CHRIS HAYES (HOST): Just hours before Donald Trump takes the stage in Cleveland to accept the Republican nomination, one of the most powerful figures in conservative media, arguably the most powerful private citizen in America is out of a job. Roger Ailes has resigned as chairman and CEO of Fox News, effective immediately. Rupert Murdoch, who is taking over on an acting basis said in a statement, “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country. Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed brilliantly over 20 years.”



This comes after Ailes was sued for sexual harassment by former host Gretchen Carlson, prompting an internal investigation. I'm joined now by Margaret Sullivan, media columnist for The Washington Post. Margaret, I could barely believe that this is actually happening. What's your reaction?



MARGARET SULLIVAN: Well, it is surprising in some ways because some of these allegations have been around for a very long time, and some of them for decades, or many decades. So the fact that it all came together within two weeks is rather stunning.



HAYES: You know, you have got reporting from Gabe Sherman who has spoke to people on the record, named and anonymously, I think six sources he's had, they have described him locking doors to keep women in his office, and then essentially demanding sexual favors in exchange for jobs. There are reports that Megyn Kelly has told the internal investigation, so we may see quite a bit more of the details of what this pattern of behavior is alleged to have been.



SULLIVAN: That's right, Chris. And I think that what's happened here is that a brave person, Gretchen Carlson, came forward and you know, it was billed as retaliatory because she had lost her Fox show, but I think that it took guts to do this. And her action in filing that lawsuit has really brought forth a number of other women who are following her, and at some point there's critical mass and these stories simply can't be ignored. Now, that does not in any way take away from the incredible influence that Roger Ailes has had on media over the past 20, 30 years. It's been huge.



HAYES: I mean, when people talk about quote, “the conservative media,” when you think about the media environment that we live in, particularly political media, it is largely the creation in some ways of Roger Ailes. The way that he has crafted conservative Fox News, the way that he has embedded a critique of the so-called liberal media in what he does, and also made billions of dollars for Rupert Murdoch in the process.



SULLIVAN: That's right, I mean Fox News has extremely high profits, reportedly over $1 billion a year. It has extremely high ratings, and a great deal of that is due to Roger Ailes. It's very sad, I think, that someone of such talent and ability also is so deeply flawed and has really hurt so many women.



HAYES: There is sort of reports coming out of how this is being handled, but there is also intense speculation that -- what does Ailes do next? Of course, the guy came up, he was a television producer, then he worked for Nixon, he also worked for I believe Reagan and Bush in advising capacities. There's a lot of people wondering if this means he heads over to the Trump campaign.



SULLIVAN: That's right. It might be a quick jump back into politics. I mean, I have no way of knowing what Roger Ailes is going to do next. But, you know, he certainly is someone who has moved back and forth between the spheres of media and politics, and mixed those spheres up very well. So, I wouldn't be surprised to see almost anything happen there.



HAYES: All right. Thank you, Margaret Sullivan, really appreciate it. I would urge people to read Gabe Sherman's piece to see what some of the details of those allegations are like.  

Previously:



NY Times Media Columnist: Fox News “Will Never Be The Same ... Roger Ailes Is The Network”



Fox Reports On Roger Ailes' Resignation

Roger Ailes Has Resigned From Fox News

Ailes, Trump, And The Republican Reckoning

Roger Ailes' Legacy: Building The GOP's Communications Arm Under The Guise Of A “News” Network

Roger Ailes Built The Conservative Infrastructure That Donald Trump Is Exploiting

ABC: Roger Ailes' “PR Campaign” Possibly Meant To “Pressure Women Not To Come Forward” With Allegations Of Sexual Harassment