Fox News: Jacked-up Joe! MAGA Really is Deplorable!
A Condensed overview of 27 hours of Fox News for the week ending 3/10/24
Last week when Fox News wasn’t covering either the State of the Union Address or Super Tuesday the network turned its venom and vitriol towards President Joe Biden while boosting former President Donald J. Trump.
The day after the State of the Union several Fox News hosts declared with no evidence to back their claims that President Joe Biden was using some type of drug when he delivered his speech to the nation.
Fox News often uses projection which is defined by Psychology Today as the process of displacing one’s feelings onto a different person, animal, or object. The term is most commonly used to describe ‘defensive projection’—attributing one’s own unacceptable urges to another.
If Trump or the Republican Party is accused of doing something awful Fox News will manufacture or over hype an example of Biden or another Democrat of doing the same thing.
Sean Hannity described President Biden as “Jacked-up Joe.” The phrase ‘jacked up’ appeared in the transcripts 31 times over Thursday and Friday. Judge Pirro and Jesse Watters also echoed the same sentiment.
Rumors have swirled for years that Donald J. Trump abuses the stimulant Adderall and a recently released Department of Defense Inspector General Report revealed a pattern of improper medical practices within the White House Medical Unit.
According to reporting by Rolling Stone, the White House was awash with controlled substances including Xanax, and the powerful stimulant Provigil. The physician to the president, Ronny Jackson, allegedly, would pass out pills like candy to various White House staffers.
Shows I covered last week:
Fox & Friends - first hour plus all three hours on Tuesday
The Five
Hannity
Super Tuesday - 9 hours of coverage
The State of the Union Address - Fox News commentary
Hannity Revealed His Plan of Attack on Biden Ahead of Time
On Wednesday night on “Hannity,” Sean Hannity seemed to know exactly how Fox would attack Biden before he even stepped foot in the House chamber to give the State of the Union Address.
“His staff has been changing his (Biden) said schedule so we can stay up later than usual tomorrow night. And you know, he's going to be pumped up with caffeine or whatever. Maybe Red Bull,” said Hannity.
Fox News Flipped the Numbers on the Primary
Democratic voters frustrated with Biden’s policies towards Israel started the ‘un-committed vote’ movement. The protest started in Michigan as a way to show the Democratic Party and the President that they were unhappy with his policies towards Israel and the Israel-Hamas war.
So far the movement has been a resounding success as last week Vice President Kamala Harris publicly expressed her support for a cease-fire in Gaza. The push for uncommitted votes has also helped Biden’s campaign easily locate where they need to reach out to disillusioned Democratic voters.
Of course, Fox News has used this campaign to try to smear Biden. On Wednesday Dana Perino brought the ‘uncommitted’ movement on“The Five.”
“The Biden team is out with a lot of swagger because they're saying that Nikki Haley took all these votes away from Trump and that was not right. There were some, of course, but he's losing all these other votes to uncommitted. And actually, it's not just about Israel. It's about him being too old to run for office,” said Perino.
On Friday on “Hannity,” Sean Hannity also implied that the ‘uncommitted’ vote was also hurting Biden.
“Joe can't even unite his own party, let alone the country, losing tens of thousands of votes to uncommitted. The uncommitted option in the Democratic primaries on Tuesday,” said Hannity.
I couldn’t find data that showed a side-by- side comparison of all of the combined votes so far for Biden and Trump. I decided to make my own data set by going through each primary or caucus and writing down the exact number of votes each candidate got including uncommitted votes.
In some states several fringe candidates were included on the ballot and every single vote cast for anyone other than Biden or Trump was counted.
In the cells that are labeled with a zero it indicates that although the Republican Party has held a primary or caucus the Democratic Party has a primary or caucus scheduled on a later date. Some states hold a caucus for Republicans and a primary for Democrats.
The numbers for California are what I could find as of Sunday evening as the votes are still being counted.
This chart shows that so far Trump has gotten 72% of the Republican vote and Biden has gotten 86%.
Clutch Your Pearls - The Kellyanne Conway Edition
On Tuesday on “Fox & Friends,” Conway, former senior counsel to the president, discussed advice she would give to her former boss Donald J. Trump.
“He knows how I feel, I always say. Fewer insults, less incites. Having said that, he has a right to defend himself. The Republican primary opponents this time got pretty rancorous and personal in their insults of President Trump, and he has this effect on the people running against him. You saw Hillary Clinton's favorability ratings plummet.
You see Nikki Haley's numbers going down. I think that people saw Ron DeSantis and maybe even Chris Christie as perhaps an alternative, somebody that was going to be positive and unifying and they ended up being attacked. But I like the fact and I just want to say this, in 2016, he won in Michigan, in Wisconsin, among the fifth, who did not care for him or Hillary. He beat her by 20 points in Michigan, 40 in Wisconsin.”
Haley’s numbers increased over time as other Republican candidates dropped out of the race.
Conway is known for inventing reality as she coined the phrase ‘alternative facts,’ in January 22, 2017 when she defended White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer's false statement about the attendance numbers of Donald Trump's Presidential inauguration.
Trump regularly uses profanity and harsh language to describe his many critics to act as if his Republican competitors were ‘rancorous and personal’ in comparison is downright laughable.
MAGA Supporters Really are Deplorable
Every now and then I capture a clip that sums up the propaganda machine I cover and the true nature of the MAGA movement.
On the morning of Super Tuesday Will Cain hosted a segment of “Breakfast with Friends” in a diner in Allen, Texas.
Ainsley Earhardt brought up how Michelle Obama announced that she would not be running for president in 2024. It was absurd that Obama even had to make such a statement as she’s repeatedly said she had no interest in running for any public office.
Earnhardt wanted Cain to ask a female diner patron what she thought of Obama’s statement.
“Now that Michelle Obama's not going to run for president. They're making that announcement this morning. You ask, is there a woman in there that we can get Her reaction?”
Cain immediately made his way over to a booth where an elderly white woman was sitting with what looked like her spouse.
“Yeah, right here. Now, let me introduce you. I remember her last name because who forgets a last name? That is Tax. But I don't remember your first name,” said Cain.
“It’s Paula,” said Tax.
“So, NBC just reported that Michelle Obama has said she will not run for president,” said Cain as he pushed the microphone towards the woman.
“Thank God. Yes,” Tax said smiling broadly with a slight laugh.
“Ainsley said. I would love the reaction from a woman in the crowd,” Cain said as he dropped his microphone towards her.
“I wouldn't vote for a woman. And especially, you know, Nikki Haley. I'm just going to say this is probably menopausal. We don't need that,” said Tax said with vigor.
Cain immediately pulled the microphone away from her and cut her off mid-sentence as she started to pontificate about menopause.
He turned directly to the camera and completely misrepresented what Tax said.
“Okay. She said, how about we vote for people regardless of their gender, just the right person for the job for America?”
The clip was everything. A Fox News host spinning and warping reality and a MAGA diehard openly declaring she wouldn’t vote for Nikki Haley because she was a woman.
Lawrence Jones Doesn’t Care About Joe Biden’s Dead Son
On Friday on “Fox & Friends,” the producers showed a clip of Biden’s exchange with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) at the State of the Union Address.
Greene shouted at Biden to say the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by a Venezuelan immigrant.
When Biden responded to Greene he mentioned the loss of his own children.
“To her parents I say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself.”
Biden lost his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, then 30, and infant daughter Naomi in a car accident in 1972. In 2015 his son Beau Biden died from an aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 46.
Beau Biden’s cancer might have been caused from toxic chemical exposure due to burn pits when he served in Iraq. The medical community appears to be divided on whether there is a connection between the type of cancer Biden died from and toxic exposure.
Lawrence Jones just seemed annoyed that Biden would mention his loss.
“I am so sick of him always comparing the death of his children. Any time there's American that is tragically killed. He has to stop doing it. He doesn't know what it feels to have an illegal kill his child. And he's never met any of the ‘Angel Parents’ as well.”
Jones’ cohosts appeared taken aback by his statement. The loss of a child is considered one of the most traumatic things a person can endure. Biden has lost two children and a spouse.
The term ‘Angel Family’ is a term invented by Donald J. Trump to describe the relatives of people who have been killed by undocumented immigrants.
Victor Davis Hanson - Trump Will Save Civilization
On Wednesday on “Hannity,” Victor Davis Hanson of the Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank, made a statement so outrageous users on X (formerly known as Twitter) questioned if it was a joke. Having seen countless clips of Hanson since I started this project in February 2022 I assured them he was deeply sincere.
“He's (Trump) shown he can be magnanimous. He's got a sense of humor. He's got to end the ad hominem. He's now our last chance to save the country. And he's got an obligation to all of us. And he has the ability to seek unity. I think he should even call up Nikki Haley and say, you know what, we've had problems, but we're going to need you.
He needs those votes. I know it doesn't make good politics, but he's got a campaign in 50 states. He's got to go into the inner city. He's got to go to Mexican American communities. He's got everybody. And I think he will do very well if he does that. And he's a different character, a different of a different stature in 2016 and 2020.
This election, Sean, is about if you're there for civilization or you're not, from what we've seen and he is or he represents that effort to save civilization, it really is that existential. And I think he can do it. All he has to do is appeal to unity and the better angels of our nature and unite the country in a way that I think he's got the talent to do it.”
When Trump supporters say things like this, I’m puzzled why anyone would question why some folks refer to the MAGA movement as cultish. Hanson is a well respected and regular contributor to Fox News for multiple programs.
Karl Rove as the Voice of Reason
When Karl Rove, a lobbyist and political strategist, worked with President George W. Bush he was viewed by many as a ruthless and vindictive. Many of his critics accused him of using underhanded tactics and of spreading disinformation.
Rove went on to become a senior advisor for G.W. Bush and became an integral part of policy and decision making. After helping Bush win a second term Rove was promoted to deputy chief of staff.
Rove came under increasing criticism for his alleged roles in several scandals including the leaked identity of a CIA agent, Valerie Plame, and the firings of eight federal prosecutors. Their dismals were seen by many as politically motivated.
Although he was surrounded by scandal Rove never faced criminal charges and resigned from his White House role in August 2007.
I mention Rove’s background because he has morphed into a moderate voice of sorts whenever he appears on Fox News. As the Republican Party has slowly dissolved in the acid that is Trump’s hateful and crazed rhetoric, Rove remains a stalwart of traditional conservatism and old school Republican politics.
Love him or hate him Rove knows how to get candidates elected and how to interpret polling data.
Rove is also known for appearing on Fox News with a small white board which he uses as a visual aid to show various data.
On Tuesday while a guest on the Super Tuesday broadcast Rove appeared with his white board to send a warning about fissures in the Republican Party.
“We see in the in these states, a third of the vote in Virginia, 43% of the vote in Massachusetts going to Nikki Haley. A quarter of the vote in North Carolina. Maine has now dropped down to about a quarter of the vote, but it was 31% for Nikki Haley, Vermont, 48%. There's still some work to be done to unify the Republican Party.
And that's going to depend a lot on his tone tonight and whether or not he stops doing things like calling her birdbrain and threatening that if you give money to our campaign, you're going to be permanently banned,” said Rove.
Rove tends to offer his advice and expertise from a genuine and heartfelt place. His expert opinion usually falls on deaf ears. He’s included in election night specials and on primetime shows from time to time, but no one seems to give him much credence.
Later in the program he also criticized Donald J. Trump.
“First of all, stop the bad language because you're right, Ron DeSantis offered him his endorsement. President Trump had kind words to say for him. Then there was a leaked report of supposedly DeSantis off the record saying things in a private meeting that was disparaging of the former president and the president's -co- campaign manager. A terrific guy, a personal friend of mine went out and said, all we're going to remember about Governor DeSantis is chicken fingers and pudding lips. And that's just not the way to go about doing it,” said Rove.
Rove also had harsh words for Senator J.D. Vance.
“J.D. Vance, one of the former president's big surrogates, put out a statement saying, if you are not being supportive of Trump and his endorse and the candidates he endorses, don't bother showing up on my doorstep and asking me to help you on legislation. I have a long memory. Well, that's the kind of thuggish thing that most politicians, even if they believe in keeping the enemies list, they don't go out and say it in a tweet. And yet that was one of the presidents, the former presidents say, who had strong supporters, the senator, junior senator from Ohio. That stuff has got to stop.”
Fox News would rather elevate a voice like Jesse Watters who has repeatedly said the Republican Party is more unified than ever than listen to a seasoned and experienced political consultant like Karl Rove.
Stories Fox News Ignored
Every week I compare the hours I’ve watched and analyzed to five hours of the PBS NewsHour. The following list are stories that PBS covered that Fox News did not.
Updates in the War in Ukraine
Ukraine said it sank another Russian war ship in the Black Sea using high tech sea drones. The large patrol ship reportedly could carry cruise missiles and a crew of about 60 sailors. Russia did not confirm Ukraine’s claim.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest charges against two Russian officers for attacks on civilian electrical power sites and war crimes against humanity. The charges are symbolic as Russia isn’t a member of the global court, doesn’t recognize its jurisdiction and refuses to hand over suspects charged by the court.
Updates in the Israel-Hamas War
A ship loaded with humanitarian aid left Cyprus headed for Gaza. The European Union president said that international donors launched a sea corridor to help with the growing hunger crisis in the besieged region. The ship plans to deliver food from World Central Kitchen, a U.S. charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés
Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of Trump Org., pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury in the civil fraud trial involving Donald J. Trump and his company. He will be sentenced to five months in jail in April.
Hardliners won a majority of the seats in the parliamentary elections in Iran while voter turnout was a record low of only 42%. Most moderate and reformist candidates were disqualified from running which caused many Iranians to call for a boycott of the election.
Lawmakers in France enshrined abortion laws in its constitution. Lawmakers from France's upper and lower houses of parliament easily passed the historic amendment last week.
The European Commission fined Apple $2 billion over a complaint that the corporation was using its App Store to stifle competition with other music streaming companies. Apple is appealing the decision.
China set its new economic growth target at an ambitious 5% acknowledging that it will be difficult to achieve.
A new report from the CDC found a 29% increase in alcohol related deaths from excessive alcohol use from 2016 to 2021. During this time, deaths from excessive drinking among males increased approximately 27%, and among females increased approximately 35%.
The Dartmouth Men's Basketball Team voted to organize with the Service Employees International Union. It’s the first labor union for college athletes and a blow to the NCAA.
Liberty University agreed to pay a $14 million fine after the Christian school did not disclose crimes, including sexual assault, on its Lynchburg campus. The fine is the largest ever levied under the Clery Act, a law that requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to collect data on campus crime and notify students of threats.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank won’t begin cutting its key interest rate “until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward” its 2% goal, noting the move will likely occur “at some point this year.”
The U.N. Security Council urged the warring militias in Sudan to halt hostilities during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and allow aid to get to 25 million people in desperate need of food and other assistance. The UN fears the country could experience the worst hunger crisis in the world if the fighting rages on.
According to the U.N. Migrant Agency at least 8565 migrants died on land and sea routes worldwide last year. It was the worst year on record since the agency began counting deaths a decade ago.
So far this year the CDC reported 45 cases of measles in 17 jurisdictions. The new outbreaks are due to a drop in vaccination rates.
At least three crew members were killed and four others injured in the first fatal Houthi attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden.
Sweden officially joined NATO last week. The country decided to join the defensive alliance after Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago.
The U.S. healthcare system continues to struggle after a cyber attack on a payment processing center used by United Healthcare. The American Hospital Association calls the suspected ransomware attack, "the most significant and consequential incident of its kind against the U.S. health care system in history."
Opening statements began in the involuntary manslaughter of James Crumbley, the father of a school shooter who killed four at a Michigan high school in 2021. Crumbley is being charged for his role in his son’s crime after ignoring signs of his deteriorating mental health and purchasing the gun which used in the attack on the school. Crumbley’s wife has been convicted on similar charges.
The recent jobs report revealed that the U.S. economy added 275,000 new jobs last month. At the same time, the unemployment rate ticked up two-tenths of a point in February to 3.9%. It marked the 25th straight month in which joblessness has remained below 4% — the longest such streak since the 1960s.
The U.S. military cleared its Osprey fleet to return to use with a new maintenance plan. The fleet was temporarily grounded after a fatal accident in Japan.
A federal judge in Texas upheld a Biden administration program that will admit 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti on humanitarian grounds.
Donald J. Trump posted a nearly $92 million bond in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case which he is appealing.
A U.N. report blamed Iran for crimes against humanity over its treatment of Masha Amini a young woman who died in custody after was arrested over wearing a head scarf improperly. The report also found that Iran committed crimes against humanity as it violently cracked down on the protests that followed Amini’s death from 2022 and 2023.
A federal jury convicted Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras of helping drug cartels smuggle cocaine into the United States. He was also convicted of weapons charges. He could face as many as 40 years in prison.
Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, visited the United States last week where he met with Donald J. Trump but no members of the Biden administration. Orban rules Hungary like an autocrat as opposing political parties are suppressed and elections are rigged to favor his ruling party. Orban is a strong ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the U.K., the government is planning new legislation to punish extremists responsible for rising tensions because of the war in Gaza. The government has cited increased hate crimes and threats of violence against Jewish and Muslim communities.
Akira Toriyama, a popular Japanese anime artist, died of a subdural hematoma at age of 68. He was best known for his “Dragon Ball” series which achieved worldwide success.
Listening to Fox live, as much as you do, might be the most courageous and unselfish thing anybody has ever done in the fight for truth, justice and the American way. You make me proud and in awe.
Brilliant breakdown. Hearing the Fox News coverage makes the world suddenly make sense. Biden fans wonder how people give him no credit for his accomplishments or criticize his poor messaging... then you see how Fox spins everything and you can forgive both Biden and MAGA at once.
It's a real weight off your shoulders. And without bellyaching about what and why people think what they think, there's time instead to focus on building momentum and enthusiasm for Biden and working to get Dems Registered to Vote. I'm wearing a Biden Shirt on EVERY grocery run (IN FLORIDA!) until 11/5/24 and I will tell you this surprising discovery:
People are NICE! People are nice — in person. When I post about it... the MAGA trolls tell me I need Vagisil. I point out that their misogynistic insults make life harder for their wives and daughters, not for me.
Anywho. You can buy a Biden shirt at BeantownStrong.com (I am not financially connected. Just a loyal customer.) Join me shopping in a Biden shirt, And I promise you'll feel better about the future of democracy AND the current state of humanity just by running errands.