Hunter Biden, Hawaii Fires, and a Viral Video Fox Ignored
A condensed overview of 15 hours of Fox News for the week ending 8/13/23
Last week Fox hosts completely lost their minds after U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, David Weiss was appointed special counsel in an investigation into Hunter Biden after months of many Fox News personalities demanding the government appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. Things really did get that strange on the network.
Fox anchors also openly questioned the origins of catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii after ignoring various extreme climate events that have occurred over the world this summer. The network also completely ignored a viral video that even PBS NewsHour covered.
On Fox & Friends long-time co-hosts openly sparred about Hunter Biden and Donald J. Trump while begging the former president to join the Fox Republican Presidential debate.
Fox also dedicated a lot of its airtime to the 2nd anniversary of the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Most of the segments featured grief-stricken family members of the 11 Marines, one Army soldier and one member of the Navy who were killed during a bombing at the Kabul airport.
Due to the emotional nature of those segments, I didn’t include any of the dialog in this newsletter. The parents and family members have every right to express their grief, frustration, and anger about what happened. Some of the network’s coverage of their pain felt exploitative.
As always Fox News failed to inform its viewers about conflicts in Africa, and the Middle East while also largely ignoring the War in Ukraine. Fox viewers would have no idea that the Biden administration took steps to limit China’s power and influence in the technology sector last week or that polar sea ice has hit an all-time low.
Shows I covered last week
Fox & Friends
The Five
Jesse Watters Primetime
How Fox News Reacted to One of the Most Viral Videos in Recent History
Last week a video of an over-the-top brawl in Montgomery, Alabama went viral on just about every social media platform. The video featured some entitled white folks who refused to move a pontoon boat that was parked illegally.
When they were confronted by an unarmed co-captain of a riverboat, they began hurling racial slurs and beating him in broad daylight in front of what looked like at least a few dozen witnesses.
Things did not end well for white racists as throngs of Black strangers came to the aid of the Black man. A teenager swam across a river to help and at some point, a plastic folding chair was introduced as a weapon.
It didn’t appear anyone was seriously injured, and police officers showed up quickly to break up the fight. When the dust settled, several folks were arrested including the white people who started the mess.
The video was viral for days. People added theme music and graphics and memes and jokes about the fight proliferated across the internet.
The story was completely ignored on the shows I covered last week. “Special Report with Bret Baier,” produced a two-minute segment on the fight that was free of any partisan spin and “The PBS NewsHour,” dedicated six and half minutes to the story including an extended interview with the Black mayor of Montgomery.
On Monday the producers of “The Five” chose to open with a story about social media influencer Kai Cenat’s terribly planned Playstation and gift card giveaway in New York City. A couple of thousand mostly Black teenagers showed up in Union Square to a chaotic situation.
Dana Perino opened the segment.
“Liberal mayors are making excuses for the mayhem playing out in their cities. Thousands of teens rioting at a top tourist spot in New York City after an online influencer promised them free PlayStation 5’s, agitators shutting down traffic, smashing the windshields of cars, others throwing smoke bombs and fireworks,” said Perino.
There was no giveaway, no organization for the event and far too many people to manage without prior planning. The teenagers proceeded to act like the disappointed children that they were, and some damaged property, threw garbage, set off fireworks or lit smoke bombs.
There were also a few examples of police brutality caught on tape as some NYPD officers seemingly grabbed a few teens at random and in at least one case smashed a boy’s head into a car window.
Producers on “The Five,” then chose to juxtapose this poorly planned publicity event with a coordinated robbery in Chicago from last month.
“The scene in New York was eerily similar to the looting of a gas station in Chicago by a mob of teens,” said Perino.
Fox News then cut to cell phone footage of a large group of Black teenagers robbing a 7-11 store. According to Fox News a group of teens that organized a robbery was the same as kids who showed up hoping to get a gift card or a PlayStation 5 from a popular influencer.
Greg Gutfled weighed in and made sure to point out the the teenagers in both videos were Black.
“Of this, these large gatherings. Generally, when you see a group, you see, oh my God, it's a group of Black kids. That's what you see. And then the next What would that sound like to when he says, Oh, look at all these Black kids. Generally, it's a liberal, because the second step is they make excuses for the group.
Oh, it's from somewhere else. Oh, it's because of parenting. Given the circumstances, this is the behavior one would expect from a group of Black teens. Who is the racist in that? It's them. It's the liberals who constantly make excuses for large groups of kids creating problems, whether it's looting, whether it's this stuff. I don't even you know, I don't know,” said Gutfeld.
I couldn’t help but this these images of young Black teenagers were somehow a response to the Montgomery, Alabama video where Black people got an upper hand on violent racists and fought back.
Hunter, Hunter, Hunter
On Friday on “The Five,” guest host Lawrence Jones had a minor meltdown over the news that David Weiss was appointed as special counsel in an investigation into Hunter Biden.
“The court asked them under oath and the prosecutor said, we have we have nothing. So that's what why the deal was destroyed. So, what we can expect is this case to continue to unravel, not because Weiss is some ethical man, it's because Weiss’ deal got blown up before the courts. But the Democrats can save themselves here because this is unraveling before the American people.
There's one way to do this. Either Joe Biden can resign right now, give Kamala Harris the presidency, and then they can have Gavin Newsom run for office. But the idea that this is over. No, this is just beginning now. They could have just conceded. They have talked about what's unfair justice under the law all four years. And all of a sudden when their guy is elected and as it starts to unravel, they don't want equal justice under the law. I just think it'shameful,” said Jones
Jessica Tarlov - Devon Archer Either Matters or He Doesn’t
On Wednesday on “The Five,” Jessica Tarlov, the liberal in the cast, pointed out the weaknesses in Devon Archer’s testimony to the Congressional Oversight Committee. Archer, a long-time friend, and business associate of Hunter Biden was supposed to be the star witness who would connect President Biden to Hunter’s business deals and financial crimes.
“The testimony and he wasn't under oath, but he still wasn't allowed to lie to them. I was terrible for the Republicans. Jim Comer didn't even show up. He (Archer) was asked if someone concluded from the 1023 form, that you all think is so important, that Joe Biden was bribed, would you disagree with that?
‘Yeah, I would.’ Devon Archer said that.
“What does he know about that?” asked her co-host Jesse Watters.
Well, then he said he doesn't matter. Then Devon Archer is either the crux of the puzzle that shows that this is a mob family, or he doesn't matter.
Judge Pirro interrupted.
“It matters if he was in the middle of it. If he's in the middle of a dinner, that it matters. If it’s something that he’s not there, then it doesn’t matter,” said Pirro.
Jessica Tarlov pressed on.
“Viktor Shokin was not good for Burisma, as I've been telling you, as has been widely reported, as the entire Western world…”
Greg Gutfeld blurted out,
“Why?”
Tarlov tried to get back to her point.
“Because he wasn't investigating corruption,” said Tarlov.
Jesse Watters bellowed over her.
“YES, HE WAS! He was seizing their cars,” said Watters.
Judge Pirro jumped in again.
“Then what was he doing? What was Shokin doing?” asked Pirro.
Jessica Tarlov returned to reading the transcript from Devon Archer’s testimony.
“Did Hunter ever ask Joe to take any official actions? Devon Archer. ‘He did not.’”
Both Watters and Pirro yelled over Tarlov.
“How did he know?” asked Pirro and Watters
“They talk on the phone everyday” said Watters.
Tarlov tried again to regain her voice.
“The calls. There were over 20 calls over the course of a decade, they weren’t about the weather. He said they did talk about family,” said Tarlov.
Watters interrupted her again.
“Did you see the interview? Yeah. We talked about, the weather,” Watters said sarcastically.
Tarlov returned to her notes.
“There's a new oversight menu memo that's out today, which, again, does not explain what services were provided, said Tarlov.
Watters and Pirro again shouted over her to a decibel level that probably caused eardrum damage to their sound engineers.
Judge Jeanine on Hunter Biden
On Friday Judge Jeanine Pirro decided the appoint of David Weiss as special counsel was just part of a grand coverup.
“So now they can't comment on a pending investigation. Now, the statute of limitations has run on the most serious crimes. Now, there is no explanations in Joe Biden's immense wealth. The man is in government his whole life. His wife's a schoolteacher. Give me a break. And Weiss is going to issue a report that says Joe Biden. I've investigated him and he's clean.
And there's no question right now that Weiss is going to begin this investigation cover for the Bidens and say it's all been handled. Now is time for the Republicans to move, to impeach Joe Biden. Jessica?” said Pirro.
Katie Pavlich Just Makes Things Up
In the same segment, Katie Pavlich weaved new invented layers into the Hunter Biden saga. Pavilich has a habit of saying outrageous things. In this example she inserts President Biden into a situation in which he played no part.
“Well, the appointment of David Weiss as special counsel is a total joke when it comes to credibility of this process. I mean, this is the guy, as the judge laid out, who decided that they were going to do this unprecedented plea deal, whether it was the misdemeanor charges that are five years of investigation, the lack of fair charges or the diversion program for a gun charge, which would be a felony and many years in prison for any regular person, especially if you went through the illegally possessed gun into a trash can next to a school, as Joe Biden and his girlfriend at the time did,” said Pavlich.
I have no idea where Pavlich got the idea that Hunter Biden’s then intimate partner enlisted the help of his father to dispose of his gun.
Doocy and Kilmeade Fought Over Hunter Biden
On Thursday the cast of “Fox & Friends,” had a near knock down drag out fight over the Hunter Biden Scandal. Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt verbally tussled over the president’s son.
Doocy: You know what? With all due respect, the Republicans need better investigators because they've got a lot of circumstantial evidence. But they have not shown that Joe Biden profited personally or that he broke any rules.
Kilmeade: I vehemently disagree. This is unbelievable. This is so. No, let me finish the this is finished. But. But this is funneling right to him, at a rapid pace. They've have they've had this job for about eight months
Doocy: What's funneling it? Everything is money. Funneling. It. Is Joe involved?
Kilmeade: Is Joe's? Is Joe's presence involved in every major business deal that Hunter was involved in? As Andy McCarthy said, Joe was the business. He had the access. Hunter didn't. So Hunter didn't have the reputation. It's leading right there.
Doocy: Brian, What laws did Joe Biden break
Kilmeade: If the American people knew?
Doocy: Just answer the question. Why did he?
Kilmeade: Number one, the investigation is not done. That's why right now, the important point,
Doocy: Brian, they need better investigators.
Kilmeade: So do you want to hear any reporting until it's done or do you want to see the 19 page memo putting the leaks of bank records with
Earhardt: Miranda Devine started this, then John Solomon's been all over this. John Comer House Republicans have been all over it. They're gathering all all of the facts. And all the facts are pointing to the fact that Hunter Biden was using his dad's influence to make millions of dollars for the family families.
Doocy: They have the smoking gun yet.
Kilmeade: Yeah, this is this is this is raging fire.
Doocy: I've got a solution. I've got a solution. This is what I was leading up to in talking about. They've got all this circumstantial evidence. It points toward what it looks bad for for the Bidens. Here's what they do. It's hard to subpoena a president of the United States because the separation of powers in front of the House. Subpoena Hunter Biden and don't do one of these closed door depos. People need to see this televised. You need to see him answer the questions, and if he says something that disqualifies Joe Biden, you know what? The Democrats would have time to replace him on the ticket.
Earhardt: The hard part is for Americans is we're watching this family get away with so much. that’s why Americans think there is smoking gun. Have they done that yet? Maybe not.
The Hawaii Wildfires Conspiracy Theory Nods.
Extremists and conspiracy theorists involved with the far right begun weaving false narratives about the wildfires in Maui before the flames were even extinguished. Fox News anchors didn’t endorse these theories, but they did seem to give them a wink and nod.
On Thursday Jesse Watters was so close yet so far away from the likely source of the fires.
“The question becomes, what started the fires? Well, there's a few factors in play. First, there's Hurricane Dora hurling 60 mile an hour winds across the island, pushing the flames deeper into Hawaii. That fed the fire. But we don't know if it started. It. This is an interesting thing, though. Was it the fact that the island was also in the midst of a crippling drought? It's dry season there. That also could have triggered it. But residents have also planted a significant amount of fire prone grass and shrubbery. These non-native grasses are highly flammable. They burn introduced into Hawaii from out of state, wealthy builders, landscaping demand's imported, drier greenery that sparks more easily. And what about the possibility that this was manmade? 85% of wildfires in the United States are caused by negligence like campfires, cigarette butts, and of course, arson. And there's been a rash of arson in Hawaii over the last two years. Could have been a combination of factors. High winds could have knocked down the power lines. A lit cigar and non-native grass. Anything's possible,” said Watters.
Most experts believe climate change definitely played a role as it could have caused the dry conditions and increased the intensity of the hurricane. It’s difficult to point to one single cause for the fires but wildfires have broken out throughout the Mediterranean region all summer with the extreme temperatures playing a role.
Stories Fox News Ignored
Every week I compare the hours I watch on Fox News to five hours of the PBS NewsHour. The following is a list of stories that PBS covered that Fox News did not.
Tou Thao, the last Minneapolis police officer convicted in state court for his role in the murder of George Floyd, was sentenced to 57 months in prison. He was found guilty in May of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. At his sentencing Thao did not show any remorse or admit to any wrongdoing.
A video went viral last week of an epic brawl that was started after a group of white men began beating an unarmed Black man on a dock in Montgomery, Alabama. PBS produced a six and half minute segment about the fight. Special Report with Bret Baier dedicated two minutes to the story. None of the opinion based shows that I covered last week even mentioned it.
The military junta that recently seized power in Niger has blocked the country’s airspace declaring any attempt to fly over the country would be met with, "an energetic and immediate response." The new leader rejected diplomacy from AU (African Union) and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries but welcomed support from Mali and Burkina Faso.
Updates in the Ukraine War:
Russia shelled a series of Ukrainian towns near the front line.
Saudi Arabia hosted an international summit where around 40 nations including the United States, Britain and Germany, as well as India and a number of Middle Eastern nations, met to discuss the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Russia did not attend and rejected any calls for peace.
An explosion occurred in a Russian factory that made parts for military night vision goggles. Investigators dismissed claims the explosion was caused by a drone attack, Ukraine denied any involvement.
The Ukrainian government ordered the evacuation of 12,000 people in the Eastern part of the country as Russian strikes increase in the area.
Thousands of scouts were evacuated from the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea due to the risk of an approaching Tropical Storm. Over 40,000 scouts from 155 counties attended the event.
Libyan authorities found the bodies of 27 sub-Saharan migrants in the western desert near the border with Tunisia. Both Tunisia and Libya took back 276 migrants stranded in the area and brought them to shelters.
PBS produced a segment about the strengths and weaknesses of the PACT Act, a law meant to help veterans who have developed health problems due exposure to toxic chemicals. Although the V.A. has processed 458,659 PACT Act claims since August 10, 2022 some veterans with specific medical conditions are still left out.
Heavy rains in Sweden caused mudslides, a train derailment, delayed air travel and suspended ferries between Sweden and Denmark. In neighboring Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia the storm caused extensive damage and caused at least one death. In Norway a dam broke causing flooding that washed away homes.
More than 1400 people in 19 villages were evacuated in Portugal as wildfires engulfed thousands of hectares of forest near the southern town of Odemira.
Thousands of Los Angeles city employees staged a 24-hour strike demanding higher wages and alleging unfair labor practices.
WGA and SAG-AFTRA joined Los Angeles hotel workers on their picket line.
The SCOTUS paused a lower court’s decision that invalidated the Biden administration’s regulation of un-registered, un-serialized, and privately made so-called ghost guns.
PBS produced a segment about office-to-housing conversions in New York City. Office space is being converted to residential units in most major cities all over the world.
Sea ice in the polar regions hit a record low according to Frontiers in Environmental Science. This year’s sea ice minimum is 20% lower than the average over the last 40 years.
During a regional climate summit, leaders of eight South American countries pleaded with wealthy nations to help preserve the rainforests.
PBS produced a segment about how Asian students are reacting to the end of affirmative action in higher education.
The Biden administration issued an executive action meant to clamp down on U.S. investments in China for specific technologies of quantum computing, A.I. and semiconductors and microelectronics.
PBS produced a a segment about an investigation by the Washington Post that showed that doctors who promoted misinformation about COVID-19 faced few consequences.
Craig Roberston, an armed man accused of making violent threats against President Biden and other politicians, was killed by FBI agents as they attempted to issue an arrest warrant at his home.
An American nurse and her daughter were freed after nearly two weeks when they were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti. The pair were not harmed.
Extreme storms in the first half of the year resulted in $34 billion in insurance loses, the highest ever in a six-month period.
PBS produced a segment about a new more virulent form of black lung found in coal miners. The new form of the disease is due to changes in the mining industry.
ProPublica published another article about the how various billionaires and wealthy executives have gifted Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with at least 38 luxury vacations and other expensive perks for the past three decades.
The American leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has caused an economic boost in every city she’s performed in and in the overall U.S. economy. The tour could add up to $5 billion to the worldwide economy.
Inflation rose by 3.2% last month marking the first increase in over 12 months. The so-called core Consumer Price Index, which excludes volatile fuel and food costs, rose 4.7% from a year ago.
The CDC issued a report that showed a rise in suicide in 2022. The increase was highest among white men.
Former President Donald J. Trump’s valet, Walt Nauta, pleaded not guilty to new charges in the criminal case against Trump illegally holding onto classified documents. Another employee also facing charges, Carlos De Oliveira, Trump’s property manager, had his arraignment postponed as he hasn’t hired a lawyer yet.
A study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) found that alcohol related deaths in women increased 14.7% in the past two decades.
At least 20 Syrian soldiers were killed after ISIS ambushed a bus in the eastern part of the country.
PBS produced an exclusive segment about Mahmood Habibi, an American Afghani businessman who has been held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for over a year. His family decided to go public with his story in an attempt to advocate for his release.
The U.N. successfully transferred about one million barrels of crude oil from an aging tanker off the coast of Yemen into a salvage vessel, averting a climate disaster.
In the U.K. tens of thousands of young doctors walked off the job for another four-day stretch over demands for more pay.
William Friedkin, director of “The Exorcist,” and “The French Connection,” died at the age of 87. His career began in the early 1960’s with his latest film scheduled to be released later this month. “The French Connection,” earned five Academy Awards including best picture and best director.
Robbie Robertson, Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known for his work with the Band, died at the age of 80
By the Numbers
Coming up…
I should have a podcast of the Fox News reaction of the latest criminal indictment of Donald J. Trump. Last night the news of the indictment dropped fairly late and I had this deadline to get this out so I’m struggling to catch up. I also want to capture “The Five,” from tonight and “The Ingraham Angle” to add to the podcast as neither show even mentioned it yesterday.