Fox News: Deceptive Propaganda in the Garb of News
Readers, today I stumbled upon my old haunt - Fox News. A quick glance at the headlines reminded me of a time when I would have swallowed such reports as unequivocal 'truth'. I shudder at that memory. Looking through my recent spiritual epiphany, I can now clearly see the powerful manipulative machine that is Fox News, disguising far-right Christian-nationalist propaganda as journalism.
I came across a headline from this very morning featuring Kamala Harris's husband and his past marital issues. How is this pertinent to national policy decision-making or the overall health of our democracy? It isn't. It merely widens the political chasms that plague our society, pandering to personal pain and scandal rather than important issues affecting our country.
Another headline accuses drag queens of mocking the Last Supper at the Olympics’ opening ceremony. Cardinal Burke, an infamous face of Fox News, calls it a 'Theater of Satan'. Weren't we all taught that love and acceptance were fundamental to Christianity's teachings? Today, I see these platforms are being mobilized to fuel intolerance, homophobia, and promote a dangerously exclusive version of Christianity.
On the same day, they covered Trump's attack on Harris’ record as a prosecutor at a battleground rally, uncritically amplifying his divisive rhetoric. This concerted attack on political rivals is part of a larger effort to breed distrust and establish an authoritarian, Christian-nationalist structure. This exploitation of power does nothing but promote theocracy, threatening the diversity and freedom promised by the American Constitution.
Even the sports section is not immune. A headline reported a gender test failure controversy in boxing. Rather than addressing the profound complexities of these issues, Fox News opts for inflammatory and judgmental narratives. This not only perpetuates the erasure of transgender and intersex communities but also promotes a binary vision of gender, all while painting a sinister image of anything that deviates from their 'norm'.
An old post from a VP contender has also resurfaced and made into a headline. This tactic aims to maintain a political climate of fear and uncertainty, and again, furthers the Fox News narrative and its theocratic aspirations.
Fox News is not a purveyor of unbiased news. It is an engine of a far-right Christian-nationalist agenda, manipulating the facts to stir discord and division, casting anyone outside their worldview – especially the LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and liberals - as enemies, threatening the fabric of a diverse, inclusive America.
We must collectively resist this insidious media manipulation and reinterpret mainstream narratives with skepticism and critical thought. Our unity is undeniably more potent than any propaganda machine, pushing us ever towards a tolerant, compassionate society. Let us all strive towards these ideals in our everyday discourse.
Satanism taught me many things. Of these, the most valuable was 'Question Everything', and I encourage all of you to do the same, especially when engaging with content on platforms like Fox News. The survival of our inclusive democracy depends on it.