Decoding Fox News (private feed for johnmclaughlin48@gmail.com)

Podcast #185 - Who Cares About Peace There are Drug Boats to Destroy!

The folks at Fox News started the week by airing live coverage of Trump’s rambling speech at the Israeli Knesset as he celebrated what he claimed would be a lasting peace and transformation of the Middle East. Within 48 hours the network cheered Trump’s plans for regime change in Venezuela that could include a full-scale military invasion.Other major stories last week included fear mongering about the ‘No Kings’ protests, the impending communist takeover of New York City, roving gangs of Antifa activists and cities destroyed by migrant crime.The network also dedicated multiple segments over a series of three days to what it felt was George Stephanopoulos’ egregious insult to Vice President J.D. Vance.There’s no consistency of thought on Fox News except the constant trashing of any Democrat and the minority party. The network will pivot on a dime to mirror the whims of the madman they helped put in the White House.Fox also spent a lot of time and energy on promoting the Republican candidates for governor in New Jersey and Virginia. The network also repeatedly trashed Zohran Mamdani the leading candidate for New York City mayor. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Podcast #184 - All You Fascists Bound to Lose - No Nobel Peace Prize for You!

The folks at Fox News promoted Donald J. Trump as both an unflinching authoritarian who openly defied state governments and a peacemaker who ended a 3000-year conflict with the snap of his fingers.When their glorious leader did not win the coveted Nobel Peace Prize his servants at Fox News predictably went into a full emotional meltdown meant for an audience of one - the contest was rigged, the judges were woke, it was a meaningless prize, even Norwegians have Trump derangement syndrome, Alfred Nobel was a monster anyway, and people all over the world will demand that Trump get the prize next year.Of course the Israel-Hamas war was not 3000 years old and Trump is more of a fascist than pacifist. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Podcast #183 - Fox News: The 'ILLEGALS' Stole Your Health Care!

Last week the folks on Fox invented a political rivalry, promoted a blatant lie about the U.S. healthcare system and trotted out what looked like a phony Antifa whistleblower. The network also blamed most of the problems in the United States on the most marginalized group in the country - undocumented immigrants.When reality doesn’t line up with the Fox News agenda the network creates its own dystopian fairy tale complete with menacing masked characters, wildly misleading statistics and tired xenophobic tropes.Trump’s use of federal law enforcement in three American cities - Memphis, Chicago and Portland, Oregon was seen as something to be celebrated and championed. Never mind that most wealthy industrialized countries would never think to use their military in a law enforcement role. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Podcast #182 - The Escalator that Almost MURDERED Donald J. Trump

Last week Fox News had three stories to tell - former FBI director James Comey would finally face justice for a crime the network couldn’t explain; Donald J. Trump was nearly murdered by a malfunctioning escalator at the U.N. and American cities were being overrun with mobs of blue-haired, transgender, Antifa activists backed by left-wing billionaires.Greg Gutfeld screamed at Jessica Tarlov like a petulant child after she mentioned that right-wing violence was more prevalent than left-wing violence. Jesse Watters completely forgot statements he made immediately following the murder of Charlie Kirk and Sean Hannity dedicated entire episodes to rehashing old grievances surrounding what he called the political persecution Donald J. Trump.Fox News personalities downplayed the pending government shutdown and praised President Trump for what they claimed was a brilliant speech at the United Nations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Podcast #181 - Fox Used a Blowtorch of Conspiracy Theorists to Put Out a Fire

Last week on Fox News Jesse Watters invited a cavalcade of conspiracy theorists who enthusiastically demonized the transgender community and blamed them for the murder of Charlie Kirk. Never mind that the suspect in Kirk’s murder, Tyler Robinson, is a cis-gender young man who was raised in a deeply religious and politically conservative gun-loving family.So far there is no evidence that Robinson worked with an accomplice or coordinated with a larger political organization. According to the series of text messages released by authorities even Robinson’s romantic partner, who happens to be transgender, had no advance notice of his plans to allegedly shoot Charlie Kirk.Watters could have invited former law enforcement officials, a criminal profiler, or a ballistic expert to talk about the horrific crime. The Fox News host could have spoken with people Charlie Kirk worked with at his foundation Turning Point USA or a student who was inspired by Kirk’s advocacy for his faith or political causes.Instead, Watters gave a platform to conspiracy theorists who have peddled false stories about sex trafficking, racist immigration schemes and lies about the 2020 presidential election. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe