After the poorer-than-expected showing by Republicans in the 2022 election, Rupert Murdoch's media empire — Fox News, the New York Post and Wall Street Journal — embraced Florida Gov. "Fox News is not taking it quite so easy on Mr. DeSantis anymore," the New York Times reported, noting that the governor's presidential campaign has "failed to immediately catch fire" against Trump. DeSantis as a congressman and governor often found a "safe space" on the network, but in recent appearances "he has confronted noticeably tougher questions" from Fox News hosts. It's not just Fox: In recent weeks, the Wall Street Journal and New York Post editorial pages have both taken shots at the candidate. Murdoch might have thought DeSantis a viable alternative to Trump because of his hard-right views and "relatively dignified and competent" leadership in Florida.

Source: Fox News July 13, 2023 18:19 UTC