Nexstar/Tegna Deal Gets Laura Loomer's Endorsement
Laura Loomer, a podcaster widely seen as having the ear of President Donald Trump, endorsed the Nexstar/Tegna deal in a post on X late Tuesday, calling on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to approve the transaction. Loomer denounced Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, who has been a vocal opponent of the deal (see 2508050051). Ruddy is a “selfish leftist” who “opposes both the Nexstar-Tegna merger and the proposed FCC ownership rule change,” Loomer wrote. His network is widely seen as one of the most conservative TV news channels. Many FCC watchers suspect that Trump’s connection with Ruddy led to the president’s recent post objecting to proposals to do away with the national TV-ownership cap (see 2511240055). Ruddy’s opposition to the deal “only empowers the left and their mainstream media allies, who can still control programming in America through ownership no matter who is in the White House or running the FCC,” Loomer said.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
In an email, Ruddy said of Loomer, “I think it’s clear she is working closely with Nexstar, and it shows how desperate they are to use her.” Loomer is a controversial figure who has spread Sept. 11 conspiracy theories, questioned Vice President Kamala Harris' race and described herself as an Islamophobe. Asked if it has any financial or business relationship with Loomer, Nexstar declined to comment. NAB told us it doesn’t have a relationship with her.
Loomer didn’t respond to a request for comment, but her post supporting Nexstar isn't the first time she has attacked Ruddy online. In an X thread earlier this week, she accused him of having financial ties to the Clintons and Qatar. The FCC didn't comment. In her post Tuesday, Loomer argued that approving the Nexstar/Tegna deal would give broadcast groups more leverage against networks when it comes to “controlling content.”
“Nexstar can also be trusted with a larger market share because the company consistently supports President Trump and Republicans,” she added.