Susan Wright on the Right
File this one under: It’s Funny, Because It’s True.
Some time back I dubbed Fox News “American Pravda,” for the simple reason that they’ve ceased being a legitimate news network and now only serve as a platform for pushing Donald Trump’s agenda, while lavishing him with a comical amount of praise.
I’ll admit, that may not be completely fair. It’s only the “opinion” shows and hosts like Sean Hannity, Jeanine Pirro, or Lou Dobbs who are giving “Baghdad Bob” and North Korea’s “pink lady” reason to hang their heads in intense discomfort.
The straight news programs with Fox have, so far, managed to remain relatively above the nauseating Trump brownnosing. It just seems they’re in the minority.
And their numbers are getting fewer.
A new report suggests that correspondents and staff with the network are reaching their limit. They don’t want to work for a propaganda channel for Trump.
Conor Powell, until this week, has served as a foreign correspondent for the network. He’s one of those fed up correspondents I mentioned above.
Powell took to social media to announce his decision to leave.
“After nearly 9 years, I have decided to resign from Fox News,” Powell announced on his Facebook page. “Those of you who have spoken to me in recent months, you will understand why I am leaving FNC.”
While Powell himself hasn’t publicly stated why he’s stepped down, a source within the network tells The Wrap that he’s just one of many people on the news team who are frustrated with the network’s emphasis on supporting Trump-loving opinion hosts such as Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and Laura Ingraham over more hard news reporting.
“Lots of reporters are very unhappy with directions of FNC right now,” the source explains. “Fewer news shows. More opinion shows. Less resources for reporters to report.”
Having worked for a media company [that shall remain nameless at this time], I can say for certain that in right leaning circles, there is a real push to defend Trump, no matter the cost to conservatism.
Hearing crazy things like – truth – has become an act of rebellion, apparently.
Mr. Powell isn’t the only Fox News employee to lose it and bail.
In March of 2018, Fox News strategic analyst, retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters washed his hands of the network, and on the way out the door, burned it down, for the very same reason as Powell.
On March 1st, I informed Fox that I would not renew my contract. The purpose of this message to all of you is twofold:
First, I must thank each of you for the cooperation and support you’ve shown me over the years. Those working off-camera, the bookers and producers, don’t often get the recognition you deserve, but I want you to know that I have always appreciated the challenges you face and the skill with which you master them.
Second, I feel compelled to explain why I have to leave. Four decades ago, I took an oath as a newly commissioned officer. I swore to “support and defend the Constitution,” and that oath did not expire when I took off my uniform. Today, I feel that Fox News is assaulting our constitutional order and the rule of law, while fostering corrosive and unjustified paranoia among viewers. Over my decade with Fox, I long was proud of the association. Now I am ashamed.
In my view, Fox has degenerated from providing a legitimate and much-needed outlet for conservative voices to a mere propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration. When prime-time hosts–who have never served our country in any capacity–dismiss facts and empirical reality to launch profoundly dishonest assaults on the FBI, the Justice Department, the courts, the intelligence community (in which I served) and, not least, a model public servant and genuine war hero such as Robert Mueller–all the while scaremongering with lurid warnings of “deep-state” machinations– I cannot be part of the same organization, even at a remove. To me, Fox News is now wittingly harming our system of government for profit.
As a Russia analyst for many years, it also has appalled me that hosts who made their reputations as super-patriots and who, justifiably, savaged President Obama for his duplicitous folly with Putin, now advance Putin’s agenda by making light of Russian penetration of our elections and the Trump campaign. Despite increasingly pathetic denials, it turns out that the “nothing-burger” has been covered with Russian dressing all along. And by the way: As an intelligence professional, I can tell you that the Steele dossier rings true–that’s how the Russians do things.. The result is that we have an American president who is terrified of his counterpart in Moscow.
I do not apply the above criticisms in full to Fox Business, where numerous hosts retain a respect for facts and maintain a measure of integrity (nor is every host at Fox News a propaganda mouthpiece–some have shown courage). I have enjoyed and valued my relationship with Fox Business, and I will miss a number of hosts and staff members. You’re the grown-ups.
Also, I deeply respect the hard-news reporters at Fox, who continue to do their best as talented professionals in a poisoned environment. These are some of the best men and women in the business..
So, to all of you: Thanks, and, as our president’s favorite world leader would say, “Das vidanya.”
Ouch.
I applaud Mr. Powell (as well as Lt. Col. Peters) for making the principled move.
How many will follow?
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