Fox and friends confront billion-dollar US lawsuits over election fraud claims

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) In the months following the 2020 US presidential election, rightwing TV news in America was a wild west, an apparently lawless free-for-all where conspiracy theories about voting machines, ballot-stuffed suitcases and dead Venezuelan leaders were repeated to viewers around the clock.

There seemed to be little consequence for peddling the most outrageous ideas on primetime.

But now, unfortunately for Fox News, One America News Network (OAN), and Newsmax, it turns out that this brave, new world wasn’t free from legal jurisdiction – with the three networks now facing billion-dollar lawsuits as a result of their baseless accusations.

In June, Dominion Voting Systems, which provided voting machines to 28 states, was given the go-ahead to sue Fox Corp, the parent company of Fox News, in a case that could draw Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan, into the spotlight.

In the $1.6bn lawsuit, Dominion accuses Fox Corp, and the Murdochs specifically, of allowing Fox News to amplify false claims that the voting company had rigged the election for Joe Biden. .................(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jul/04/fox-oan-newsmax-lawsuits-election-fraud-claims

[multigraincracker]

1. I didn't see that

headline on FOX.

[marmar]

3. Of course not.

[underpants]

17. ✅

[KS Toronado]

24. That TOON is a keeper to forward, thanks

[CrispyQ]

2. And if Dominion wins, Fox News viewers won't care & will still believe the election was stolen. -nt

[Hugh_Lebowski]

5. If they lose it's cause teh Deep State and Wokeness and Democrat Cheating!!11!! nt

[onecaliberal]

14. This is true. They say there is no proof, they just "feel" it.

[docgee]

16. They can sue for slander, even if regulations weren't broken.

[onecaliberal]

18. They need to. Everyone needs to start filing suit to put these rapid dogs down.

[hot2na]

25. Fox News viewers are a product of the propaganda

As long as FOX news continues to peddle propaganda, their viewers will still believe the propaganda.

[TeamProg]

4. I thought it was 3 billion. n/t

[malaise]

6. Bankrupt them

K & R

[overleft]

19. Absolutely! I hope they go belly up bankrupt.

[BlueIdaho]

20. It's the only thing they really care about.

Crush them financially.

[Boomerproud]

7. What is the status of these lawsuits?

Will I live to see the outcomes, or will they be appealed to death like all the others.

[azureblue]

10. it's the discovery part

That Fox, etc., is scared of. Fox has little chance of winning the suit, and even less of getting it dismissed. If Fox loses and appeals, the information gathered in discovery is still viable. And can lead to other lawsuits.. and leaks..

The problem is the loophole in cable TV - no "truth clause" for cable, and that is intentional.

[KS Toronado]

26. Done a search on "cable TV - no "truth clause" for cable,"

And came up empty handed, what is this "truth clause" for cable you speak of?
You have a link or directions to it? Thanks,

[Old Crank]

8. Remember that republicans

Want to make these suits against the media easier to win.

[jmbar2]

9. The discovery process will be enlightening

It will expose the slimy underbelly of these propaganda outfits.

[azureblue]

12. the underbelly is

Murdoch wanted to have his network in America, but regulations prevented non citizens from owning a US TV network. So he went to Reagan, and promised RR that Fox would help the GOP messaging. RR then expedited M's citizenship application and even side stepped some of the requirements. Then the truth in broadcasting laws were dumped and cable was given an exemption. Tada!

PS aside-- why can't you have a "discussion" with a Republican that doesn't degenerate into them name calling / personal attacks, deflecting, false equivalency, and just stay on the effin' subject.

[jmbar2]

13. I didn't know about the Reagan connection

The cancer goes deep.

[malaise]

22. And their financial ties

Oh yes

[thesquanderer]

11. It might be cheaper for Fox to just buy Dominion rather than risk what they could lose in this suit!

[KS Toronado]

28. If FQX could find a way to buy Dominion

All their machines would record reQublicOn votes only.

[Bev54]

15. I feel like the US is on the edge of a more complete democracy or a theocracy and

it can all be dependent on the midterm elections. If dems win a decisive victory and maintain the house and gain seats in the senate, they must then reform the supreme court first and foremost. Failure to do that, everything they do could be overturned by the court. If they reform the court, pass all the legislation they have sitting in the senate, it seems the courts may well destroy Trump, Trumpism and put a huge dent in the RW lying press machine. I hope democracy wins because I can see right now that any wins right now could be overturned by SCOTUS.

[Historic NY]

21. The need to go after the pied-pipers too for damages

[nowforever]

23. Chicken feed

1.6b is nothing to them. The abolishment of 'The Fairness Doctrine' during the Reagan years doomed us to incessant propaganda that goes unchallenged. When the globe is in its final meltdown their 300 ft yachts and private estates won't protect them from the ecological and political hell their greed and avarious caused. If humans survive the coming apocalypse maybe the new generations will treat the planet and others with love and not as a disposable wipe.

[SalviaBlue]

27. Headline makes is sound like they are the confrontees.

Aren’t they being confronted (with litigation)?

[Hekate]

29. We can but hope

[Upthevibe]

30. Kick. N/T

[BumRushDaShow]

31. This might be why

Jerry Hall just filed for divorce from Rupert Murdoch (getting out while the getting is good although I expect they may have had a pre-nup, at least that is the rumor).