people know how I bring people together,” Wiley said during the interview. “Hopefully, people can see I’m trying to bring people together to celebrate our similarities and our differences. I would love to run for mayor of Los Angeles.”

The longtime television analyst added that family responsibilities remain a primary focus in the near term, noting that raising his children currently occupies much of his time even as the possibility of civic leadership continues to linger in his mind.

“I’m trying to stay still and raise these kids,” Wiley said. “But at the same time, help make an imprint on our city to bring us closer together and then expand that to other cities and maybe even to greater levels.”

Wiley spent years as a prominent voice across the sports media landscape, appearing regularly on programs at both ESPN and Fox Sports, where he developed a reputation for opinion-driven commentary and debate-based television segments that mirrored the broader culture of sports talk programming.

That experience, he indicated, also provided a window into how deeply political disagreements now shape everyday relationships and conversations throughout the country.

“People were emotionally inspired by politics,” Wiley said. “Look how people hate you just because you didn’t vote their way.”

He went on to describe situations where friendships or casual relationships deteriorated once political preferences became known, a dynamic he believes has intensified in recent years as partisan divisions have increasingly entered personal interactions.

“I’ve literally seen people not want to talk to somebody else just because they heard who they were voting for,” Wiley said. “They’re holding hands and singing songs and whistling in the wind, but when they walk into that voting booth and find out who they voted for, no one wants to speak again.”

For now, Wiley has not outlined any timeline regarding a potential run for office. Still, his comments suggest that the former broadcaster continues to weigh how his platform and public profile could eventually translate into a more formal leadership role within Los Angeles.

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NFL Reportedly Begins Media Rights Negotiations With Paramount Skydance

BSM Staff
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NFL Reportedly Begins Media Rights Negotiations With Paramount Skydance

Negotiations between the NFL and CBS are reportedly intensifying as the league and Paramount Global explore a revised agreement. A new deal would extend the network’s long-standing Sunday afternoon broadcast package while dramatically increasing its annual rights fee.

According to CNBC’s Alex Sherman, discussions between league officials and executives from CBS and its parent company are centering on a potential price increase that could raise the network’s yearly payment by roughly 50–60 percent.

The current agreement averages about $2.1 billion per year for the Sunday afternoon slate of games. That means a revised deal could push CBS’s annual commitment past $3 billion if negotiations reach the midpoint of those projections.

In exchange for the increased revenue, the NFL would reportedly remove the opt-out clause in the existing contract. The clause allows the league to exit the deal after the 2029–30 season. It was included when the NFL finalized its current 11-year media rights agreements in 2021. Those agreements run through the conclusion of the 2033–34 campaign.

If the sides reach an agreement, CBS would begin paying the higher rights fee next season. The network would continue carrying the same Sunday afternoon package. That arrangement would remain in place for the contract’s remaining eight years.

The NFL’s decision to begin negotiations with CBS ahead of its other broadcast partners stems largely from a change-of-control provision tied to Skydance Media’s pending acquisition of Paramount Global. Because of that clause, the league holds the ability to exit the current deal as early as 2027 if ownership changes significantly alter the company’s structure.

For Paramount and Skydance, maintaining the NFL partnership remains a central priority. The companies are positioning themselves for the future of live sports distribution. Paramount CEO David Ellison recently emphasized the value of the league relationship. He declined to discuss specifics of the ongoing negotiations.

CBS is not the only media partner with an opt-out provision tied to the 2029–30 season. NBCUniversal, Amazon Prime Video and FOX Sports all share similar clauses within their agreements. Disney’s ESPN and ABC meanwhile have packages that run through the 2031 season before any early exit options apply.

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Geoff Rich – Longtime Radio Exec and Dr. Laura Program Founder – Dies

BNM Staff
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Geoff Rich – Longtime Radio Exec and Dr. Laura Program Founder – Dies

Geoff Rich, the founder and President of Take On The Day — which created The Dr. Laura Program — has died.

Rich died suddenly in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, a statement from his family shared.

“I have lost my best friend, whom I spoke to every day for the last 30 years,” Dr. Laura Schlessinger, host of The Dr. Laura Program, shared.

Geoff Rich was an entrepreneur of several media-related projects. In addition to creating Take On The Day and Schlessinger’s program, he also co-created Radio Today. Following the purchase of Radio Today by ABC Radio, be became the Executive Vice President of Programming for ABC Radio for three years. He departed the outlet in September 2001.

Before launching Radio Today, Rich worked as the Director of Special Programming Sales for the NBC Radio Network.

He also served as the Executive Director of The New Group, which produced the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q. He also recently served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Rich is survived by his wife, Koni, his children Jaremy and Gabrielle, and his grandchildren.

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Tucker Carlson: Inability of Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin to ‘Control Their Emotions Divides Americans’

BNM Staff
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Tucker Carlson: Inability of Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin to ‘Control Their Emotions Divides Americans’

Tucker Carlson has drawn scorn from the likes of Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin in recent weeks. But he shared his thought process into why he’s disagreed with the pair.

While appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Carlson was asked why he’s been critical of Shapiro. Morgan noted that he’s also been subjected to attacks from The Daily Wire co-founder.

Carlson said he’s tried to find common ground with both Shapiro and Levin, but the pair are “ruled by their emotions.”

“I called Mark Levin right after Charlie Kirk was killed to say, Geez, this is horrible. Let’s stop fighting because we probably have a lot in common. When you see someone killed who you love, you want to fight less. So that’s why I called him, and he was nice, by the way. He was.”

“And then he starts getting into this whole thing about, ‘My mother told me there was going to be another Holocaust in the United States!’ and ‘They’re coming for the Jews.’ I don’t want to make fun of other people’s fears because we all have fears that may or may not be reasonable, but it was so real to him. And I almost said, Geez, Mark. Of course, I’m totally opposed to hurting anybody, period. I’m a Christian, but I don’t think we’re on the cusp of that in Connecticut right now. But it was so real to him, like his fear of that dominated everything.”

Tucker Carlson added that statements in recent months from Mark Levin and Ben Shapiro have divided Americans.

“I don’t think Shapiro, Levin, Aman and some of these people get the credit they deserve for sincerity,” he said. “I think they really think we’re on the verge of something horrible domestically. And the sad thing is that their neurosis and their inability to control their emotions divides Americans, and scares the crap out of a lot of really decent people who I know who are Jewish and are like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re on the verge of a pogrom.’

“And you want to say, ‘First of all, I don’t think we are. Second, I’ll do whatever I can to stop that because I hate that kind of thing. So let’s calm down.’ But no, I think they believe it, and I think the net effect is to inspire group cohesion, which again may be part of the point. I don’t know. But whatever it is, it’s bad. It’s corrosive. It destroys friendships. It will destroy the country. Everyone needs to calm down a little bit.”

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