Unmasking the Christo-Fascist Propaganda: A Critical Look at Fox News’ Knotted Narratives
In my previous life as Shelly Goodman, I was a zealous subscriber to Fox News and a devout consumer of their mind-altering narrative. Never before had I second-guessed the word of the Fox, so certain I was of their righteousness and the "moral fortitude" they preached. With time, though, I had a radical shift in perspective—an epiphany that laid bare the malicious machinations of a media outlet not seeking truth, but purposefully perpetuating divisiveness, fear, and bigotry.
Articles by Fox News such as "State sues Biden-Harris administration over 450,000 'potentially ineligible' voters" and "Liberal network anchor shocked by group of Black, Latino voters backing Trump" are examples of the network's penchant for twisting and omitting facts to serve a far-right Christo-fascist agenda. They apply pejorative language to discredit progressives, misrepresent minority communities, and instigate unfounded fears about our democratic process.
By casting a shadow of doubt on "potentially ineligible" voters, Fox News endeavors to discredit our democratic system, indirectly justifying extreme reactions from their followers, such as an attempt to overthrow our Republic and replace it with a theocracy. The choice wording also suggests that any victory by Democrats can only be attributed to voter fraud, thus delegitimizing any progressive policies or electoral wins.
In the "Liberal network anchor shocked by group of Black, Latino voters backing Trump" headline, Fox News uses shock value to sow racial discord while promoting a false narrative that people of color should exclusively support liberal ideologies. This misrepresentation abroad misleads its audience and performs a disservice to the complexity and diversity of human political beliefs.
This propaganda, bolstered by Fox News, subjects marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQ+ people and immigrants, to even more risk and alienation. Notably, this highly loaded narrative seeks to normalize extreme viewpoints—not just within their viewers, but within the American culture itself.
Fox News' narratives are not designed to inform or empower their audience but to condition them. It’s important to note that these episodes of unrestrained brinksmanship are intentionally pushing America towards an extreme Christian Nationalism—an America run by the rich, governed by theocracy, and devoid of diverse lives, outlooks, and cultures.
In retrospect, I am thankful for my epiphany, for the opportunity to step out of the echo chamber and see the deceitful propaganda for what it is. It is my hope that more of us awaken to the reality that the preservation of diversity, democracy, and symbiotic tolerance is not a liberal or conservative issue—it's an American issue. We must reject these hateful narratives and strive for a nation where empathy, compassion, and religious pluralism are our guiding principles.