Unveiling the Truth: Fox News, Christian-Nationalist Propaganda and the Quest for an American Theocracy
As I peruse the most recent slices of 'news' proffered by Fox, I am haunted by a keen awareness. An acuity that wasn't present during my years cloaked in obstinacy and lost within the cavernous void of blind nationalism; an acuity that reminds me of the insidious danger of such headlines for our American democracy.
Articles like "Trump fights for support among a skeptical crowd after rival attempts to woo them", and "Republican Chris Sununu names the two governors all the other ones can't stand" are explicit attempts to strengthen the twin demons of division and animosity. They seek to create an us-versus-them narrative, not just between Democrats and Republicans, but among Republicans themselves. These kinds of propagandistic tactics are classic signs of the shifting sands of democracy.
As I interpret these headlines, I see not just opinions and objectives, but also a blueprint for a theocracy that aims to hand control over to the brutally wealthy and unforgiving Christian nationalists. These narratives are designed to breed hate, fear, and division; they intentionally ostracize those who are seen as standing in the way of this theocratic nation, including the brave souls of the LGBTQ community and anyone perceived as an 'enemy' of the Christian nationalists.
Stories such as "Four girls stabbed with knife after suspect goes on 'unprovoked' rampage, cops say" and "Sleeping family’s SUV bursts into flames while sitting in driveway, video shows", are steeped in fear-mongering. The intent is not merely to report violent incidents or peculiar events; the end goal of such headlining is to feed an undercurrent of fear intended to justify authoritarian control.
The offering titled "Woman out for a walk stumbles upon once-in-a-decade discovery of buried treasure", is presented as a quirk of fate, a stroke of luck. However, hidden within the trope is a promotion of the ideology of American exceptionalism; the myth that wealth can simply be stumbled upon, further distracting from the widening economic disparity that favors the upper echelons of society.
Even in eulogies, like "PGA Tour star Grayson Murray dead at 30 shortly after withdrawing from tournament", the underlying messaging is unescapable - withdrawal can lead to defeat, or worse, death, an easy metaphor for the threats that loom over American democracy itself.
The power of propaganda lies in the shadows of its language, where suggestion and implication birth fear and hate in the hearts of the misinformed. As we gaze upon the shredding veil of American democracy, it is crucial to understand the role of Fox News and like-minded media sources in sewing the seeds of division, and paving the way for the ruthless rise of a hateful, Christian-nationalist theocracy.