There’s a new report out today that suggests Matt Gaetz may retire from the House of Representatives in order to become a media personality at Newsmax:
AXIOS – Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has privately told confidants he’s seriously considering not seeking re-election and possibly leaving Congress early for a job at Newsmax, three sources with direct knowledge of the talks tell Axios.
Gaetz has told some of his allies he’s interested in becoming a media personality, and floated taking a role at Newsmax.
One of the sources said Gaetz has had early conversations with the network about what a position could look like.
While the party out of power tends to gain seats in midterm elections — creating the possibility of Republicans’ taking control of the House in 2022 — a prominent spot in the media could give Gaetz a platform for a future national political role.
Gaetz and his spokesman did not immediately respond to several requests for comment.
In some ways this doesn’t surprise me, assuming this report is true. If you remember at CPAC last year, Gaetz decried the corruption of PACs and special interest money in DC, vowing to never take PAC money again. It wouldn’t surprise me if he burned a few bridges that day, but my bigger point is that maybe he isn’t so happy being a member of Congress anymore because there are too many compromises.
Or perhaps Gaetz just enjoys the limelight of TV news and sees a big future in it for himself.
Also it’s interesting that he’s in talks with Newsmax, which has seen a big boon since the election last year after Fox News called Arizona way too early. I’m sure that boon isn’t what it was given that the election year is over, but here’s what Newsmax said about their ratings earlier this month:
- Newsmax remains the #4 cable news channel in the United States.
- Newsmax remains a top 25 cable network for Total Day.
- Newsmax growth has accelerated over the past three quarters, up 24% in P2+ impression and up 23% in A35-64 viewers, from fourth quarter 2020 to first quarter 2021.
- Newsmax has seen double-digit P2+ ratings growth from fourth quarter 2020 to first quarter 2021, led by “Spicer & Co.” (+39%), “Greg Kelly Reports” and “American Agenda” (+35%), “Rob Schmitt Tonight” (+31%), and “Stinchfield” (+24%).
Sounds like Newsmax is still doing pretty good and has held on to some of those viewers.
So if Gaetz becomes a news host at Newsmax, would you watch his show?