Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro expose New York Times for targeting conservative voices before election

Carlson and Shapiro reveal The New York Times’ and Media Matters’ scheme to target conservatives ahead of election.

In the lead-up to the election, conservative commentators Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro disclosed messages allegedly sent by Nico Grant, a reporter from The New York Times, which they say show an effort to silence conservative voices on YouTube.

On October 28, Carlson shared screenshots on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing Grant’s outreach, where Grant inquired about Carlson’s YouTube activity and content policies in relation to an article planned by The New York Times using data from Media Matters for America. Media Matters, a left-leaning organization, reportedly identified 286 YouTube videos containing what it labeled as "election misinformation," some allegedly from Carlson’s channel.

Grant’s message to Carlson read, in part, “I wanted to give you an opportunity to comment for an upcoming article that takes a look at how political commentators have discussed the upcoming election on YouTube… Media Matters identified 286 YouTube videos… including narratives that have been debunked.” The text also asked Carlson to confirm his status in YouTube’s Partner Program and whether his videos faced demonetization or warnings for alleged misinformation.

Carlson’s response was direct: “So The New York Times is working with a left wing hate group to silence critics of the Democratic Party? Please ask yourself why you’re participating in it.” In a follow-up message, Carlson told Grant, “I told you to [explicitly] off, which I am now doing.” Carlson’s refusal was paired with his insistence that his comments be quoted.

pic.twitter.com/NbjA2iMe1N

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) October 29, 2024

Shapiro, who received a similar text, posted a screenshot on X, critiquing The New York Times and Media Matters for what he termed an “October surprise” against conservative media. Shapiro argued that the messages represented a “coordinated effort” to use research from Media Matters, which he described as “a radical Left-wing organization” whose goal is “destroying conservative media,” to pressure YouTube to penalize conservative channels close to election day.

2/ What, precisely, is NYT doing? It's perfectly obvious: using research from Media Matters, a radical Left-wing organization whose sole purpose is destroying conservative media (see below), in order to pressure YouTube to demonetize and penalize any and all conservatives ONE… pic.twitter.com/GzgXdVSwhF

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 29, 2024

Media Matters for America (MMfA), founded in 2004 by political activist David Brock, has received funding from philanthropist George Soros, who contributed $1 million in 2010, citing concerns about incendiary conservative rhetoric. Angelo Carusone, the current president of MMfA, is known for initiatives such as the ‘Dump Trump’ campaign, which aimed to pressure businesses to cut ties with Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.

Following the posts by Carlson and Shapiro, public reaction grew as the screenshots circulated online. Some users went on to accuse The New York Times of pursuing deplatforming efforts under Media Matters’ guidance, while others viewed it as a push to influence YouTube’s content policies before the election.

The New York Times is a threat to our democracy https://t.co/uF9lMuCh5j

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 29, 2024

In the wake of the backlash, Nico Grant appears to have locked down his X account, limiting public access.

While The New York Times has yet to release an official statement, the incident has ignited debate about media influence, platform policies, and the role of watchdog organizations in election-related discourse. As the election approaches, this episode underscores the heightened scrutiny and polarization surrounding media and political commentary platforms.