Years ago, before our nation devolved into a fascist Cracker Barrel that lets Texas Sen. Ted Cruz loiter in the bathrooms for unnervingly long periods of time, Fox News and Donald Trump jumped into bed together. They eventually birthed a creepy vestigial twin with no host, and it instantly latched onto our body politic like a Peruvian spider monkey mistaking Rep. Louie Gohmert’s head for a remaindered Sara Lee pound cake. (Hey, you try Googling “foods that look like Louie Gohmert’s head” and see if you do any better. I’m trying my best here.)

Well, for the moment at least, it looks like Splitsville for Trump and the Murdochs. Trump hasn’t appeared on Fox News for more than 100 days, and the network appears to be searching for a new “populist” Sith Lord to merrily micturate upon the rich, nougaty heads of its audience. 

Not only did Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal and New York Post publish scathing anti-Trump editorials within hours of each other a little more than a week ago—the hosts of Fox & Friends, whose next original thought will be their first, also dragged Trump on Monday over a smattering of unfavorable poll numbers.

So what gives? Is the honeymoon really over and, if so, who gets custody of the lawless orc horde?

The network, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch and boosted Mr. Trump’s ascension from real estate developer and reality television star to the White House, is now often bypassing him in favor of showcasing other Republicans.

In the former president’s view, according to two people who have spoken to him recently, Fox’s ignoring him is an affront far worse than running stories and commentary that he has complained are “too negative.” The network is effectively displacing him from his favorite spot: the center of the news cycle.

Uh oh. They’re ignoring him? That’s worse than outright dumping him. Rupert better double the guard on his pet rabbit. 

Among Fox’s other recent affronts against McSloven are the following:

None of this means the relationship won’t be patched up, of course. If Fox ultimately decides another Trump term would further the cause of evil more than a first DeSantis term, they could very well flip-flop again.

But it does appear that, for now at least, the Murdochs have decided to go in a different direction.

The skepticism toward the former president extends to the highest levels of the company, according to two people with knowledge of the thinking of Mr. Murdoch, the chairman, and his son Lachlan, the chief executive. It also reflects concerns that Republicans in Washington, like Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, have expressed to the Murdochs about the potential harm Mr. Trump could cause to the party’s chances in upcoming elections, especially its odds of taking control of the Senate.

Hmm, are Mitch & Co. also concerned that Trump literally tried to end America and promises to try again if and when he comes up short in his next attempt to methodically eat our faces off? Because that’s just a wee bit more concerning than the GOP’s current midterm prospects.

Then again, we should take whatever small blessings we can get these days. If Fox can be just a bit less awful in its long-term pursuit of soul-macerating evil, maybe we shouldn’t look a gift horseman of the apocalypse in the mouth.

And yeah, I know DeSantis is arguably worse than The Former Guy, but he has the personality of moist lint. And I'd be somewhat less concerned that he’d nuke California for denying him its electoral votes. But hey, I’ve been wrong before.

Check out Aldous J. Pennyfarthing’s  four-volume Trump-trashing compendium, including the finale,   Goodbye, Asshat: 101 Farewell Letters  to Donald Trump, at  this link. Or, if you prefer a test drive, you can  download the  epilogue to  Goodbye, Asshat  for the low, low price of FREE.