The Rise of Rupert Murdoch: Making of a Mogul (Part 1)

Rupert Murdoch stands as perhaps the most consequential and long-lived power broker of the last century, wielding a unique blend of political, cultural, and business influence across Australia, the UK, and the US. Michael Wolff, an author who spent a year interviewing Murdoch, joins Alastair Campbell to examine how Murdoch revolutionized the media landscape by consolidating disparate industries—newspapers, film studios, and television networks—under a single corporate roof. This consolidation facilitated a global shift toward conservative populism, arguably paving the way for political phenomena like the presidency of Donald Trump. Beyond his professional ruthlessness and relentless focus on media "chess pieces," Murdoch’s legacy is increasingly defined by a protracted family succession battle among his children, a real-life drama that mirrors the themes of the television series *Succession*. Murdoch’s career demonstrates a level of sustained, meaningful power that outlasts traditional political terms, positioning him as a permanent fixture behind the scenes of global governance.