Far-right Fox News host Tucker Carlson has repeatedly downplayed the deadly failed insurrection of January 6, when a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol in hopes of stopping the joint congressional session certifying then-President-elect Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory.
Carlson even promoted a conspiracy theory that the insurrection was orchestrated by federal agents in an effort to limit political expression.
This past Monday, Carlson promoted this delusion yet again for his "Patriot Purge" series, using a picture of a man in a red MAGA cap, asking why he hadn't been charged, suggesting the man was secretly a law enforcement officer.
But a new report from Ryan J. Reilly of HuffPost revealed the man isn't a fed at all, but an amateur mascot who's a big fan of Carlson's show.
NEW: The Jan. 6 participant Tucker Carlson viewers were told was “clearly a law enforcement officer” is actually an amateur mascot who runs around Busch stadium during St. Louis Cardinals home games.
He’s also a huge fan of Tucker Carlson. https://t.co/h7LEzA89n7
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) December 9, 2021
Though his real name has yet to be revealed, the man is known as "Rally Runner" to fans of the St. Louis Cardinals fans. He's built up a following for running outside of Busch Stadium during the team's games. Reilly's report also reveals that Rally Runner's Facebook indicates he's a "huge Tucker Carlson fan."
Reilly asked Joseph McBride—an attorney for multiple Capitol rioters and a key figure in Carlson's Patriot Purge series who also claimed Rally Runner was a federal agent—about these revelations.
McBride initially doubled down on this delusion, before saying:
“If I’m wrong, so be it, bro. I don’t care. I don’t give a s**t about being wrong.”
The news made waves on social media.
THERE IS NO WAY https://t.co/l5XxjwVdyr
— alyssa 🧸 (@hoyertoheaven) December 9, 2021
WHY does he have to be a Cardinals fan. Damnit man. https://t.co/JBRIcqsBRk
— Joel (@bozoclownputer) December 9, 2021
the dumbest timeline https://t.co/3CYkcPAJIj
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) December 9, 2021
*Stares at St. Louis* https://t.co/fY5YI856yy
— Danielle C. Belton (@blacksnob) December 9, 2021
bruh what in the actual hell https://t.co/IXTGb9qHv1
— jim lahey (@libbylovescards) December 9, 2021
My God. https://t.co/7P5ftkxEpp
— Geoff Pilkington (@geoffpilkington) December 9, 2021
Carlson and his disinformation was a major focus of the discussion.
Tucker is simply using the same tactic the other conspiracy theorists have used for decades - just make an accusation. A good percentage will accept it as true. Ruining people's lives is just collateral damage, right? https://t.co/DBaIUNlcLQ
— Ross Elder (@RossElderWrites) December 9, 2021
Jesus Christ @TuckerCarlson A live look at your show https://t.co/JPztTaMdYm pic.twitter.com/HOzotMOYZE
— TheBoneCollector (@ScottinBayV) December 9, 2021
In hindsight, we may come to realize that having one of the nation's most watched networks be straight up authoritarian propaganda was a bad idea. https://t.co/wR4izbWEYv
— Seth Cotlar (@SethCotlar) December 9, 2021
The House Select Committee on January 6 is still investigating the origins of the riots.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images