DeepSummary
This episode examines how Fox News has reshaped the media and political landscape over the past 25 years. It discusses how Fox News not only influences its conservative viewers but also impacts the broader political conversation by forcing other media outlets to cover stories that may have otherwise been ignored.
The episode highlights how Fox News has driven the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation, particularly during events like the 2000 election recount, the Benghazi attack, and the Trump presidency. It also explores how Fox News has become a propagandistic mouthpiece for the Republican Party, shaping the party's agenda and narratives.
The transcript includes analysis from various experts and journalists on the power dynamics between Fox News, conservative media, and mainstream media outlets. It also touches on how the rise of social media and alternative news sources has contributed to the spread of misinformation and the breakdown of shared realities.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Fox News has had a significant impact on shaping the American media and political landscape over the past 25 years, influencing both its conservative viewers and the broader political conversation.
- Fox News has been instrumental in spreading misinformation, conspiracy theories, and divisive rhetoric, often forcing other media outlets to cover stories that may have otherwise been ignored.
- The network has essentially become a propagandistic mouthpiece for the Republican Party, shaping the party's agenda and narratives, and serving as a direct pipeline for the worst manifestations of American politics and society.
- Fox News has contributed to the breakdown of shared realities and the erosion of trust in major institutions, fueling polarization and the spread of harmful misinformation.
- The rise of social media and alternative news sources has further amplified the impact of Fox News and the conservative media ecosystem, creating a feedback loop of misinformation and conspiracy theories.
- The network's influence and willingness to push boundaries have led to a race to the bottom in terms of ethical journalism and responsible reporting, prioritizing sensationalism and partisan narratives over objective truth.
- Fox News has played a significant role in the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarian tendencies, particularly during the Trump presidency and the events surrounding the 2020 election.
- Despite criticism and exposure of its biases, Fox News has remained a dominant force in the media landscape, indicating the enduring appeal of its brand of partisan content and the challenges of combating misinformation in the digital age.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “There is a direct pipeline from what appears on Fox News to the absolute worst manifestations, worst behavior, worst elements of our politics and society.“ by Chris Hayes
- “If you work for Fox News, as far as I'm concerned, you should be Persona non grata. You are, in my view, basically working for a, well, I almost hate to say this, but a more or less traitorous organization, because as far as I'm concerned, Rupert Murdoch and Fox News, their sole goal is to create chaos and to make money from doing it.“ by Kevin Drum
- “You know, at first blush, I think most journalists would be inclined to mostly ignore that. It wasn't nothing, but it just wasn't like the biggest news story in the world. But it's on Fox. It's on Fox. You hear about it more. Why is the media not dealing with a clear cover up here? And you say to yourself, okay, I don't want to be biased. I need to incorporate, incorporate this into my news diet, into my report.“ by Vox narrator
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Episode Information
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
BestOfTheLeft.com
12/27/22
Original Air Date 10/27/2021
Today we take a look at some of the ways that 25 years of Fox News has reshaped our media and political landscape. Crucially, understanding Fox isn't just about their influence on their conservative viewers but how they manage to hack the political conversation for the rest of us.
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SHOW NOTES
Ch. 1: The War On Fox Is Over - The Young Turks - Air Date 12-22-13
Archive clip from A parody of itself (Media) - Best of the Left - Archives - Air Date 2-17-14
Ch. 2: Losing Relatives to Fox News - You're Wrong About - Air Date 12-7-20
Mike tells Sarah what makes older Americans more vulnerable to misinformation — and who is delivering it to them.
Ch. 3: Kevin Drum on how Fox 'News' broke America - The Bradcast - Air Date 9-17-21
Data journalist and longtime Mother Jones columnist KEVIN DRUM explains his exhaustive analysis of the madness of this political moment, and how and why we arrived at it. The Right has seemingly gone mad due to the spread of conspiracy theories.
Ch. 4: You're watching Fox News. You just don't know it. - Vox - Air Date 5-24-19
Fox News was created to push right-wing nonsense to the mainstream, and now there’s no escape.
Ch. 5: Conspiracy Network OAN 90% Funded by AT&T - The David Pakman Show - Air Date 10-7-21
Right wing conspiracy network OAN turns out to be 90% funded by AT&T
Ch. 6: How Fox News Made Every Moment of the Last 25 Years Worse - The New Abnormal - Air Date 10-7-21
Yes, it’s been 25 years since Fox News came on the air—25 years of “refracting the absolute most absurd and destructive and deadly disinformation and misinformation from the right wing fever swamps,” Carusone tells co-hosts Molly and Jesse.
Ch. 7: What 25 Years Of Fox News Poison Have Done To America - All In - Air Date 10-8-21
Chris Hayes marks 25 years of dangerous lies from Fox News: “There is a direct pipeline from what appears on Fox News to the absolute worst manifestations, worst behavior, worst elements of our politics and society.”
MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)
Ch. 8: Former Fox News Reporter Tells All - David Pakman Show - Air Date 2-05-13
Archive clip from Ridiculing Fox isn't just fun, it's important (Media) - Best of the Left - Archives - Air Date 2-28-13
Nicole Hemmer, the brilliant historian of conservative media, joins to discuss how Fox News and the larger conservative media-verse protects Trump but also lures him into disaster.
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 10: Final comments on the multi-decade victim mentality of conservatives about the media
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
- Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
- Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
- Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard (https://theobard.bandcamp.com/track/this-fickle-world)
- Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent
SHOW IMAGE:
Description: A slightly distorted Fox News logo sits askew at the center of a hypnotic spiral.
Credits: “Fox News” by Johnny Silvercloud, Flickr | License | Changes: Added hypnotic swirl background, cropped, faded edges || Hypnosis Spiral via Pixabay
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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