# This Just In...Fox News Channel is bunch of lying fucks **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 22, 2021, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180 "2021-01-22T06:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 68
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1342 "2023-02-17T02:56:32Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > When he said he was rooting for Russia, and emphasized he was serious, what was the joke? (NB: **I’m not saying that “rooting for Russia” should have any repercussions** , ??? Why the fuck _NOT_??? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1343 "2023-02-17T06:03:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Why the fuck _NOT_? A scene from a movie comes to mind. It is in a luxury box at Anfield (Liverpool FC) toward the end of _51st State_ (also sometimes called _Formula 51_). Surely that is not the sort of thing you had in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1344 "2023-02-17T09:24:55Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > ??? > > Why the fuck _NOT_??? I think perhaps we have different things in mind for “repercussions”. Yes, _socially_, Tucker should suffer consequences for having such an abhorrent view. He should be criticized. His viewers should show an ounce of independent thought for once, and turn away. , But _legally_, no, he’s just stating an opinion, and stating an opinion is what freedom of speech is all about. The kind of thing I am talking about is when a show is presenting factual information and knowingly lying. There are legal consequences for knowingly lying about a corporation, so why not legal consequences for knowingly lying about public health information? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1345 "2023-02-17T17:22:07Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > There are legal consequences for knowingly lying about a corporation, so why not legal consequences for knowingly lying about public health information? It’s harder to prove damages in the latter case. I won’t say impossible, but it’s certainly going to be difficult. If you defame a company, and their value drops as they lose customers who say they no longer trust the company, you have a very clear cause and effect. If you lie about public health issues, you’d have to establish definitively that a person made a poor decision based solely on the lie that was told by that person, and that decision led directly to physical harm. That’s not as easy to do. All that being said, it’s not like a person giving out bad advice can’t be sued. That’s why you often hear disclaimers such as, “these opinions do not constitute medical advice, consult a doctor before making medical decisions”. It’s because a person _can_ be sued if they aren’t careful. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1346 "2023-02-17T17:24:34Z")
Our beloved Tucker seems very capable of establishing cause and effect in these cases. From the article linked to above: > Carlson dropped Heinrich’s tweet into a group chat with Ingraham and Hannity, per the filing, and told Hannity: “Please get her fired. Seriously…What the fuck?..It needs to stop immediately, like tonight. It’s measurably hurting the company. The stock price is down. Not a joke.” So … there’s our expert 😉 ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1347 "2023-02-17T17:53:57Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > If you lie about public health issues, you’d have to establish definitively that a person made a poor decision based solely on the lie that was told by that person, and that decision led directly to physical harm. That’s not as easy to do. Would a person have standing? “I didn’t get the COVID vaccine, and I went out without a mask to crowded events because they told me that COVID was a hoax. I contracted COVID and now have lifelong complications from it.” Maybe even a class action suit of similarly affected individuals? This of course relies on Fox viewers removing the wool from their eyes, but if _could_ happen. If it did, you think they’d have a case? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1348 "2023-02-17T17:55:37Z")
The funny thing is that first part of the headline “Tucker Carlson told his producer Trump is ‘the undisputed world champion’ of destroying things and could ruin Fox news” could be read two ways. On the one hand you have the way that Carlson was using it, if you piss off Trump he will destroy you, on the other hand there is the Merdis touch where associating yourself with Trump leads to your destruction. Based on his track record I think the second is more dangerous than the first, and up until I read the last few words of the headline I thought that Carlson was showing unusual insight. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1349 "2023-02-17T18:36:21Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Would a person have standing? IANAL so I can’t say definitively, but that seems like an extremely weak case. Masks aren’t 100% effective so I can imagine that case would be easily dismissed. I can’t see how you can prove that not wearing a mask was a direct cause for getting sick. I’m thinking more along the lines of telling people that some unsafe remedy will cure and/or prevent Covid, like, I dunno, injecting bleach. If they get hurt from doing that, its probably a lot easier to show direct causation. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1350 "2023-02-17T18:40:16Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > On the one hand you have the way that Carlson was using it, if you piss off Trump he will destroy you, on the other hand there is the Merdis touch where associating yourself with Trump leads to your destruction. I’m pretty sure it’s the first interpretation. Tucker was trying to use Trump’s name and reputation as an intimidation tactic. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1351 "2023-02-17T18:41:29Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Masks aren’t 100% effective so I can imagine that case would be easily dismissed. I can’t see how you can prove that not wearing a mask was a direct cause for getting sick. Fair enough, but I was thinking more the combination of not getting a vaccine, not wearing a mask, and not following social distancing recommendations on the advice of people on Fox. I agree it would be a weak case, but a weak case doesn’t mean an automatically losing case, just a lot of uphill work and chances are against you. > [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m thinking more along the lines of telling people that some unsafe remedy will cure and/or prevent Covid, like, I dunno, injecting bleach. If they get hurt from doing that, its probably a lot easier to show direct causation. I can’t find cites right now, but I seem to remember some stories about people doing just that. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1352 "2023-02-17T18:44:06Z")
I’m with you and @Buck_Godot I think Carlson’s intent was to warn TPTB at Fox that audience size/loyalty and ratings are – as always – FAR more important than the truth. The truth (of the Big Lie story, among countless others) is a modern-day Sodom for Fox: to even _look at it_ could render you a pillar of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1353 "2023-02-17T18:49:19Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I agree it would be a weak case, but a weak case doesn’t mean an automatically losing case, just a lot of uphill work and chances are against you. Sure, you never know, and again I’m speaking as a layperson who treats legal stuff as an occasional hobby. (My formal legal training consists of one Business Law course in college that was part of my Business Administration major.) So don’t take anything I say as more than a (potentially poorly-informed) opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1354 "2023-02-17T19:14:57Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > . Tucker was trying to use Trump’s name and reputation as an intimidation tactic. I knew that that was his intent once I read the the last words of the headline (“if it didn’t back his election lies”). I was just amused that that he and I have such opposite views of what choice regarding Trump’s lies would lead to Fox’s destruction. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1355 "2023-02-17T19:25:55Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I was just amused that that he and I have such opposite views of what choice regarding Trump’s lies would lead to Fox’s destruction. LOL, good point. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1356 "2023-02-17T21:31:47Z")
[Fox News executives refused to let Trump on-air when he called in during January 6 attack, Dominion says | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/politics/fox-news-trump-january-6/index.html) i’m sure that phone call would have been quite something. id1 could call fox news on jan 6th, but couldn’t call the guard, or even his own vp. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1357 "2023-02-18T01:16:26Z")
Okay, it’s just “opinion” but the typical Fox listener has been described as too dumb to distinguish between facts and opinions according to Fox lawyers. Note that the article describes Gutfed as a “Fox News Host”; that’s just Foxspeak for liar. > **[GREG GUTFELD: Biden is ignoring the train derailment in Ohio](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/greg-gutfeld-biden-ignore-train-derailment)** > > Fox News host Greg Gutfeld digs into President Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's handling of the train derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, on "Gutfeld!" "Gov. Mike DeWine is asking for — and getting — federal help for those in East Palestine impacted by the railroad derailment after saying a few days ago that it wasn’t needed. DeWine said Thursday he reached out to the White House requesting assistance from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services — specifically the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a health and emergency response team — as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Two days prior, DeWine said President Joe Biden had reached out to him offering further federal assistance and he declined because it wasn’t needed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency already is helping, and the Pentagon previously did. But DeWine changed his mind Thursday. That’s because of the public outcry from East Palestine residents, Dan Tierney, DeWine’s spokesman, said. “It became clear that because of the concerns of the residents about the site and their health, we wanted to get federal assistance,” Tierney said. “There was a critical mass of citizens who are concerned about their health and could it be connected to the chemicals or to seasonal colds and the flu." The CDC and a health and emergency response team each sent a unit Thursday to East Palestine, Tierney said, to offer assistance to residents with health issues." > **[DeWine gets federal help for East Palestine](https://www.vindy.com/news/local-news/2023/02/dewine-gets-federal-help-for-east-palestine/)** > > Gov. Mike DeWine is asking for — and getting — federal help for those in East Palestine impacted by the railroad derailment after saying a few days ago that it wasn’t needed. DeWine said Thursday he reached out to the White House requesting... ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1358 "2023-02-18T05:12:17Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > [Fox News executives refused to let Trump on-air when he called in during January 6 attack, Dominion says | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/politics/fox-news-trump-january-6/index.html) > > i’m sure that phone call would have been quite something. id1 could call fox news on jan 6th, but couldn’t call the guard, or even his own vp. Is there a possibility that Fox could spin this to make refusing to let the America-hating fuckstick on the air look like exculpatory evidence? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1359 "2023-02-18T06:31:20Z")
And by _critical mass_ he means _enough pissed off voters to vote for the other person/party_. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1360 "2023-02-18T07:14:09Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Is there a possibility that Fox could spin this to make refusing to let the America-hating fuckstick on the air look like exculpatory evidence? I think the opposite is true, actually, and this could be a big problem for them. Their defense regarding their endless trumpeting of the Dominion slander basically amounts to, “the White House was making these allegations, and we were just covering them, because we’re a responsible news organization, and when the President says something, it’s news, and of course we cover it.” But that blows up (or can be made to blow up, if Dominion’s attorneys are halfway competent) if Fox is exercising editorial discretion by deliberately choosing not to give the President airtime on related, and similarly inflammatory, topics. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180/1361 "2023-02-18T09:42:01Z")
With these people _every_ accusation is a confession. They simply lack the empathy to imagine somebody else would do something different from themselves. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180.md?page=67) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-fox-news-channel-is-bunch-of-lying-fucks/931180.md?page=69)