The Fox-Trot Dance: How Far-Right Media Sways America towards a Dangerous Theocracy

As I scrolled aimlessly through my morning news updates, my eyes caught sight of a concerning mosaic of headlines from Fox News - headlines that could easily dance past an unsuspecting viewer, their true nefarious purpose hidden beneath layers of biased reporting, misrepresentation, and blatant lies.

First on this distressing list was, "Red state sheriff makes waves with billboard recruiting cops from liberal city: 'Not afraid of ruffling feathers'". This headline is more than just an amusing anecdote about a brazen sheriff stirring the pot. It is a subliminal assault on the idea of liberalism, reinforcing the false notion that strong law enforcement is the exclusive province of so-called "red states".

The second headline I encountered was, "Battleground state removing noncitizens from voter registration." On the surface, you might think this is a reasonable measure against voter fraud. However, it’s important to note the manipulative use of “noncitizens” rather than “undocumented immigrants” or “foreign nationals”. It's a subtle but pointed way of dehumanizing immigrants and feeding unfounded fears of widespread voter fraud.

A subsequent headline caught my attention - "Biden repeats false claim that inflation was at 9% when he became president". This is less about fact-checking Biden, and more about fueling anger and mistrust in the current administration, covertly paving a path for their preferred leadership.

All these headlines form a spontaneous and very delicately designed ballet, drawing a line directly from our hyper-polarized political landscape to a frightening endpoint, a Christian-nationalist oligarchy wherein the wealthy dictate our rights.

The underlying theme of these articles is striking: a deep-seated demonization of liberalism, immigrants, and anyone opposed to their narrative. This echo-chamber journalism serves one purpose: to manipulate public sentiment in favor of an ultraconservative theocracy under the pretext of being pro-Trump or "America first".

I am particularly compelled to underscore the threat such narratives pose to the LGBTQ+ community, a group already unfairly targeted by the right's oppressive policies. Given the intolerance shown to LGTBQ+ individuals by Christian-nationalist factions, such a theocracy would unquestionably worsen their trajectories.

As someone who once subscribed to this malignant ideology, I implore all to be skeptical of such loaded headlines and to question the motivations behind these fear-mongering stories. Let us fight against the rise of a dangerous Christian-nationalist theocracy in America and instead advocate for empathy, compassion, and equality for all, regardless of their religion, gender, or social standing. Be vigilant and remember: A Democracy is only as strong as its most informed voting demographics.