Recent bombshell filings released in Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News reveal the network — including its prime-time stars Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham — is willing to amplify baseless and sometimes ridiculous claims to drive profit and retain audience ratings.
Any doubt that Fox News acts as an independent news bureau was eliminated after parts of Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch’s sworn deposition were publicly released via Dominion filings, showing that the network is a Republican propaganda machine. Consequently, when facts conflict with the network’s economic interests (and the Republican Party’s political interests), Fox News’ tenuous relationship with the truth succumbs to outrage generation.
Over the last month, Fox’s prime-time lineup continued to follow this pattern, spreading outlandish claims that go beyond election denial. From warmongering about China to exploiting the chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, to demonizing diversity initiatives to fearmongering about artificial intelligence and even “lizard overlords” supposedly intent on destroying conservative values, hosts, correspondents, and guests filled the network’s 5-11 p.m. ET airwaves with propaganda nightly.
Fox News has built its business model around spreading misinformation and sowing chaos. And February provides a snapshot of how Rupert Murdoch has built his empire via the network, realizing nightly the Dominion filings' most revelatory message: the extent to which the network will go to deceive its viewers.