Podcast Summary: "How Rupert Murdoch Remade the World"
Podcast: Today, Explained (Vox)
Air Date: September 29, 2025
Episode Theme: This episode explores the profound influence of Rupert Murdoch—one of the most formidable media moguls of the last 50 years—on global journalism, politics, and culture. With insights from top academics and journalists, the episode offers a sweeping historical and analytical overview of Murdoch's rise, ruthless tactics, and the consequences of his power, culminating in the present-day legacy of Fox News in American political life.
Main Theme Overview
Rupert Murdoch, often synonymous with modern media power, fundamentally altered political discourse and the media landscape worldwide. The hosts and expert guests unpack how Murdoch inherited and expanded his father's tabloid empire, leveraged sensationalism for political and economic gain, and applied these lessons across Australia, the UK, and the US, reshaping democracy and journalism itself.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Murdoch Legacy Begins: Nepotism and Ambition
[00:29–04:26]
- Murdoch’s media journey began with privilege—his father, Keith, bequeathed him a newspaper empire and a philosophy of press power.
- Despite presenting himself as a scrappy outsider, Rupert was born into wealth and media influence.
- “Murdoch is absolutely a nepo baby.” — Des Friedman [02:42]
- Early ambition: to surpass his father by internationalizing and growing the family business.
- “Australia was the training ground. The UK was where he could really find his feet and wield political power.” — Des Friedman [14:08]
2. Ruthless Expansion and Sensationalism in the UK
[04:26–11:42]
- Murdoch quickly gained a reputation for ruthlessness, once telling a politician:
“Look, I can either give you favourable publicity or I can pour a bucket of shit on you every day. What’s it to be?” — Graeme Murdoch [04:39] - Key acquisitions: News of the World and The Sun, which he turned into sensationalist tabloids famous for scandal and “Page 3” models.
- Willingness to publish fake stories—e.g., Adolf Hitler’s forged diaries:
“Fucking publish. Fucking publish...remember we’re in the entertainment business.” — Matthew Ricketson relaying Murdoch’s words [06:30] - Strategic alliance with Margaret Thatcher; mutual outsider status and free-market ideology.
- Murdoch acquired both elite and mass-market newspapers to influence both the masses and the elite.
3. Political Interference and the Tabloidization of Politics
[09:39–11:10]
- Murdoch’s papers actively shaped public opinion and political outcomes, supporting Thatcher and the Falklands War.
- “If you were asked to name the two key people who reshaped Britain in this more neoliberal vein in the 1980s, it’d be hard to think of two other people than Margaret Thatcher and Rupert Murdoch.” — Des Friedman [10:48]
- Identified themes:
- Ruthlessness
- Willingness to lie for business
- Desire to drive politics, not just report on it
4. Scandal and Consequence: The Phone Hacking Crisis
[11:42–13:56]
- Competitive pressure drove more sensational reporting, eventually leading to the phone hacking scandal.
- Murdoch’s tabloids hacked the phones of celebrities, royals, and ordinary people (notably murder victim Millie Dowler), triggering massive public outrage.
- Parliamentary investigation found Murdoch “not fit to run an international company like BSkyB.” — Matthew Ricketson [12:53]
- Unique moment: Murdoch forced to close News of the World, expressing,
“This is the most humble day of my life.” — Rupert Murdoch [13:34] - Yet, Murdoch soon “regained his poise” and continued his global ambitions.
5. The American Adventure: From New York Post to Fox News
[17:34–21:03]
- Murdoch started his US journey with the New York Post in the 1970s, shifting it rightward and supporting Reagan.
- Early relationship with Donald Trump featured tabloid symbiosis and coverage tailored to make headlines.
- “Trump is one of its key sources...constantly pumping him up and constantly feeding them stories.” — Matthew Ricketson [18:45]
6. The Birth of Fox News and the End of Fairness
[21:03–23:56]
- The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine under Reagan allowed for openly partisan broadcasting, paving the way for figures like Rush Limbaugh and later Fox News.
- Roger Ailes and Murdoch created Fox News, blending cost-effective reporting with outrage-driven opinion programming.
- "You don’t just have opinions, you have big opinions and theatrical opinions." — Matthew Ricketson [23:24]
- Tabloidization of news: designed to inflame and polarize, maximizing ratings and profit over journalistic integrity.
- Murdoch’s eventual acquisition of The Wall Street Journal cemented his dual influence on both elite discourse and mass markets.
7. Lasting Impact and the Creation of Modern Monsters
[25:14–end]
- Murdoch surpassed even his own ambitions, transforming media and politics in three countries.
- “He has had this fascinating but for many people, poisonous impact on political discourse.” — Des Friedman [25:31]
- Fox News and Trump seen as “two monsters” unleashed by Murdoch’s empire:
"They’ve created a monster which has now gotten away from them and there’s actually two monsters: the Fox News audience and Donald Trump." — Matthew Ricketson [26:06]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Look, I can either give you favourable publicity or I can pour a bucket of shit on you every day. What’s it to be?” — Graeme Murdoch [04:39]
- “Murdoch is absolutely a nepo baby.” — Des Friedman [02:42]
- “Fucking publish. Fucking publish...remember we’re in the entertainment business.” — Matthew Ricketson recounting Murdoch [06:30]
- “This is the most humble day of my life.” — Rupert Murdoch during the UK phone hacking inquiry [13:34]
- "You don’t just have opinions, you have big opinions and theatrical opinions." — Matthew Ricketson [23:24]
- "He has had this fascinating but for many people, poisonous impact on political discourse." — Des Friedman [25:31]
- "They’ve created a monster which has now gotten away from them and there’s actually two monsters: the Fox News audience and Donald Trump." — Matthew Ricketson [26:06]
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Murdoch’s privileged beginnings & early ambitions | 00:29–04:26 | | Ruthless rise in the UK and tabloid sensationalism | 04:26–11:10 | | Political interference and alliance with Thatcher | 09:39–11:10 | | Phone hacking scandal and fallout | 11:42–13:56 | | Expansion to the US: New York Post & Trump | 17:34–21:03 | | Fox News, end of Fairness Doctrine, tabloidization | 21:03–23:56 | | Lasting impacts: Fox News, Trump, media & democracy | 25:14–end |
Tone and Language
The episode is fast-paced, clear-eyed, and sometimes biting, blending narration, scholarly insight, archival audio, and pointed humor (“Fox News Secretary of Jeanine Pirro”). Throughout, the language is direct yet nuanced, calling out Murdoch's excesses and ironies while never losing sight of his real-world consequences.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode is an essential primer on how Rupert Murdoch used his media power to shape—not just report—public life and politics on three continents, culminating in Fox News’ dominant role in American society. The conversation stands as a warning: media power wields consequences far beyond headlines and headlines can, in fact, make kings and monsters alike.