The Fox host accused the agency of "hassling" Black smokers with its proposal, which experts say could prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths
Tucker Carlson on Thursday hypothesized that the Food and Drug Administration's proposed ban on menthol cigarettes is a "war against happiness," and that those in the government agency have it out for the "working man" who just wants to enjoy himself. Speaking to Richard Marianos, a former assistant director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Carlson asked, "Do you have any idea why they are hassling Black smokers—or any smokers? Smokers have already been hassled, I would say. Why are they doing this?" The FDA's proposal would primarily affect Black smokers, nearly 85 percent of whom use menthol-flavored products (compared to 30 percent of white smokers), according to data included in the agency's announcement in April.…