How do we take down the likes of Lil Tucker, Hannity, Ingraham, et al?

[Progressive Jones]

The entire right wing propaganda machine needs to be hit, and hit hard.

I'm talking about legal means here. Their careers should be destroyed in the most humane way possible.
In this case, I'd call the desire for civility a gray area in the interest of defending our democracy.

So, how can it be done? Boycotts of advertisers? Tear 'em up in the Twitterverse?

They've caused too much damage, and continue to do so. They have to go.

In a related subject, I'm thinking of trolling rw radio. Has anyone else here done this?
Please tell me how it went.

[Frasier Balzov]

1. Concentrate on taking back the free airwaves by challenging station licenses.

Anything goes on the subscription services, and that will be a perpetual cost of liberty.

But the AM and FM terrestrial bands belong to the People and need to be fought for.

It is the pollution on those freely accessible frequencies which is the principal cause of RW brainwashing and political dysfunction.

[onenote]

32. Challenging them on what grounds?

[Frasier Balzov]

33. A complete transcript of multiple days' content will make it obvious.

Lay it out in all its ignominy and ask the same question over and over: How is this in the public interest?

[onenote]

35. Not within the FCC's power to regulate.

To quote the Commission:

The FCC receives numerous complaints that television and/or radio networks, stations or their employees or guests have broadcast extreme, incorrect or somehow improper political, economic or social statements.

In some cases, the complaints allege that certain broadcast statements may endanger the United States or its people, or threaten our form of government, our economic system or established institutions like family or marriage. They say these statements are "un-American" and an abuse of freedom of speech. The FCC also receives complaints that some broadcast statements criticize, ridicule, "stereotype" or demean individuals or groups because of the religion, race, nationality, gender, gender identification, or sexual orientation, or other characteristics of the group or individual. Finally, many consumers complain that television or radio broadcasts are obscene, indecent, profane or otherwise offensive.

The FCC is barred by law from trying to prevent the broadcast of any point of view. The Communications Act prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcast material, in most cases, and from making any regulation that would interfere with freedom of speech. Expressions of views that do not involve a "clear and present danger of serious, substantive evil" come under the protection of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press and prevents suppression of these expressions by the FCC. According to an FCC opinion on this subject, "the public interest is best served by permitting free expression of views." This principle ensures that the most diverse and opposing opinions will be expressed, even though some may be highly offensive.

[Frasier Balzov]

36. The FCC is the license granting authority.

It decides who shall operate terrestrial radio stations for the next license term.

And it is fully within the FCC's wheelhouse to make a determination as to which applicant is best qualified to operate the station in the public interest.

This includes the determination that a previous licensee has NOT been so operating.

[onenote]

39. To quote the current FCC Chair, "Not how it works."

That was a tweet by then FCC Commissioner, and now FCC Chair, Jessica Rosenworcel, when Trump was caterwauling about "fake news" and demanding that the FCC revoke broadcast licenses.

I've practiced communications law at, or before, the FCC for more than forty years. In that time, not a single petition attacking a station's license renewal based on the content of its programming has succeeded. Most are summarily dismissed. The FCC has explained its position on multiple occasions. In addition to the statement quoted in my previous post, here is another more directly preferred in the context of the Commission's licensing authority:

"The Commission has made clear that a fundamental public interest obligation of a television broadcaster is to air programming responsive to the needs and interests of its community of license. Section 326 of the Act, however, prohibits any Commission actions that would “give the Commission the power of censorship” over Fox’s transmissions. Because of this statutory prohibition and related First Amendment principles, and because editorial discretion in the presentation of news and public information is the core concept underlying the regulation of broadcasting pursuant to the Communications Act, the Commission does not interfere with a licensee's selection and presentation of news and editorial programming."

[TreasonousBastard]

2. We don't. Look up the histories of Father Coughlan and...

Walter Winchell, giants of their times.

And William Randolph Hearst, the Murdoch of his day. Powerful enough to start the Spanish American War.

All were defeated by entities more powerful than they were

[Hoyt]

3. I damn sure get it. But you can't preserve democracy by silencing deplorables.

You beat them at the polls, trolling them, debating them, contributing to decent candidates, etc.

[Progressive Jones]

5. Not silence, just shoved into insignificance. nt

[czarjak]

10. We've beat them at the polls overall since forever to no avail...

Trolling and debating them also doesn't faze 'em.

[Mr.Bill]

4. Go after the advertisers.

The networks are only in it for the money. Cut that off and they will change or be gone.

[fierywoman]

11. This. It's ALWAYS about the $$$.

[AKwannabe]

24. She is not wrong! nt

[PufPuf23]

6. A legal takedown is the only thing that will work in a reasonable time frame

and shake the traitorous morons who live and breathe Fox to at least pause.

Like cancellations and arrests.

Words no longer work.

There is no shame on the part of Fox nor listeners.

I do not believe that Fox even needs advertisers to exist.

Fox is and has been hazardous to the nation and to individuals of the nation of any persuasion.

Deliberate and premeditated.

[brooklynite]

7. Explain how you're going to arrest anyone for the spoken word

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[PufPuf23]

15. RICO and Conspiracy to Incite

Conspiracy to incite and exacerbate a public health crisis.

Conspiracy to incite, fund, and plan an insurrection against the USA.

Doubt if it will happen. Just like anti-trust is old and antiquated and would pop too many folks' bubbles.

Been a long time not addressing what needed to be addressed to get to where we are at present.

[BlackSkimmer]

8. So you want to shut down free speech?

Pretty sure there’re laws against that.

[Progressive Jones]

9. Nope. Just destroy a few propagandist/traitor careers. nt

[BlackSkimmer]

13. Good luck.

I’d advise not watching. I’ve never seen even one of those shows.

[11 Bravo]

42. Closing your eyes does not ensure that bad shit still won't find you.

I'll wager that very few DUers are regular FoxNews viewers. I've been reading the "I never watch, why do you?" posts here at DU for damned near 20 years. It does not seem to be hindering their business model.
If enough people contact their advertisers, eventually that may have an effect.
Virtue signaling about refusing to watch? Not so much.

[BlackSkimmer]

43. Lol, the fact I don't watch is "virtue signaling?"

Interesting. We know who uses that term.

And no, I just don’t watch. Never have, never will.

[SCantiGOP]

12. Don't watch them

Boycott their advertisers if you want, but that’s all you can do without becoming them.

[GaYellowDawg]

14. We can't.

They are well-funded, have absolutely no accountability, and have a receptive audience. Plus the Supreme Court is radically conservative, so there are zero legal remedies.

[usonian]

16. The right wingers are cancelling themselves.

Successful calls for violence land followers in prison.

Misinformation lands followers in morgues.

How to break the "spell" that masks this self-destruction? I don't know. Can anyone pull off a successful JFK Jr. impersonation?

FWIW, there are plenty of exceptions to "free speech".

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_free_speech_exceptions

And the Wikipedia article doesn't even mention the Sedition Act of 1798, nor the Espionage Act of 1917.

[ibegurpard]

17. Boycotts won't work

It's an investment by fascists in propaganda that has paid great dividends for them in acquiring power. It's not about making money with the actual broadcast.
Need to find some way of getting a counter message out that will resonate and stick.

[monkeyman1]

21. I'LL get ya' a compete list of all the tv fox staton's in the U.S. LINK + radio - am+fm !

can start calling them out by call-sign & advertising list ! they hate that !! each station has it's own local ad group's !

[Dirty Socialist]

18. Lawsuits?

Just a thought

[KatK]

19. The Flush Rush campaign succeeded

Maybe we could take a page from their playbook.

Basically, the goal was to get him off the air by relentlessly and very publiicly going after any company that advertised on his shows.

It's not the same challenge, but worth a shot. Does take some organizing!

[monkeyman1]

22. alrite'y - welcome aboard !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MichMan]

27. It succeeded? I dont recall him leaving the airways.

[Celerity]

28. no it did not

The Flush Rush campaign succeeded

[MarineCombatEngineer]

37. How did it succeed?

He was still on the radio almost up until he croaked, so tell us how it succeeded.

[Kaleva]

20. Don't be part of the 2-3% of the adult population that watches them.

[AKwannabe]

23. Not enough Russian troll farms on our side. nt

[Raine]

25. I don't believe in censorship, people should be able to hear all points of view

crazy or not.

[MisterProton]

41. Indeed, people forget a hammer can be swung in any direction

You may get to swing it now, but your opponent will certainly get their chance at some point. No one should get that kind of power.

[Trueblue1968]

26. ACCUSE THEM OF ..... pedo ... doing drugs or catching them in bed with Putin

[moondust]

29. Truth in broadcasting?

Perhaps broaden this to cover not just "claims that can affect consumers’ health or their pocketbooks" but also misinformation/disinformation/propaganda that can distort consumers' understanding of the truth/reality in general.

When the Federal Trade Commission finds a case of fraud perpetrated on consumers, the agency files actions in federal district court for immediate and permanent orders to stop scams; prevent fraudsters from perpetrating scams in the future; freeze their assets; and get compensation for victims.When consumers see or hear an advertisement, whether it’s on the Internet, radio or television, or anywhere else, federal law says that ad must be truthful, not misleading, and, when appropriate, backed by scientific evidence. The FTC enforces these truth-in-advertising laws, and it applies the same standards no matter where an ad appears – in newspapers and magazines, online, in the mail, or on billboards or buses. The FTC looks especially closely at advertising claims that can affect consumers’ health or their pocketbooks – claims about food, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, alcohol, and tobacco and on conduct related to high-tech products and the Internet. The FTC also monitors and writes reports about ad industry practices regarding the marketing of alcohol and tobacco. During the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the FTC has been sending warning letters to companies that may be violating the FTC Act, to warn them that their conduct is likely unlawful and that they can face serious legal consequences, such as a federal lawsuit, if they do not immediately stop.
~
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/truth-advertising

(Not holding my breath.)

[Rhiannon12866]

31. +1000

[Hooligan2]

30. how progressive of you.. censor the opposition

destroy them with logic and emotion and better ideas.

destroy them with kindness and open debate.

destroy their arguments, not their voices.

THAT is the American way.

[Progressive Jones]

40. Not censorship. Vengeful career destruction. I hate traitors.

[Deminpenn]

34. Pressure the cable/satellite TV providers to move

Fox News and other rw media off the basic subscription to a higher, more expensive tier, just like MSNBC is. Don't think one can underestimate how being on "basic" cable helps Fox News. How many viewers would pay extra to watch it?

[Act_of_Reparation]

38. Be more entertaining than them.

The kind of people flocking to RW news obviously aren't in it for the charts and graphs.