“Funny is hard,” said Ann Coulter, a friend and frequent “Red Eye” guest, accusing liberal hosts of virtue-signaling to “status-obsessed audiences.” “Hating the right people is easy.”But Mr. Gutfeld projects his share of tailored people-hating, too. Off-air, Mr. Gutfeld said he did not want to be a “mirror image” of comedy on the left, adding that “just calling somebody evil” is not effective persuasion. “It seems more mean than joking,” said Amanda Carpenter, a “Red Eye” guest and former Republican congressional aide, lamenting Mr. Gutfeld’s tone now. “Owning the libs is the fun.”His audience has plainly learned as much by now, though even those closest to Mr. Gutfeld can struggle to read him. “You all right, buddy?” Mr. Gutfeld asked.

---

Persons: ”, Ann Coulter, Gutfeld, Biden, “, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, gob ”, Amanda Carpenter, Gus, “ He’s, Kitty Bennett Organizations: Republican