With Roger Ailes Out, Will Fox News’s Influence on Politics Change?
For more than two decades, the network helped legitimize political issues like birtherism and “death panels” and usher into the mainstream the shock-jock language embraced by Mr. Trump.
.. “Roger Ailes is the epitome of somebody that is not politically correct and has the guts to say a lot of what Americans are thinking,” said Gov. Terry E. Branstad of Iowa, who used Mr. Ailes as a consultant in his early campaigns in 1986 and 1990. He added, “It will be interesting to see where we go from here.”.. “Once Fox made it an issue, then all of the sudden Congress made it an issue, and it was something that the Bush administration hadn’t seen as an issue, but suddenly became a big priority.”.. at times David Axelrod would meet directly with Mr. Ailes to address a flare-up — but those were not always successful.“Basically, Roger was going to do what Roger was going to do,” Mr. Axelrod said, calling the Fox News chief “brilliant.”