Re: We are in serious trouble

Friend, earlier this month, Fox News host Steve Doocy [grumbled]( "[f]or some reason, over the last couple of weeks, a month, masks have become political." For some reason, eh, Steve? Perhaps it had something to do with the numerous journalists, pundits and guests on Fox News--which is now the #1 most viewed channel on television--[questioning, opposing and even mocking the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19](. Fox News misinformation has played a key role in the re-emergent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country. Their widespread coverage of anti-lockdown protesters in April and May pressured many Republican-controlled state and local governments to re-open their economies too quickly. Along with other right-wing media, the doubts that Fox News helped fuel about the dangers of the pandemic [have convinced many Republicans]( that they do not need to wear masks in public most of the time, and that it is safe to resume living their lives in much the same way they did before the global spread of the novel coronavirus. It's no wonder that [research shown a correlation between areas where Sean Hannity is most popular, and infection and mortality rates from COVID-19.]( The COVID-19 pandemic is a grim reminder of why we need news media that is centered on facts and science. In dangerous situations, such as the worst global pandemic in a century, people need accurate information in order to protect themselves and others. However, when they receive misinformation--or even conspiracy theories--from Fox News, other right-wing media, or Big Tech social media, then they can make bad decisions that have deadly consequences. Further, the pandemic is a reminder that the news media is extremely influential on elected officials. If the only people pressuring our elected officials are consuming Fox News and other right-wing media, then bad public policy decisions are going to get made, such as re-opening economies too early. As such, even news media that centers experts, facts and science needs to do more than just have its audience be passive consumers of information--it needs to provide its audience a way to take action on that information that can help shape public policy. [Fox News is never going to change. They will continue to push their right-wing agenda, lies and conspiracy theories included, as long as they have an audience. This is why we need independent, progressive media like Daily Kos. We not only deliver the facts, but provide the tools so that our readers can take real, effective action to create change. Can you support our work by making a monthly contribution of $5?]( [It's okay if you can't make a monthly contribution, a one-time contribution can still help us counter the Fox News misinformation. Click here to contribute $5 one-time.]( Keep fighting, Chris Bowers Executive Campaign Director, Daily Kos P.S. An email on this topic that I sent you earlier this week can be seen below. --------------------------------------------------------------- Friend, in June, Fox News had [the highest primetime ratings of any television network](, broadcast or cable. That's right--Fox News is now the #1 most viewed channel on all of television, not just among news networks and not just among cable channels. Simultaneously and predictably, COVID-19 continues its resurgence across the United States, with Republican-controlled states in the south and west being particularly hard hit. This is not a coincidence. Due to its massive ratings, Fox News is arguably the most powerful force in Republican politics, and Republican elected officials who fail to toe the line on the latest Fox News propaganda can quickly find themselves in real political trouble with the Republican rank-and-file. As such, in April and May, when Fox News journalists gave widespread coverage to, and Fox News pundits expressed widespread support for, the relatively small number of protesters who demanded states and local municipalities re-open their economies ASAP, most Republican elected officials quickly caved to the protesters demands. The resurgence is not just about what Republican-controlled state and local governments did, but also about what precautions individuals have taken. On that front, once again much of the blame for the re-emergence of COVID-19 can be connected to Fox News misinformation. In a survey conducted in June, the same month when Fox News became the #1 channel on television, [the Pew Research Center found]( that there were stark differences between Republicans and Democrats when it came to what personal precautions they were taking to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus: Across every item included in the survey, Republicans and Republican leaners express more comfort with engaging in these activities than do Democrats and Democratic leaners. The widest differences are on eating out in a restaurant, going to a hair salon or barbershop and attending an indoor sporting event or concert… In every case, the differences between Republicans’ and Democrats’ levels of comfort far exceeds other demographic and even geographic differences. Many of the most prominent voices on Fox News told people not to be worried about the coronavirus or take precautions to control its spread, and public polling shows that Republicans took that message to heart. Given this, it isn't surprising that [new research has shown a strong correlation between areas where Sean Hannity is most popular, and infection and mortality rates from COVID-19.]( The re-emergent spread of the deadliest pandemic to reach the United States in a century is a grim reminder of why we need news media to spread facts instead of propaganda and conspiracy theories. When faced with a dangerous situation, people need accurate information in order to make good decisions on how to protect themselves and others. However, in a world where Fox News is the #1 channel on television, that isn't what we are getting. Instead, we are getting an uncontrolled pandemic rampaging across our country. [This is why we need independent, progressive media like Daily Kos. We not only deliver the facts, but provide the tools so that our readers can take real, effective action to create change, thus providing an activist alternative to the Fox News propaganda machine. We are supported primarily by, and are accountable primarily to, our community of grassroots donors. Please support our ongoing work by giving a monthly donation of $5.]( [Can't chip in monthly? Click here to give $5 one time.]( Keep fighting, Chris Bowers Executive Campaign Director, Daily Kos Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Daily Kos, please [click here](.