DeepSummary
In this episode, Kumars Salehi is joined by Madeline Peltz, a senior researcher at Media Matters for America and an expert on Tucker Carlson. Madeline discusses her recent articles on the revolving door between the Trump administration and conservative media personalities, as well as how One America News Network (OANN) and Fox News are covering the QAnon movement and the rise of white nationalism.
Madeline starts by discussing her explosive report on former OANN correspondent Emily Miller, who was appointed as the FDA spokesperson by Trump but was fired 11 days later after Madeline's reporting. They also review the responses of Carlson and other Fox hosts to the Kenosha shooting, including Sean Hannity, whose lawyer is involved in Kyle Rittenhouse's legal defense.
The conversation covers whether Trump has really ditched Fox News for OANN, the campaign urging corporate advertisers to boycott Tucker Carlson's show, and the efficacy and limits of boycotts targeting far-right media.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Madeline Peltz discusses her reporting on the Trump administration's ties to conservative media outlets like OANN and Fox News.
- OANN and Fox News have played a role in mainstreaming fringe conspiracy theories like QAnon and promoting white nationalism.
- Madeline Peltz exposes the responses of Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and other Fox News hosts to events like the Kenosha shooting, highlighting their defense of right-wing vigilantism.
- Trump has criticized Fox News and praised OANN, but OANN lacks the distribution and reach to be a viable alternative to Fox News.
- Madeline Peltz advocates for corporations to stop advertising on Fox News, which she views as a propagandist outlet inciting violence.
- The efficacy and limits of boycotts targeting far-right media outlets like Fox News are discussed.
- The symbiotic relationship between the Trump administration and Fox News is explored, with Madeline Peltz arguing that they are essentially "one in the same."
- The episode sheds light on the mainstreaming of extremism and the role of media in promoting or challenging it.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I mean, I think that it's important to, like, understand that this is such a sort of petri dish example of how Trump elevates fringe outlets or figures into the mainstream.“ by Madeline Peltz
- “So Emily Miller was hired and lacked, and it was hired to very little fanfare. And then my coworker pointed out that she had this background of gun extremism, and I started looking into it. And the timeline of this is basically as follows. On Sunday, August 23, FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn held a press conference in which he misrepresented data on the efficacy of a treatment known as convalescent plasma.“ by Madeline Peltz
- “And, you know, there's just a complete asymmetry on to the both sides isn't like it's just a different level when it comes to what's happening in right wing media.“ by Madeline Peltz
Entities
Person
Organization
Product
Book
Episode Information
Delete Your Account Podcast
Delete Your Account
9/7/20
Roqayah is off this week, so Kumars is joined from the top of the hour by returning guest Madeline Peltz, senior researcher at Media Matters for America and the world’s foremost expert on Tucker Carlson. Madeline is best known for combing through the Fox News host’s weekly guest spots on the talk radio program of C-list shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge, exposing a history of openly bigoted statements that put Carlson’s seeming descent into white nationalism in its proper context. Madeline breaks down several of her recent articles for Media Matters on the revolving door between the Trump administration and conservative media personalities as well as how One America News Network and Fox News are covering the QAnon movement and the rise of white nationalism generally. Madeline begins by discussing her explosive report on former OANN correspondent Emily Miller, who was appointed FDA spokesperson by Trump and fired 11 days later, shortly after Madeline’s reporting. Madeline and Kumars review the responses of Carlson and other Fox hosts to the Kenosha shooting, including Sean Hannity, whose lawyer is involved in Kyle Rittenhouse’s legal defense. Madeline and Kumars investigate whether Trump really has ditched Fox for OANN, round out the conversation by updating listeners on the campaign urging corporate advertisers to boycott “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” taking stock of the efficacy and limits of boycotts targeting far-right media.
You can follow Madeline on Twitter @peltzmadeline and keep up with her work at mediamatters.org.
If you want to support the show and receive access to tons of bonus content, subscribe on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. Also, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts. We can't do this show without your support!!!