Sook Blasts Ruddy, Says Trump Has Been Positive Toward NewsNation
Nexstar CEO Perry Sook condemned Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy in an interview with Policyband released Tuesday, calling him a “cafeteria conservative” and saying that arguments that broadcast consolidation limits the voices participating in local news are based on a false choice. “Do you want any local news or no local news? If we maintain the status quo, no changes, I’m telling you that ultimately, your news will come from a server and a chatbot,” Sook said. “There won’t be local newsrooms because no one will be able to afford to stay in that business by being kept regulatorily small.”
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Sook said Ruddy -- who has vocally opposed the Nexstar/Tegna deal and the elimination of the national TV ownership cap -- hasn’t been behaving like a conservative. “It’s hard for me to understand how a quote-unquote conservative could advocate for maintaining regulation as opposed to eliminating regulations that only apply to us,” Sook said. “When you look at some of the folks that he has advocated for positions in government -- [public interest advocate] Gigi Sohn -- and so cafeteria conservative might be a generous term, I think, at this point.” Ruddy was supportive of proposals to nominate Sohn for FCC chair under former President Joe Biden (see 2111290060), when a conservative candidate was unlikely be nominated.
"Perry Sook gave only one political candidate donation in '22 and it was to Liz Cheney as she challenged President Trump," said Ruddy in an email. "Never Trumpers like Sook, who runs leftwing NewsNation, should be the last person to say who’s a conservative."
In addition, Sook said President Donald Trump has had positive things to say to him privately about Nexstar’s NewsNation, though late last month, Trump mocked the network during a press gaggle on Air Force One. After a NewsNation reporter asked Trump about recent medical tests, he replied: “Do you want to have it released, NewsNation? Failing, failing NewsNation. NewsNation is doing lousy, by the way.”
“On any given day the president is entitled to his opinion,” Sook told Policyband. “And if we fall short on some area of reportage, then I think it’s perfectly fine for him to call that to our attention.”