Brunswick Beacon, 03.02.23
We now know what Fox hosts and executives really thought about Trump’s Big Lie. Evidence from Dominion’s defamation lawsuit proves they knew Trump’s claim was bogus but promoted it anyway to boost ratings and profits.
On election night Fox was first to call Arizona for Biden. They were right, but viewers were outraged. Dana Perino said, “There is this RAGING issue about Fox losing tons of viewers and many watching (get this) Newsmax! Our viewers are so mad about the election calls.”
After Biden was declared the winner, Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch wrote CEO Suzanne Scott: “Getting creamed by CNN! Guess our viewers don’t want to watch it.” Fox’s ratings trailed CNN and MSNBC for the first time in 20 years. Murdoch messaged Scott, “Everything at stake here.”
Fox viewers wanted to watch coverage pushing Trump’s Big Lie. Fox obliged, repeatedly promoting Rudy Giuliani and Sydney Powell’s claims that Dominion’s voting machines switched votes. Privately, Murdoch called it “the Trump myth” and “really crazy stuff.”
Asked about it under oath, Sean Hannity testified “I did not believe it for one second.” Privately, Hannity called them “F’ing lunatics.” He promoted them anyway, writing "Respecting this audience whether we agree or not is critical. You don't piss off the base.”
Laura Ingraham promoted them, too, despite telling Tucker Carlson that Powell is “a complete nut,” adding, “ditto with Rudy.”
Carlson told a producer, “Sidney Powell is lying” and called Trump “a demonic force, a destroyer.” But, when Fox’s Jacqui Heinrich factchecked Trump and reported “There is no evidence that any voting system changed votes,” Carlson wrote Hannity: “Please get her fired. Seriously. It's measurably hurting the company. The stock price is down.”
Fox deceived viewers, divided Americans, undermined trust in elections, and helped incite a deadly insurrection. They know Trump lost but are still pushing the Big Lie.
Fox sold out Democracy just to make a buck.
Nancy Briganti
Carolina Shores