Podcast Summary
Fox Executives Acknowledged Falsehoods but Broadcast Them Anyway: Fox executives privately acknowledged lies from figures close to Trump, yet continued to platform them for ratings, potentially impacting a $1.6B defamation trial's outcome.
According to a recently unsealed summary judgment filing in a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox and several of its executives and reporters, there were explosive text messages exchanged between Fox's top personnel acknowledging that figures close to former President Trump and his conspiracy theories were lies. Despite this knowledge, Fox chose to platform these individuals for ratings, leading to Dominion's argument that the case should be decided in their favor without a jury on liability, and only focusing on damages. Texts from Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Rupert Murdoch, and other Fox executives expressed their belief that figures like Sydney Powell were lying and spreading disinformation. The case is set to go to trial in April, but these text messages highlight the perceived recognition of falsehoods and the decision to broadcast them regardless.
Fox News spread false claims of voter fraud despite internal evidence to the contrary: Fox News knowingly lied about voter fraud to protect viewership and compete with rivals, causing harm to Dominion and the democratic process.
Fox News knowingly spread false and baseless claims of voter fraud related to the 2020 presidential election despite having internal evidence to the contrary. Employees at Fox News used strong language to describe the ludicrous nature of these allegations, acknowledging they were lies. Fox's actions were driven by a desire to protect its own viewership and compete with rival networks rather than upholding journalistic integrity or the truth. This behavior had serious consequences for Dominion and the democratic process, but it didn't matter to Fox. The words of multiple Fox employees, including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Maria Bartiromo, provide direct evidence of Fox's actual malice towards Dominion. By the time Fox called the election for Joe Biden, numerous Fox employees knew that he had legitimately won.
Fox News focuses on Dominion Voting Systems without factual evidence: Fox News spread a conspiracy theory about Dominion Voting Systems without factual evidence, interrupting coverage with an unrelated commercial for Henson Shaving, a cost-effective razor brand
Fox News, specifically during an interview between Maria Bartiromo and Sidney Powell on November 8, 2020, spread a baseless conspiracy theory linking Dominion Voting Systems to election rigging. This theory lacked factual evidence, as there were no insiders or documents from the company to support the claims. Despite acknowledging the difficulty of making such allegations against multiple swing states where Trump lost, Fox News continued to focus on Dominion due to its operation in some of those jurisdictions. Meanwhile, a commercial break introduced an unrelated topic, showcasing Henson Shaving, a family-owned business offering high-quality razors with aerospace technology for a stable and secure shaving experience. The affordability of Henson Shaving, with only $3 to $5 per year for blade replacements, sets it apart from traditional razor brands.
Fox News Caught Between Journalistic Integrity and Conservative Audience During 2020 Election: Fox News grappled with maintaining credibility amidst backlash from conservative viewers who disputed election results, while also trying to debunk false election fraud claims and prevent the spread of misinformation.
During the 2020 presidential election, Fox News faced a difficult decision between maintaining their journalistic integrity and appeasing their conservative audience. When Fox called Arizona for Joe Biden, hosts like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity received backlash from their viewers who believed the election was being stolen. Internal emails reveal their frustration and concern about damaging their credibility. Fox News tried to fact-check and debunk false election fraud conspiracy theories, but some hosts like Sydney Powell continued to spread implausible claims. The network faced pressure from both sides, with some viewers demanding they push the stolen election narrative and others urging them to stick to the facts. Despite this, Fox News made some efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation during the critical November 4th to November 7th time frame.
Fox Executives Discussed Election Fraud Claims with Prime Time Hosts: Fox executives discussed potential false election fraud claims with their prime time hosts, leading to controversial interviews and loss of viewers, while failing to disclose unreliable sources and false information to their audience.
During the 2020 presidential election, Fox executives discussed the potential for their prime time hosts, including Hannity, Carlson, and Ingram, pushing false claims of election fraud. Fox executive Ron Mitchell expressed confidence in Tucker and Laura, but Sean Hannity continued to search for evidence of fraud. Fox canceled Jeanine Pirro's show due to her insistence that the election was being stolen. On November 7th, Fox called the election for Biden, but viewer backlash intensified. Fox executive Irina Bregnotti acknowledged the loss of viewers after Arizona. On November 8th, Maria Bartiromo interviewed Sydney Powell, who made unfounded claims about Dominion Software's involvement in election fraud. Bartiromo knew the source of Powell's information was unreliable, but she and Dobbs did not disclose this to their viewers. Despite the controversy, Fox continued efforts to win back viewers and went on the defensive against Newsmax. The email from the source of Powell's claims, which Bartiromo and Dobbs used to perpetuate election fraud claims, was later revealed to be filled with conspiracy theories and false information. Despite this, Fox did not disclose the existence or content of the email to their viewers.
Fox executives pushed narratives to attract viewers during the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, even if it meant lying.: Fox executives prioritized viewership over truth during the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, revealing concerns about losing viewers to competitors and damaging the network's credibility.
During the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, Fox executives made a conscious decision to push narratives to attract viewers back, even if it meant lying to the public. This was in response to damaging events, such as the Arizona call and the rise of rival network Newsmax. Fox executives were concerned about losing viewers to Newsmax and took notice of their competitors' strategies. Internal communications revealed frustration and anxiety over the situation, with some expressing concerns about the credibility of the network and the potential harm caused by unsubstantiated claims. The Dominion issue became a major focus for multiple Fox shows, with some hosts choosing to air unproven allegations and others adopting a different approach. The tension and uncertainty during this time underscored the significant impact of the election on the media landscape and the importance of maintaining trust with the audience.
Fox News personalities spread false info about Dominion Voting Systems: Fox News hosts continued to broadcast lies about Dominion Voting Systems despite being aware of the truth, damaging the company's reputation and potentially impacting its stock price.
During the 2020 U.S. presidential election, some Fox News personalities continued to spread false information about Dominion Voting Systems despite being aware of the truth. This included Hannity, Carlson, and Ingraham, who were texting amongst themselves and expressing frustration towards Fox reporters fact-checking their claims. The pressure on Fox to correct its misinformation grew as Dominion sent emails providing facts and publicly debunked the falsehoods. Despite this, Fox continued to broadcast lies about Dominion, even as it eyed competition from Newsmax. The internal emails reveal a sense of urgency and concern from executives about the impact of these false claims on the company's reputation and stock price. Carlson and Ingraham, in particular, were dismissive of those trying to correct the record, with Carlson even calling Sydney Powell a "lying bitch." The situation underscores the importance of factual reporting and the potential consequences of spreading misinformation.
Fox News' internal conflict during the 2020 U.S. Presidential election: Fox News faced internal tension between acknowledging election results and catering to audience beliefs, leading to disconnect and potential legal consequences for spreading false information about Dominion Voting Systems.
During the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, Fox News faced internal conflict between acknowledging the election results and catering to their audience's beliefs. Emails and text messages from executives and hosts revealed their private acknowledgement of Joe Biden's win but continued public support for Donald Trump's claims of election fraud. This led to a disconnect between Fox's internal stance and its external messaging, causing tension and potential legal consequences. The network's failure to retract false statements about Dominion Voting Systems has resulted in ongoing litigation, highlighting the importance of maintaining factual accuracy and respecting the audience's trust.
Fox News executives knew about spreading false election info, feared competition: Fox News executives, including Rupert Murdoch, knew about spreading false election info, fearing competition from Newsmax and potential loss of viewership. Dominion Voting Systems is seeking accountability and justice in an upcoming trial.
The texts revealed during the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News suggest that Fox employees and executives, including Rupert Murdoch, were aware of spreading false information about the 2020 election results, fearing competition from Newsmax and potential loss of viewership. The speaker expresses hope that the upcoming trial will bring accountability and justice, and that Dominion does not settle. The speaker's stance is clear: they are pro-democracy and demand accountability. The Midas Touch Network encourages support through subscribing to their YouTube channel and Patreon for exclusive content. The message concludes with a call to action to purchase Convict 45 merchandise at store.midastouch.com.
