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

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.

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.