Tucker Carlson is preparing to unleash allies to attack Fox News in an effort to bully the network into letting him work for - or start - a right-wing rival, sources close to him tell Axios.
Why it matters: Tucker vs. Fox could reshape the conservative news world. Fox, which has seen its ratings plunge in Carlson's slot since he was let go 13 days ago, wants to sideline him by paying him $20 million a year not to work.
The intrigue: Axios has learned Carlson is busy plotting a media empire of his own. But he needs Fox to let him out of his contract, which expires in January 2025 - after the presidential election.
Behind the scenes: Axios has learned that Carlson and Elon Musk had a conversation about working together, but didn't discuss specifics.
State of play: The ousted host "knows where a lot of bodies are buried, and is ready to start drawing a map," said a Carlson source who wasn't authorized to speak publicly.
"They're coming to him and saying: 'Do you want me to hit Fox?' '' a close Carlson friend said. "He's been saying: 'No. I want to get this done quiet and clean.' "
The other side: Fox News directed Axios to the network's statement when Fox and Carlson "agreed to part ways": "We thank him for his service to the network."
Several embarrassing revelations have surfaced about Carlson from the files of the settled Dominion Voting Systems case against Fox - including his use of an obscenity about women, and a text message in which he said about a street attack: "It's not how white men fight."
Go deeper: Fox asks Dominion to probe leaks of Carlson messages.
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