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Judi Lynn

(160,525 posts)
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 06:41 AM Jan 2019

Fox News viewers literally have no idea how bad things are under Trump: historian


History News Network HISTORY NEWS NETWORK - COMMENTARY
07 JAN 2019 AT 05:37 ET

During the past two years in which Donald Trump has stumbled through his presidency, critics have been asking why so many Americans continue to back him despite mounting evidence of deeply flawed leadership. Often, these critics express contempt for the millions of Americans who constitute Trump’s “base.” They complain that Trump’s partisans are uniformed people who refuse to acknowledge that the president’s lying, ethical lapses, and failed policies are harming the nation. Trump remains in power, these critics argue, largely because starry-eyed followers ignore the facts.

These critics cast blame in the wrong place. Trump’s supporters, representing 38% of the electorate according to a recent poll, do not deserve all the censure that is directed at them. They did not create the pro-Trump narrative. They are its recipients. Conservative media have been especially influential in promoting optimistic judgments about Trump’s leadership. Fox News serves as command-central for the perspective. It draws a large audience. In October 2018, according the Nielson’s research, Fox racked up its 28thconsecutive month as the No. 1 basic cable news channel. Fox drew more viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined.

Millions of Americans who wish to be informed about current events tune in regularly to Fox. Once they are Fox fans, they tend to stick with the channel. The hosts and reporters on Fox News encourage loyalty. Frequently, they make damning references to CNN (a favorite target) as well as CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, the New York Times and the Washington Post. They hint that only Fox can be trusted. Don’t look elsewhere for information, they warn, because “liberal” networks hawk “fake news.”

What kind of reporting does the Fox News viewership receive through prime-time reporting and commentary? Consider the lessons viewers learned on Thursday, December 20, 2018, an extraordinary day of troubles for Trump’s presidency. Leading print and television journalists outside of Fox expressed shock that Trump suddenly announced plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and quickly draw down half of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. They warned that an American exodus in Syria could benefit the Russians, Syrians, Iranians, and Turks at the expense of Kurds who fought bravely against ISIS. Military leaders and foreign policy experts blasted Trump’s decision as ill-advised and dangerous.

More:
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/01/fox-news-viewers-literally-no-idea-bad-things-trump-historian/?utm_source=push_notifications
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Fox News viewers literally have no idea how bad things are under Trump: historian (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jan 2019 OP
Propaganda works for stupid deplorables of which America has many! democratisphere Jan 2019 #1
What are some signs and practices of a cult? underpants Jan 2019 #2
The similarities are frightening. Arkansas Granny Jan 2019 #8
Faux dumbs down what's happening in the country and world for its viewers. Bluepinky Jan 2019 #3
They deliberately misrepresent the news Martin Eden Jan 2019 #5
the deplorables can not be hypnotized against their will rampartc Jan 2019 #4
Fox News viewers are willfully ignorant. There are many sources of information Arkansas Granny Jan 2019 #6
+1 n/t area51 Jan 2019 #19
Mr. Femmedem has siblings who support Trump. This makes it more understandable. femmedem Jan 2019 #7
I live Dominic Connor's Quora answer on why fox doesn't get play in Europe. Lucky Luciano Jan 2019 #9
For some reason last night, watoos Jan 2019 #10
Great analysis......... MyOwnPeace Jan 2019 #11
We need spike91nz Jan 2019 #12
Fox appeals to the baseness, and treats news like a sporting event coverage. Amimnoch Jan 2019 #13
Watching FOX news is a choice RAB910 Jan 2019 #14
This means that when they... zentrum Jan 2019 #15
If you truly believe that only Fox tells the truth and all other sources lie about everything... Girard442 Jan 2019 #16
This commentary lets them off much too lightly. Turning off your brain and listening to catbyte Jan 2019 #17
Fox "News" still hasn't tweeted from its official account since Nov. 8 More_Cowbell Jan 2019 #18

democratisphere

(17,235 posts)
1. Propaganda works for stupid deplorables of which America has many!
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 06:47 AM
Jan 2019

Russia and the fox propaganda network have done a great job in confirming this truth!

Bluepinky

(2,268 posts)
3. Faux dumbs down what's happening in the country and world for its viewers.
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 07:03 AM
Jan 2019

When the news cycle is unflattering to Trump and Republicans, it’s not mentioned. The same talking points are used over and over about immigration and the Mueller investigation.
My sister is hooked on Fox News. I can’t have a rational discussion with her about anything political. We don’t talk much anymore, and it’s entirely due to the fact she’s a Trump supporter.

Martin Eden

(12,864 posts)
5. They deliberately misrepresent the news
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 07:23 AM
Jan 2019

Or mostly ignore any facts whivh cast a negative light on a Republican president.

A dumbing down of the news would be to present it in simpler terms for the uneducated, but that's not what they do. Fox is a rightwing propaganda network, essentially peddling lies. This does make Fox viewers seem dumb, but what they are is misinformed.

Arkansas Granny

(31,515 posts)
6. Fox News viewers are willfully ignorant. There are many sources of information
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 07:43 AM
Jan 2019

to be accessed but they have chosen to get their "news" and "facts" from fearmongers and hatemongers. They haven't been captured and forced to listen to propaganda.

femmedem

(8,201 posts)
7. Mr. Femmedem has siblings who support Trump. This makes it more understandable.
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 07:45 AM
Jan 2019

Thanks for posting.

And thanks for posting so many other interesting articles. I click on just about everything you post.

 

watoos

(7,142 posts)
10. For some reason last night,
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 08:03 AM
Jan 2019

must have been a commercial during the hockey game, I turned on Fox. I watched for 5 minutes, my limit, and some guy was just smearing General Mattis and General Kelly and Mattis' aid who just quit. He was accusing them basically of taking bribes from defense contractors. He just totally smeared their reputations. As I said I could only watch about 5 minutes.

MyOwnPeace

(16,926 posts)
11. Great analysis.........
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 08:20 AM
Jan 2019

Loved the breakdown of coverage on December 20 - the different coverage of the events of the day comparing "Faux Spews" with other network and cable coverage.
I just don't know how we ever get people to recognize the difference, not as long as IQ45 keeps calling out "Fake News" and the blind idiots continue to follow him.
Our hope and future is to "Get Out The Vote!"
We've got the numbers - we need the votes.

spike91nz

(180 posts)
12. We need
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 08:33 AM
Jan 2019

A debate between news teams from the various networks with a board of academic experts reviewing answers and acting as judges. A kind of college bowl quiz show between networks. People ould watch. Fox would be shown for the idiots they are.

 

Amimnoch

(4,558 posts)
13. Fox appeals to the baseness, and treats news like a sporting event coverage.
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 08:44 AM
Jan 2019

Watch Monday night football, or any major sporting event coverage, then switch to Fox news.

They treat news like a sport, a competition. The way they have the banners flying in, the "scores" on the bottom, even the zoom then ding sound effects when they switch over. Almost all of the commentary is geared towards "us vs them".

"Us vs them" and competition is something many in this country gravitate and get some kind of enjoyment from watching. It has nothing to do with right and wrong, or even issues. It's all about the "win".

RAB910

(3,501 posts)
14. Watching FOX news is a choice
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 09:04 AM
Jan 2019

You choose to watch the treason network you are still guilty of treason. I am not buying the "well they are ignorant because FOX news keeps them that way". You have a responsibility as an American citizen to be informed.

zentrum

(9,865 posts)
15. This means that when they...
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 09:36 AM
Jan 2019

.....finally start to really feel the harm of Trump policies, that they will naturally blame the new Democratic Congress. They are sealed in.

Girard442

(6,070 posts)
16. If you truly believe that only Fox tells the truth and all other sources lie about everything...
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 09:40 AM
Jan 2019

...then you're either off your rocker or dumber than a box of rocks.

catbyte

(34,376 posts)
17. This commentary lets them off much too lightly. Turning off your brain and listening to
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 09:45 AM
Jan 2019

what you only want to hear is no excuse. They choose to believe Fox lies because it allows them to remain comfortable in their own willful ignorance and bigotry. Nope, they are just as bad as their Dear Leader.

More_Cowbell

(2,191 posts)
18. Fox "News" still hasn't tweeted from its official account since Nov. 8
Mon Jan 7, 2019, 01:20 PM
Jan 2019

Several other conservative accounts stopped tweeting between November 8-11, but most of them came back fairly quickly, even if it was only to retweet. But not Fox "News."

https://twitter.com/foxnews

I hope that someone is finally looking into their role in the Russia conspiracy.

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