Fox Invented Reality about Hunter Biden, Voting Rights and Abortion. Rupert Retired but Fox Didn't Mention It.
A condensed overview of 15 hours of Fox News for the week ending 9/24/23
Fox News personalities pushed the limits of reality and truth last week in several examples that involved abortion rights, voting rights and Hunter Biden. Jesse Watters completely ignored timelines and dates involving the president’s son while his co-workers insisted infanticide was a Democratic Party policy and legal in several states.
Legally it’s incredibly difficult to prove if someone is knowingly lying. If a Fox News host gets information from a biased source that peddles in propaganda and misinformation, they might think they are sharing an accurate story with their viewers.
I’ll avoid calling Fox News anchors liars but last week the network pushed the limits of the word “misleading.”
Fox wasted a great deal of airtime on changes to the Senate dress code and a pizza festival sponsored by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and his squabble with a Washington Post journalist.
Shows I covered last week
Fox & Friends
The Five
Jesse Watters Primetime
Hunter Biden - Jesse Watters Really Needs a Calendar.
On Wednesday on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Watters made an absurd accusation about the Hunter Biden and the Department of Justice.
“FBI shut down an investigation into the Biden campaign. The crime - campaign finance charges. Hunter Biden's back taxes were paid off right before the election. $2 million courtesy of the sugar brother. This benefited the Biden campaign and in any other world would be considered an illegal campaign contribution. But the FBI was told to stand down. Now, remember, Donald Trump was indicted on 34 counts for paying Stormy Daniels $135,000. Something he would have done anyway, paid it personally. But they waive off $2 million for the Bidens,” said Watters.
Jesse Watters desperately seemed to want to make his audience believe that Hunter Biden was a mirror image of Donald J. Trump.
Hunter Biden was never a candidate. He did not collect donations or receive money from a political action committee (PAC).
Jesse Watters also moves time and space to make his point. The last presidential election was held on November 3, 2020. In October 2021, nearly a year after the election, Kevin Morris, a lawyer and novelist paid the IRS $2.6 million for Hunter Biden’s back taxes, penalties and fees.
Jesse Watters Thought he Had the Scoop of the Century.
On Monday Watters invited Joseph Ziegler, an IRS whistleblower, on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” to talk about Hunter Biden. Ziegler testified to the House Oversight Committee that he was the lead IRS case agent who investigated Biden’s taxes.
He told the committee in a prepared statement.
“I have a reason to believe that there was gross mismanagement present throughout this investigation, that there was a gross waste of funds relating to the tax dollars spent on investigating this case, and that there was an abuse of authority with DOJ-Tax and the Delaware United States Attorney’s Office.”
Most of the time Ziegler spent on Biden’s case was during the Trump administration.
Watters began his interview with a question about a Chinese company.
“When you see a Chinese company purchase $23 million in diamonds, 18 different transactions, does that make you suspicious of anything?” asked Watters.
I’m not sure how a U.S. IRS agent would know anything about the expenditures of a Chinese business unless it was located in the United States. Watters didn’t clarify. He didn’t even name the company in his question.
Ziegler just seemed confused.
“Yes. So, I don't want to speak to any of the anything that that that that that might be. What I can tell you is, in a normal investigation, what we would do is we try to trace back that transaction. We tried to figure out where this came from. We would interview witnesses. We would do all sorts of things to try to establish why that diamond was given to someone,” said Ziegler.
Jesse Watters then abruptly pivoted to ask about Cyprus. He didn’t ask about a specific bank or company just asked a general question about the country.
“Cyprus. What reputation to Cyprus have?” asked Watters.
After an awkward pause Zeigler answered.
“So, I don't know any of the exact I do know of Cyprus. Cyprus has come up as a part of investigations within the IRS. I can't speak to any specifics of Cyprus,” said Ziegler.
Watters asked another vague question about the small island nation.
“You can't talk about the reputation of that island with regards to taxes, money laundering,” asked Watters.
Ziegler responded.
“I can't speak to any of the specifics of that on this interview.”
Jared Kushner - If it’s Legal then What’s the Problem?
On Thursday Steve Doocy started the discussion about Jared Kushner and the Saudi Royal family with a major Freudian slip.
“And also, final point on this. I asked him about Jared Kushner's investment group getting a $2 billion infusion from the Saudi government and that particular fund that MBS (Mohammed bin Salman) controls. And he was asked, okay, so if Donald Trump is reelected, our you know, in that conflict of interest and Kushner rather, Khashoggi, MBS said if it's legal, what's what's the problem? So that's his answer. said,” Doocy.
Khashoggi, was a Saudi Arabian journalist based in the U.S., began to write a monthly column in the Washington Post that was critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Within a year Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, 2018.
Although the Saudi government has maintained that Khashoggi was killed by a "rogue operation" of agents Turkish officials have said the assassins acted on orders from the highest levels of the Saudi government. The CIA concluded that MBS directly ordered Khashoggi’s execution.
Brian Kilmeade also weighed in.
“Yeah, the thing that's different, obviously, with Jared Kushner, he was in business before he made a dollar to work for four years. Sacrifice personal freedom, almost was jailed for no reason because of the Mueller report, played a huge role with Abraham Accords, saluted by guys like Mike Pompeo, who was secretary of state at the time. They did brilliant work. And then he goes back in the business. So he was still a business before,” said Kilmeade.
Kilmeade left out that according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump made an estimated $640 million during their time in the White House.
According to reporting by Just Security, in June 2017 Kushner also had a pivotal role in supporting a blockade of diplomatic and economic relations with Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The Qataris reportedly believed the blockade might have been linked to their refusal to bail out Kushner’s failing building at 666 Fifth Ave. in New York City.
By April 2018 then Secretary of State Pompeo told the Saudi government that it was time to end the blockade against Qatar. Within a month Kushner Companies and the Qatari sovereign wealth fund negotiated a deal with Brookfield Asset Management to bail out 666 Fifth Ave.
Brookfield Properties later acquired the building through a 99-year lease in August 2018. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) later insisted that it did not know about the deal and was only brought into it by its partnership with Brookfield Property Partners.
The discussion continued.
“Yeah. And the other differences, he's saying this is completely legal. And now we have Congress that's wondering and trying to investigate to find out if what happened with Biden and Hunter was legal,” said Earhardt.
Doocy interrupted again.
Then Brian Kilmeade brought up a point that actually weakened his augment about Kushner.
“I dunno if it if it's legal, if Donald Trump becomes president. But what he's done so far. But what is what he's done so far there is no problem with because he's a civilian international businessperson looking for investment. So, there is nothing illegal about it,” said Kilmeade.
Hunter Biden has never had any government role when his father was senator, vice president or president.
Jesse Watters Falsely Claimed Undocumented Immigrants can Vote
On Thursday Jesse Watters made some outrageous claims about undocumented immigrants.
“Binder (Karine Jean-Pierre) won't talk about the border, the bribery or the blow, because the White House doesn't want to explain why they want Latin America to colonize North America. Biden said, ‘Just watch me.’ And I am. I'm watching him give half a million Venezuelans temporary amnesty this week, no deportations, and they get work permits and Social Security numbers and that gets them driver's licenses. And in Pennsylvania, you get a driver's license, they mail you a ballot. In New York, you have a Social Security number. You can register to vote. That's the point,” said Watters.
According to the official website for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in order to register to vote a resident must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen.
Be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.
Be a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which you want to register and vote for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.
Be at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.
Although Pennsylvania does have automatic voter registration when a resident renews or obtains a driver’s license it does not extend to non-citizens. Pennsylvania is the 24th state to have automatic voter registration.
Fox News is Still Trying to Appear Pro-Union and Anti-Union at the Same Time
Fox News has desperately tried to pivot to populist messaging that champions working class and middle income Americans. The United Auto Workers (UAW) strike has caused a bit of a conundrum for the network.
The Republican Party has been anti-union for decades. Fox News hosts have tried to act like they support workers while avoiding criticism of the big auto makers.
In this exchange Steve Doocy undermines the strike without overtly attacking the union.
“I read an article about this today in The Wall Street Journal. And the winner is Elon Musk. Because as the big three try to tool up to make electric vehicles, he is actually making them. And remember it was in March he said I'm going to cut production costs by 50%. So whatever the union workers get with these, you put that on top of the legacy costs for the big three. Their cars are going to cost a lot more than Tesla. So ultimately, Elon Musk is a winner. Read all about it in The Wall Street Journal,” said Doocy.
Ainsley Earhardt added.
“I was reading I was reading that his employees make a lot less than the union.”
“They're not a union,” said Doocy.
“The Washington Post is reporting this morning that the starting pay ranges between $18 an hour and $32 an hour, and the union says they want that to be the range, to be $10 higher per hour, given the inflation rate,” said Earhardt.
Climate Change Still Isn’t Happening - Why is Everyone Talking About it?
On Wednesday on “Fox & Friends,” Brian Kilmeade brought up Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s thoughts on climate change.
“And it's unbelievable. At the United Nations, they say this is great. That's all they talk about. Even Zelensky was talking about climate change in countries being flooded. So, what are you talking about? Isn't absolutely incredible,” said Kilmeade.
Fox News regularly ignores climate disasters outside the United States.
Kilmeade probably doesn’t know that one-third of Pakistan was underwater last year due to massive flooding. The floods affected up to 33 million people killed 1739 including 647 children and caused $30 billion worth of damage.
More than 5,300 are presumed dead and 10,000 missing after heavy rains caused catastrophic flooding in Libya two weeks ago. Entire communities and villages were washed away in one of the deadliest floods on record.
Other areas that experienced extreme flooding due to record breaking rainfall this past summer are Hong Kong, mainland China, Norway, Greece, and several parts of the United States.
Most climate scientists believe rising temperatures caused by man-made climate change have intensified heat waves, droughts, and increased rainfall. For every one degree Celsius increase in temperature the atmosphere is able to hold onto 7% more moisture.
Fox News Continues to Lie about “After Birth” Abortion
On Tuesday on “Fox & Friends,” Ainsley Earhardt began a discussion about California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“The impeachment inquiry he was asked about, he said, this is student government. Give me a break. It's a joke. And then when asked about abortion, which is something that a lot of a lot of people are concerned about, a lot of women, especially when asked about abortion up until the very end or even after the mom gives birth. He said in those extremely rare and personal circumstances, one thing I absolutely believe Donald Trump should not be making that decision. I shouldn't be making that decision really,” said Earhardt.
Brian Kilmeade interrupted.
“So make it a possibility that the babies once born could be killed. Fantastic. I don't think that's the wisest answer,” said Kilmeade.
What Fox did is pull part of Newsom’s statement from later in the interview. This is how he actually answered the question Dana Bash asked him.
“Another issue is abortion. You have probably heard more and more Republicans, including Donald Trump, who just over the weekend accused Democrats of supporting abortion rights up to and after birth.,” said Bash.
“So you can just be clear. What does that mean? Abortion after birth. It’s made up. It’s a political thing,” said Newsom.
“Can you just be clear about what limits on abortion should be?” asked Bash.
“It's a political thing. People are not seeking abortion at the end of the cycle,” said Newsom.
But what is what is the policy? What should it be?
“The policy. It's not up to Donald Trump or me. It's up to you, to women that have to bear that responsibility uniquely and distinctively. And the reality it’s a carnard it's a political frame. It's total B.S. and it's exactly where they need to go because they know they've gone too far,” said Newsom.
The term “abortion after birth,” doesn’t even make sense as abortion means the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Infanticide is the killing of an infant soon after birth. There is no political movement to extend abortion to infanticide. The Democratic Party does not support infanticide. Infanticide is not legal in any part of the United States.
Stories Fox News Ignored
Each week I compare the hours I’ve covered on Fox News with five hours of the PBS NewsHour. The following list are stories PBS covered that Fox News did not.
Developments in the war in Ukraine
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired six deputy defense ministers following the dismissal two weeks ago of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in a corruption scandal.
Zelenskyy also met with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as representatives from the business community to thank Canada for the assistance it has sent to Ukraine.
PBS invited Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States, to discuss the many challenges of the Ukrainian counter offensive.
China flew 103 warplanes toward Taiwan in a 24-hour period. Chinese planes fly towards Taiwan on a daily basis but this was a new high. As is customary all of the military planes turned back before reaching Taiwan.
PBS featured an extended interview with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conducted by Amna Nawaz. Erdogan was combative and defensive throughout the interview and said he trusted Russia as much as he trusted the West. Nawaz also explored Turkey’s somewhat strained relationship with the EU and Sweden as well as human rights abuses and oppression of political opponents in Turkey.
Officials in Libya split the city of Derna into four sections over concerns of disease outbreaks following the aftermath of the devastating flood. There is also concern of political unrest. The U.N. migration agency estimates 43,000 people have been displaced due flooding in Libya.
Jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Moscow City Court behind a glass defendant’s cage. It’s the first time Gershkovich has appeared in public since his last hearing in June. U.S. officials believe he is being wrongfully detained and there is no merit to the charges against him.
Last week marked National Voter Registration Day. PBS explored how state and local governments are trying to get more people registered to vote.
The Senate managed to confirm a few military promotions despite Senator Tuberville’s attempts to hold them up over his personal objection to the Pentagon’s policy on abortion.
A series of conflicts broke out in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The area is home to ethnic Armenians separatists who by the end of the week had surrendered to Azerbaijan forces. The area has long been at the center of tensions.
Six Palestinians were killed during raids in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. At least three of those killed were claimed as militant fighters.
Iran’s parliament passed new legislation imposing draconian penalties on women who don’t adhere to rules related to hijabs or headscarves.
Republicans in the Wisconsin state legislature might impeach Janet Protasiewicz a freely elected liberal Supreme Court Justice. Republicans are citing Protasiewicz’s comments earlier this year in which she called the state’s maps “rigged,” as well as receiving $10 million in donations from the Democratic Party. Her opponent, Former Justice Daniel Kelly, also received millions in donations.
In North Carolina state Republicans are trying to remove Anita Earls a state Supreme Court Justice over her comments about racial bias.
India and Canada have entered into a diplomatic showdown over the assassination of a Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh Canadian activist. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said that his government has credible evidence that the Indian government was involved in the murder. India has denied the allegation.
A U.S. contractor originally from Ethiopia was arrested on espionage charges for giving classified information to the Ethiopian government.
A high school band leader was tased by police after a confrontation over his student band’s performance after a football game.
Minnesota officials and business leaders grapple with opening up mining for minerals used in electric vehicles. PBS explored the pros and cons of increased mining in the state.
Rupert Murdoch, the founder of Fox News, announced his retirement from the corporate boards of Fox News and News Corp.
A federal judge declared that one of the defendants still held in Guantanamo Bay is unfit for trial due to mental illness caused in part, by torture techniques used in the prison.
The diplomatic deal brokered by the United States between Israel and Saudi Arabia continues to make some progress.
Pope Francis condemned indifference toward migrants in Europe and elsewhere.
The Biden administration started the first ever federal office of gun violence prevention which will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas secretly participated in fundraisers for the Koch foundation.