Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has announced his intention to "do everything I can" to help build a third political party in the United States.
Carlson told the Columbia Journalism Review on July 1 that a new party should focus on the welfare of the American people, stating that "If you make sixty thousand dollars a year, you're degraded. Your life expectancy has gone down and the promise of your children's lives is likely gone… The US government should have, as its first priority, the welfare of its own people."
However, commentator Mark Halperin expressed skepticism about Carlson's ability to succeed, noting the historical struggles of third-party candidates like Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, who often served as spoilers rather than serious contenders. Halperin argued that challenging the entrenched two-party system requires significant vision, resources, and sustained effort.
Despite reservations about Carlson's specific endeavor, Halperin suggests that the announcement highlights a broader shift in American politics that is often missed by political and media elites. He points to the rise of figures like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders as evidence that a significant portion of the electorate feels ignored and disenfranchised.
"The political earthquakes of the last decade – the rise of Donald Trump, the Tea Party and MAGA, Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America – did not happen because the country's citizens suddenly and impulsively spiraled," Halperin wrote. "These seismic shifts happened because much of America's establishment stopped listening, even as the material conditions in the country and the consequent levels of pessimism and fear markedly changed."
Halperin identifies areas of agreement between seemingly disparate political figures like Trump and Sanders, such as concerns over prescription drug prices, the impact of free trade on the industrial base, China's economic practices, and the idea of government stakes in private companies. He also notes the prescience of strategist Steve Bannon in identifying political currents related to economic anxiety.
Central to this shifting landscape is a growing public distrust in established institutions, including government, universities, media, and big business. This skepticism, according to Halperin, is a primary driver for movements on both the left and right, as voters feel the system is rigged against them.
Economic inequality and the concentration of wealth and power are also significant factors, with concerns crossing ideological lines. Emerging issues like artificial intelligence and its potential impact on jobs and local communities are further illustrating this trend, as proposals for data centers face local resistance due to environmental and quality-of-life worries.
Foreign policy and cultural issues also reflect this skepticism. Halperin notes a widespread weariness with long military engagements overseas and suggests that debates, such as those surrounding Israel, are often driven more by anti-establishment sentiment and skepticism toward foreign aid than by singular issues like antisemitism, though that remains a serious concern.
Culturally, Halperin observes that while the media often focuses on inflammatory rhetoric, voters are increasingly prioritizing candidates' stances on substantive issues like immigration, crime, and social policies. He concludes that a lack of intellectual humility and a failure to understand these underlying currents are leading many to misunderstand the direction of American politics, a trend he expects to continue.
