I agree with everything you say. I would add, in the 90s, right around the same time as Fox got going I noticed something that Rush Limbaugh and his ilk would do, but Rush was the master. That trick, was to mention a story or article or piece of legislation. Then to assign a motivation to the story, they would make one up (more often than not it was an insight into the tellers morals), and then spend the rest of the day denigrating the motivation just assigned. You don't have to tell an outright lie, but you get to pontificate about the morality you just invented. It is unfortunately at the root of our current political crisis, and no, both side don't do it, (MSNBC does sometimes). As soon as you hear "what they really want is to..." is all you need to know. Funny thing, it was an interview with Biden from years ago and he asked what his greatest mistake was politically, and he answered the it was to assume that he know what motivated another person. As he said (I paraphrase) It's impossible to know, look at the action, and talk about that. Good advice.
Roger Ailes was a great contributor to this insanity. When you put people like Murdoch, Limbaugh, Ailes and Carlson out there, the devastating destruction is immeasurable. It grows over generations and becomes an incurable cancer. Then Trump comes along with his tribe and unleashed a hatred that had been buried and shameful. Together they all feed off if money and power. Would love to have a conversation with Limbaugh now that he’s passed to hear whether he regrets the damage he has done to our world.
As with Murdoch and the so called journalists at Fox, for Limbaugh it was all about the green. I doubt he would have any regrets about the damage he did to our world.
I refuse to refer to them as Fox News. It’s the same Orwellian BS as Trump calling his social media Truth Social with truths in place of tweets. They are now Fox Disinformation because it’s important to call a ♠️ a ♠️.
They are also not a “conservative voice.” They’re the farthest thing from it. They are an extremist voice. Actual conservatives are now RINOs. More Orwellianism since that now means insufficiently loyal to Trump.
Last word to Charlie Sykes (actual conservative) today:
“Tucker Carlson and others continue to push the racist Great Replacement Theory, pro-Putin propaganda, vaccine disinformation, and bizarre and baseless conspiracy theories about the election.”
Your credibility was not in quotes. You are correct in pointing out the thoroughness and narrowness with which too many of us are brainwashed, and what that implies for for future voting and social outcomes. Very serious indeed.
Ken, great analysis of the recent revelations at Fox. Agree that the Fox network has done much to stir distrust and conflict that now has become a democracy threat. I'll echo David Sawyer's reflection on our own Rep. Stefanik by saying how disappointed I always get when I read endorsements of her by newspaper editors, bloggers, letters-to-the-editor writers, etc. Where are their ethics and moral compasses? Why should an ideology take precent over those considerations?
When I watched the movie "Truth" last night (Hulu) about CBS's coverage of Pres. Geo W. Bush's military record, I realized just how fall we have fallen from reliable and objective reporting. Although there were significant holes in their sourcing, they had not intentionally misled anyone - they reported prematurely and lost their jobs because of it. Based on such consequences, it's hard for me to believe that Fox even exists.
I agree. Mostly. My take on MSNBC is that it fires at Fox 24/7 because someone has to. Kind of like saying Zalenskyy is always complaining about Putin. Yes. Yes, he is. During a recent stay at St. Peter's Hospital (long story) I was dismayed to discover that while Fox News was available on my TV, MSNBC was not. Proven disinformation on Fox is everywhere but the counteracting truth is hard to find.
Yay, good for you! I hope you let them know why you cancelled. If The Chronicle was a paid subscription I'd have cancelled that. Can't believe the Gazette endorsed her. Was it in their own self-interest somehow? I don't know anything about that paper's ownership, but always thought it was good journalism. Maybe that's why the Post-Star rarely does any self-produced editorials anymore for fear of losing readership...
I agree with everything you say. I would add, in the 90s, right around the same time as Fox got going I noticed something that Rush Limbaugh and his ilk would do, but Rush was the master. That trick, was to mention a story or article or piece of legislation. Then to assign a motivation to the story, they would make one up (more often than not it was an insight into the tellers morals), and then spend the rest of the day denigrating the motivation just assigned. You don't have to tell an outright lie, but you get to pontificate about the morality you just invented. It is unfortunately at the root of our current political crisis, and no, both side don't do it, (MSNBC does sometimes). As soon as you hear "what they really want is to..." is all you need to know. Funny thing, it was an interview with Biden from years ago and he asked what his greatest mistake was politically, and he answered the it was to assume that he know what motivated another person. As he said (I paraphrase) It's impossible to know, look at the action, and talk about that. Good advice.
Some good points.
I read an article several years ago on the 30th anniversary of his show (and I wish I saved it)
The article pointed out that 30 years of lying to fools finally had an effect and people started believe not just the lies
but also false pretense
It's why 'woke' works for the fools.. much of what the gop is claiming woke is just facts and history.
Roger Ailes was a great contributor to this insanity. When you put people like Murdoch, Limbaugh, Ailes and Carlson out there, the devastating destruction is immeasurable. It grows over generations and becomes an incurable cancer. Then Trump comes along with his tribe and unleashed a hatred that had been buried and shameful. Together they all feed off if money and power. Would love to have a conversation with Limbaugh now that he’s passed to hear whether he regrets the damage he has done to our world.
As with Murdoch and the so called journalists at Fox, for Limbaugh it was all about the green. I doubt he would have any regrets about the damage he did to our world.
Exactly.
You are probably right. I always hope people reflect on a life poorly lived.
And the key point is that it is not motivated by an ideology or to help people, or any type of true personal belief. It is driven by money and greed.
True.
I have been trying to reserve judgement but I have similar concerns with The Epoch Times. Blending truth and fiction.
Absolutely. It is another incarnation of same thing.
My dear Mother is always going on about it....sigh. She's in that Sr. demographic
I refuse to refer to them as Fox News. It’s the same Orwellian BS as Trump calling his social media Truth Social with truths in place of tweets. They are now Fox Disinformation because it’s important to call a ♠️ a ♠️.
They are also not a “conservative voice.” They’re the farthest thing from it. They are an extremist voice. Actual conservatives are now RINOs. More Orwellianism since that now means insufficiently loyal to Trump.
Last word to Charlie Sykes (actual conservative) today:
“Tucker Carlson and others continue to push the racist Great Replacement Theory, pro-Putin propaganda, vaccine disinformation, and bizarre and baseless conspiracy theories about the election.”
“Propaganda” is the correct word at this point.
Faux News....more appropriate?
I prefer not to use the word news in relation to them at all. That’s my feeling on it.
I suppose I could be open to Fox Scat, tho.
Faux News, perhaps?
Great piece! Too bad, the folks who would benefit from reading this will never see it or want to!
Your credibility was not in quotes. You are correct in pointing out the thoroughness and narrowness with which too many of us are brainwashed, and what that implies for for future voting and social outcomes. Very serious indeed.
Ken, great analysis of the recent revelations at Fox. Agree that the Fox network has done much to stir distrust and conflict that now has become a democracy threat. I'll echo David Sawyer's reflection on our own Rep. Stefanik by saying how disappointed I always get when I read endorsements of her by newspaper editors, bloggers, letters-to-the-editor writers, etc. Where are their ethics and moral compasses? Why should an ideology take precent over those considerations?
I am a fierce supporter (read: paid subscriber) of local newspapers. But after The Gazette endorsed Stefanik last year, I cancelled my subscription.
When I watched the movie "Truth" last night (Hulu) about CBS's coverage of Pres. Geo W. Bush's military record, I realized just how fall we have fallen from reliable and objective reporting. Although there were significant holes in their sourcing, they had not intentionally misled anyone - they reported prematurely and lost their jobs because of it. Based on such consequences, it's hard for me to believe that Fox even exists.
I agree. Mostly. My take on MSNBC is that it fires at Fox 24/7 because someone has to. Kind of like saying Zalenskyy is always complaining about Putin. Yes. Yes, he is. During a recent stay at St. Peter's Hospital (long story) I was dismayed to discover that while Fox News was available on my TV, MSNBC was not. Proven disinformation on Fox is everywhere but the counteracting truth is hard to find.
Yay, good for you! I hope you let them know why you cancelled. If The Chronicle was a paid subscription I'd have cancelled that. Can't believe the Gazette endorsed her. Was it in their own self-interest somehow? I don't know anything about that paper's ownership, but always thought it was good journalism. Maybe that's why the Post-Star rarely does any self-produced editorials anymore for fear of losing readership...
It is part of reason.