OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Not everyone sees their failures as milestones in their lives, but popular Fox News host Dan Bongino does, and he discusses why in a new book set for release later this fall.
The book, “The Gift of Failure: (And I’ll rethink the title if this book fails!),” is just the latest bit of success that Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and New York City police officer, has had in recent years as he’s seen his post-law enforcement career take off.
“I’ve failed a lot. A LOT! But I thank God for each failure because I used them as learning opportunities. And after seeing book after book about how wonderful people are, I decided to write a book about my failures,” he noted on Twitter, announcing the book which can be preordered and will be released Oct. 10.
I’ve failed a lot. A LOT!
But I thank God for each failure because I used them as learning opportunities. And after seeing book after book about how wonderful people are, I decided to write a book about my failures, & it’s now available https://t.co/02SjZn2j9u… https://t.co/B8ZX9VTX8w— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) March 7, 2023
Earlier this year, Bongino got some big news after it was revealed his weekly Fox News show reigned supreme in the ratings, with a report noting that his Saturday night program was the most-watched primetime show in all of cable news.
In the 9 p.m. ET time slot, Bongino racked up 1.199 million total viewers in January. In the same time slot, CNN had 609,000 and MSNBC secured 431,000 total viewers. In the 8 p.m. ET time slot, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade received 1.19 million total viewers. CNN secured 529,000 total viewers and MSNBC has 463,000 in that same slot.
It was also the most-watched primetime show on cable news in late February.
In the 9 p.m. ET time slot, Bongino brought in 1.19 million total viewers. In the same time slot, CNN had 219,000 and MSNBC secured 315,000 total viewers. At 8 p.m., Fox News host Brian Kilmeade brought in 1.06 million total viewers, CNN had 282,000, and MSNBC had 282,000.
Bongino also scored big ratings with a daily syndicated radio program, but he explained late last year why he did not plan on renewing his contract with Cumulus Media’s Westwood One when it comes due, effectively ending his show.
In December, he said that the decision to walk away “really sucks because I spent a lot of time building this and I love it and it’s grown on me.”
The former NYPD officer also told listeners that the company approached him after industry giant Rush Limbaugh died following a battle with lung cancer in 2021 and asked him to take over the time slot. At the time, he said he did not feel like he could fill Limbaugh’s shoes.
“I said, ‘No, I don’t want it,’” Bongino recalled, but then added he reconsidered after he thought back to what became Limbaugh’s final broadcast.
“And I changed my mind. I said, ‘You know what? I’ll take it, but for a limited amount of time,’” he explained.
That said, Bongino and Cumulus Media have had a rocky relationship, even combative — most notably over the company’s insistence that staffers and employees be mandated to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Bongino pushed back heavily on the company’s demand, even taking a hiatus from his show for a period of time.
The Washington Post reported Bongino’s statement on the situation in October 2021.
“I’m not really happy with the company I work with right here,” Bongino noted then. “I believe these vaccine mandates are unethical. I believe they’re immoral. I believe they don’t take into account the science of natural immunity due to a prior infection.
“I believe they’re broad-based and don’t take into account an individual’s circumstances of why they may or may not want to take a vaccine. And they’re antithetical to everything I believe in,” he added.
“You can have me or you can have the [vaccine] mandate. But you can’t have both of us,” Bongino said during his show at the time.
.@dbongino to Cumulus Radio: "You can have me or you can have the [vaccine] mandate. But you can't have both of us."
Find your local station to listen LIVE: https://t.co/IK6DZpbTzJ
Or watch here: https://t.co/NaTE4NeVLy pic.twitter.com/tKzemVWEbB
— Bongino Report (@BonginoReport) October 18, 2021
During his program Friday, the host said he still has one-and-a-half years remaining on his Cumulus contract, adding: “I’m going to enjoy and savor every minute of it.”
He also said that his decision was not made over finances.
That said, he also has a successful podcast, having relaunched a live show on the video streaming platform Rumble last month.
