Maria Bartiromo is off the air at Fox News after allegedly forwarding a screenshot of internal editorial guidance to White House officials, according to conservative radio host Glenn Beck. Beck described the episode on a recent podcast and said he believes Bartiromo’s next stop should be the White House briefing room as press secretary.
Beck made the remarks during a conversation with his producer, Rikki Ratliff, opening by calling Bartiromo one of the few reasons to watch Fox Business before turning to what he says happened behind the scenes. Ratliff filled in details, citing reporting from Puck News.
What Allegedly Led to Bartiromo’s Removal
According to Ratliff, Puck News reported that Bartiromo wanted to pursue stories about China and its possible role in 2020 election voting, a topic described as highly sensitive for the network given its ongoing Dominion and Smartmatic lawsuits. A Fox Business executive allegedly sent a text to producers saying the story could not go to air. Bartiromo then allegedly forwarded a screenshot of that message to White House officials, and Fox News leadership learned of it after receiving a call from the White House. The network reportedly considered the move a fireable offense.
Ratliff noted, citing journalist John Solomon, that Bartiromo has not been formally fired. She reportedly remains under contract for several more years and may be paid out. For now, she has simply stopped appearing on air. the Maria Bartiromo Fox News departure has drawn wide attention as an example of friction between editorial control and political pressure.
Beck’s Parallel to His Own Fox News Exit
Beck drew a direct comparison to his own departure from Fox News years ago, recounting how the late Roger Ailes told him about pressure from Washington to remove him, largely over his ties to the Tea Party movement. Beck was careful to note he did not found the Tea Party, though he was deeply involved with it. He said both political parties have a history of pressing networks to act against certain on-air voices.
Beck stopped short of accusing Fox News of bowing to outside pressure in Bartiromo’s case, saying the network’s legal concerns were understandable given the prior lawsuits. But he called the outcome a mistake regardless.
Beck Makes the Case for Bartiromo as Press Secretary
Beck made his recommendation clear at the end of the segment. “I hope that she becomes the next press secretary,” he said. “I think she would be. Don’t you think she would be great as a press secretary?”
Ratliff offered an enthusiastic endorsement. “Oh, she’d kill it,” she said. “She is tough. She’s smart. She follows the facts. She has an editorial point of view, of course, but she’s got real presence too. And I just don’t think she could be bullied around in that room.”
Beck closed in full agreement. “No, nobody’s gonna mess with her,” he said. “She’s fabulous.” Whether Bartiromo pursues any public role remains unclear, as her contract situation with Fox News has not been formally resolved.
