Donald Trump's reliance on Fox & Friends' propaganda poses serious risks for the entire country.
In a recent Washington Post column, media critic Erik Wemple argues that we should “Kill ‘Fox & Friends’ before it’s too late.”
Again, “Fox & Friends” and Trump prove what a noxious combination they’ve become. The former churns out questionable information or mere pro-Trump cheerleading, and the latter amplifies it. Thus far, this symbiosis has clarified just what “Fox & Friends” is — a propaganda mill — and the type of media coverage the president fancies — straight-up sycophancy. The relationship, however, contains the makings of an eventual disaster, the outlines of which we can’t begin to fathom. Who, after all, knows how Trump will interpret the next slanted report from the program? How will he further distort its garbage? And what will be the implications?
We’ve already seen the damage that can be done by Fox News in the Trump era. In March, White House press secretary Sean Spicer approvingly cited a report by Fox News judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano indicating Obama had leaned on British intelligence agency GCHQ to spy on Trump. British officialdom decried and denied the report, causing an international incident and forcing a temporary disappearance by Napolitano from Fox News airwaves.
Left to its own devices, “Fox & Friends” could do far more damage, unless it’s killed.
I agree about the danger. But the problem is, millions of Americans love it. Yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Fox & Friends’ 1.6 million daily viewers exceed the combined total of its competitors. Its ratings are up 48 percent overall and the show has earned $32 million in ad revenue since Trump's election, according to THR.
There's no way Fox News will get rid of a program that is so profitable and so integral to its brand.
In a country that believes in free speech, what’s to be done?
As an example of Fox's perniciousness, watch Fox & Friends exploit the tragic death of former North Korean prisoner Otto Warmbier below and see how Trump took the bait here.
While you’re correct Fox News were great cheerleaders for Dubya’s best war ever, the big difference here is the information disconnect. There is very little intersection between the news reported on GOPTV™ and the msm in the era of Russiagate.
“The folks that make up their viewers are the problem with America today – they are purposely willfully ignorant. They choose to be misinformed, all because they hate the gubmint……..”
Right you are as usual scooter.
BUT — here’s the irony: given the fact that a VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE of Faux Spews’ viewers live in the central and midwest U.S. region known as “Tornado Alley”, when a tornado or hurricane levels their homes or businesses, guess to whom they go CRYING ON THEIR HANDS AND KNEES to with their hands out for $$$$?? That’s right, you guessed it:
THE GUBMINT!!!
’Nuff said.
The blonde during that time was E.D. Hill, best remembered for saying the Obama’s were giving a terrorist fist bump during a campaign rally in ’08.
Today I kept getting spammed by Trump fluff and news junk food fed by Fox twitter bots like Fox Nation and Fox Insider. Fox News’ feed was flattering crap like clips of a hard news reporter discussing the restaurant Trump was going to eat at. Oh, isn’t Melania so elegant boasts another.
Don Jr? Crickets. The Donald cluelessly shaking the U.S. delegation’s hand instead of introducing them to Macron? Crickets. And on and on…
Because of Trump’s craziness, never before has there been such a chasm between Fox and the msm. Trump’s base is so rabid it’s mind bending. As the media skewers their crackpot leader, the MAGA sycophants circle the wagons screaming “fake news”. So certainly Fox benefits from a record concentration of fanboys.
How to beat Fox? Crush Trump on their terms. His red meat agenda must fail. I don’t even see a smoking Trump-Russia gun turning his base. Establishment Republicans? Certainly. Base no.
Though Fox News forced to carry impeachment hearings would kill Fox’s ratings. 😉
The only real thing that can end it would be a drop in the ratings or like Bill, the loss of advertisers.
The folks that make up their viewers are the problem with America today – they are purposely willfully ignorant. They choose to be misinformed, all because they hate the gubmint and that Kenyan usurper or anything remotely associated with the Democratic party.
It is a sad state of affairs in America and our doom as a country is a very real possibility thanks to FOX’s dumbing down of the electorate with their non-stop 24/7 propaganda & lies.
In all seriousness – I believe FOX is the cancer that is destroying America and the values it was built upon.