Encyclopedia · Biography
Tucker Carlson
Political commentator, former Fox News host and Daily Caller co-founder
Personal details
- Full name
- Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson
- Born
- May 16, 1969 · San Francisco, California
- Parents
- Richard “Dick” Carlson; Lisa McNear Carlson
- Education
- St. George’s School; Trinity College (1992)
- Spouse
- Susan Andrews (married in the early 1990s)
- Children
- Four
- Career
- CNN, MSNBC, Fox News; independent Tucker Carlson Show
Tucker Carlson is an American conservative political commentator and former cable television host. He co-founded the Daily Caller in 2010 and hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News from 2016 until 2023. Since leaving Fox, he has produced independent interviews and commentary through his own media platform.
Early life and family
Carlson was born in San Francisco and raised largely in California. His father Richard Carlson held media and public positions, including heading Voice of America and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. His mother was Lisa McNear Carlson. His father later married Patricia Swanson, who became Tucker’s stepmother. Carlson attended St. George’s School and Trinity College in Connecticut. He married Susan Andrews, a schoolmate, and they have four children.
Media career
Carlson wrote for national political publications in the 1990s and worked as a commentator at CNN, including on Crossfire. He subsequently hosted a program on MSNBC. He joined Fox News as a contributor and became a primetime host in 2016. The network announced his departure in April 2023.
In 2010 he co-founded The Daily Caller with Neil Patel, a former policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney. Carlson sold his interest in 2020. His later independent interviews and political commentary have reached online audiences outside the conventional cable-news format.
Political and institutional associations
Carlson spoke at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest event in 2023, as documented by its published speaker programme. This records a public event appearance, not leadership of the nonprofit.
He has conducted high-profile interviews with political figures including Donald Trump. These interviews are an observable media connection; agreement or coordination on other matters requires separate evidence.
References
Research assembled from sources available as of November 13, 2026. Correctly dated records take priority over later summaries. Unresolved relationships are omitted from public-facing narrative.
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Documented connections
These are specifically described relationships in public records. A shared institution, appointment or event does not by itself demonstrate coordination or wrongdoing.
- Candace Owens (person) — media commentary relationship: Media coverage reported Carlson publicly backed Owens in her dispute with other conservatives; not an employment relationship · 2024–2026
- Donald Trump (person) — Carlson interviewed Trump for social-media broadcast · 2023-08-23
- Turning Point Usa (organization) — AmericaFest speaker · 2023