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Fox News Channel's Harris Faulkner's web show "Outnumbered Overtime" did so well online that it earned a spot on TV.
A former KSTP-TV anchor and author, Faulkner was already a co-host of Fox's "Outnumbered," a couch full of smart women debating current events in the company of the one high-profile man allowed daily to join them. "Outnumbered" celebrates its fourth anniversary Saturday, while "Outnumbered Overtime," which Faulkner anchors alone, recently aired its 100th show.
"C.J., I'm having the time of my life. To have those hours at noon and 1 Eastern — that's turned out to be glory time," said Faulkner. "There is so much breaking news that the Fox show I do at noon often [makes me] feel like I'm the setup for the day, and I love it. When I get to my hour, 'Outnumbered Overtime,' I feel I have digested a lot and can go even deeper."
Faulkner has been a news junkie since she was a teenager. "My dad was stationed at the Pentagon when I was like middle-school age. He was support for the Joint Chiefs of Staff; his boss was Colin Powell. Living in the D.C. area, I was already into [politics] by junior high."
Between her TV shows, which keep her on air 10 hours a week, and a family — two young daughters with husband Tony Berlin, a WCCO-TV alum — I don't know when she had time to write another book, but she did. Faulkner thinks she'd like to do a book tour that mainly visits military bases, since "The Nine Rules of Engagement" showcases what she learned as a military brat. To clarify, I asked Faulkner if she really planned to come to Minnesota to sign books and say thank you at military settings instead of MOA?
"Don't talk about my favorite place to shop," she said. "I might have to hit the Mall of America!"
We talked a lot, so this is Part 1 of 2.
Q: One of the rules?
A: Recruiting your special forces. You and I have been around long enough to know you have to be careful who you hang out with. If [Jesus] couldn't get it done, imagine how hard it's gong to be for the rest of us. Picking a squad counts. If anybody can harm you, it's going to be the people who are closest. Scientific research tells us we become like the five people we are around the most. You and I haven't talked to each other in a while; we get on the phone and start laughing like we talked to each other yesterday. You have to cultivate your squad. If you figure out you have some members who are not worthy, I say if you are not cultivating your squad, you have to be renovating it. Can you imagine going into battle with people you don't trust? When I speak to audiences, I will pick two. For young people I like to talk about unleashing your integrity, because I tie it to social media and how careful we have to be about being consistent online with who we really are. My rule is, "If I couldn't shout it in front of both my parents, including the one who is in heaven [her mom, Shirley] and my children, I probably shouldn't tweet it." My 11-year-old is soon going to be able to see some of that stuff, no matter how much you delete it. You see they came up with Mark Zuckerberg's text messages from when he was 19. [Digital] stuff is hard to kill. We all make mistakes, [but] accountability [is important]. My father [Bob], no wonder I'm the way that I am, that man doesn't give up — HE'S PERSISTENT. Doesn't raise his voice. I'm like him. People say, "Boy, when it gets heated on the couch, Harris looks really calm." Well, we can't all be shouting.
Q: A lot of days when your colleagues are going at it and you pull back?
A: I'm listening. I'm listening for that point of pulling it all forward again. I get that from my father. "Think like a general," another rule. Generals sit back, watch troops and say, "I've got the plan," because he's taking it all in.
C.J. can be reached at cj@startribune.com and seen on Fox 9's "Buzz." E-mailers, please state a subject; "Hello" does not count.
