Brian Stelter: The Epic Saga of Fox News and the Battle for American Democracy

In the wake of Fox News' historic $787 million legal settlement with Dominion, investigative journalist Brian Stelter takes a look at how the conservative channel handles truth and misinformation-and its influence on elections.
Stelter, bestselling author of Hoax, an inside look at Fox News, promises an even more revealing take on the channel and how it does business. From panic among its anchors to the handling of misinformation, Stelter goes behind the scenes to show how what ended up on the air got there. With the lawsuits dragging the network’s secrets into the light-such as Tucker Carlson’s passionate hatred for Donald Trump and Sean Hannity’s contempt for his own colleagues-the future of the network, and the Republican Party, hangs in the balance.
Join us for a special online-only talk with Stelter about one of the biggest forces in the news industry today, and how it uses its power in ways that impact us all.
Photo courtesy the speaker.
November 30, 2023
Speakers
Brian Stelter
Special Correspondent; Vanity Fair; Walter Shorenstein Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy; Author, Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy; Twitter @brianstelter
In Conversation with Adam Lashinsky
Contributing Columnist, The Washington Post; Twitter: @adamlashinsky
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[@marcywiedrick3385]

Why wasn’t Maria Bartiromo sued by Dominion?

[@jennylundindraper1297]

And she has a law background, herself.. truly a low class journalist, however

[@ellenweiss5850]

Yes why ?

[@desihorton3389]

Every time I tune into FOX I cant continue to watch because it is such poor quality of info😮

[@LOdom-ws8xv]

Misinformation is too nice. Please call it what it is. Lies.

[@stregalilith]

Yes. "Alternative facts" are lies and what Fox and Tucker Carlson purveyed was DISinformation. Like you said, LIES.

[@FrederickHiller]

Or DISinformation.... indicating that the misinformation is quite intentional and strategic.... which is itself a crime against America and Democracy.

[@lupemerrit]

I’ve never been a Fox fan. I haven’t watched it in years.

[@orangehairbrain8733]

Calling Fox propaganda channel "news" is a farcical misnomer.

[@annakingry9157]

I don't watch cable or network news. I've gone to podcasts and journals.

[@PKellyTeacher]

I just started watching podcasts. Wish I had started sooner.

[@davidwilkie9551]

Lies about liars condoned by people who have committed to knowing better but do not.

[@stregalilith]

or committed to knowing better and being "Fair and Balanced" yet lied anyway--for money.

[@theresakohler-ruda1292]

​@@stregalilith You are a steadfast listener. Someone noticed❤

[@lesilluminations1]

One interesting debate doesn't make up for the millions of lies. There is no redeeming feature to Fox.

[@Henrymlee-po6sf]

Imagine a station feeding lies to destroy there own country and everyone being ok with it cause the people that watch it believe it how evil is that..

[@rhondah1587]

They feed their viewers what their viewers want to hear regardless of whether it is true or false and it is almost always false. The money-making aspect is their highest priority and when you rile up your viewers and tell them things they just want to hear, the network makes lots and lots of money. Just ask Murdoch. He said in a deposition, it's about the green ($$$).

[@stregalilith]

The only dangerous immigrant I can think of is Rupert Murdoch

[@FrederickHiller]

True, and all such Fascist subversions of Democracy since Hitler and Mussolini rely very heavily upon exactly that type of evil disinformation as we see and hear daily at Trump rallies, and on Fox, OAN, Newsmax, Infowars, The Blaze, Turning Point, Epoch Times, NY Post ( NOT to be confused with the excellent NY Times ) or Washington Times rag ( NOT to be confused with the excellent Washington Post )...

[@whynot5045]

I know.... I keep asking why CNN is still on TV.

[@ChildPerson]

"A way of life..." Omg! Truer words with deepest meanings never spoken!!!

[@julienelson8162]

I love Brian Stelter, and miss him so much.

[@grimmertwin2148]

?

[@randal_gibbons]

Ditto.

[@ellenweiss5850]

Me too.

[@sbonventure]

“Things are always worse on the inside.” More true than most are willing to admit.

[@jamesbuckingham5771]

This has been fantastic Adam!!

[@tctcllc6949]

This was insightful. He tapped into so many facets of Fox I had not known. I have also been changing up my diet of News over the past couple of years.

[@RWROW]

Not impressed that Murdochs didn't micromanage their talent. They picked their talent and they set the overall policy that the talents followed.

[@NilsMichaelStridh]

Great program!! Brian is a beacon of truth in a mostly mad world of cable news disinformation. BRAVO!!

[@t.l.1610]

@@BradRaiche You too friend. Yum, drink up. Lol

[@jaelo2314]

I'm so glad the 1st question was "what were you trying to accomplish." As opposed to "what were you thinking"?

[@erincaitlin1655]

TNN made a bad move by canceling Brian's show. It was the only one that tried to deliver the Truth ....

[@iamkidfrankie]

Are you an actual person

[@boothvrstudio]

Thank you for posting this informative presentation!! Kudos to Brian for his diligent work!

[@hopliterati61]

These guests are always compelling . Thanks

[@patrichards8855]

Good to see and hear from Mr. Stelter; one of my beacons of hope for American journalism.

[@CaminoAir]

Agreed. I hope he make a good deal of money from this book. He deserves it.

[@bendover6987]

His book sold 5000 copies hes still on top

[@skyterror77postman47]

Of what? Are you a bot? Cant you see the lies? The BS they are selling and brainwashing you into? OMG America is done.

[@Diametricallyopposed00]

Hahhahaaa, are you serious? 😂

[@apollontheintp3257]

I heard he is mostly a beacon of hope for censorship fans. Is that true?

[@recal1000]

Thank you Brian Stelter. Have ways appreciated your intelligence and calm manner

[@jamesbuckingham5771]

Happy Birthday Cheers 🍸 to your Father Adam, with God's Blessings of Love ❤ and Good Health!!

[@stregalilith]

The viewers can handle the truth? Then they shouldn't vote.

[@FrederickHiller]

The problem is that those who know the least often arrogantly believe that they know the most...AKA "Dunning Krueger Effect". Fascists like Putin and his extorted seditious traitor Trump know all of this; and that is partly how they deceive, hoodwink indoctrinate and radicalize so many poor souls with their "oft-repeated big lies" and slander.

[@debrajenkins9211]

Very good interview. Thx for real news.

[@deviritter5232]

“Battle for” or “Battle against”?

[@yowie369]

We don't want Lachlan Murdoch here Down Under, you can have it.

[@stregalilith]

I meant "can't" handle the truth.

[@FrederickHiller]

You do know that you can edit KZbin comments? Click on the three dots you see to the right & above...

[@rebeccamouse9294]

Why are you assuming that only one of the Murdoch son’s would take control of Fox and not one of the daughters?

[@kokok3052]

Prudence has never worked for the business, Elizabeth gave up years ago, Grace and Chloe don’t have voting rights

[@grimmertwin2148]

From my understanding Elisabeth and James have Lachlan and the control of News Corp in their sights. Their ' worldviews', opinions and interests are at complete odds with Lachlan's tyrannical take-no- prisoners quest for profits. He's been dictating all policy and Fox agendas, unchallenged for almost two years. It's said he's driven to control America's online gambling industry. A literal licence to print money at the expense of millions of Americans. Read the book Succession released late last year or sometime this year by an Aussie investigative journalist. Like Whitney Webb and Julie K Brown the research is impeccable and revelations ( never challenged so far) essential to understand the threat to American democracy from one obsessive Gollum-like character possibly afflicted with the worst case of ' short man syndrome' . Sorry to say this guy is not in their league. It's just so obvious. If you want to understand the dark side of News Corp and how they have orchestrated and bullied and sullied so many and so much it's all in the book, Just their 'history' in Australia and the UK and now America shows a fully dysfunctional family operating under a relentless barrage of manipulation, favouritism and greed never relenting until he gets what he wants ( even hiring sexual predators in upper management ) or hacking into the mobile phone accounts of murdered teenage girls. No criminal approach is found wanting and through his papers you may not be surprised who he's tried to ruin and who's fighting back. Even though Rupert scuttled away ' officially'' after the Dominion victory Lachlan has been calling the shots including promoting or signing off on all Fox News content under the guise of giving the so called Right a voice in America. They don't mention the low educational, mental health and xenophobic 'character' of their easily led and gullible fan base.

[@alaine57]

No one is assuming, it was stated by them.

[@rebeccamouse9294]

@@alaine57 Of thanks for letting me know. I must have spaced out while I was watching it.

[@TroyProutyShow]

I have no sympathy for Tucker, people often make their own beds for their actions .. it's called consequence.

[@sbonventure]

The absolute best thing that could happen would be a televised trial of Smartmatic v Fox. Anyone who watched the Alex Jones trial got to see just how and why the lies are manufactured.

[@donellaraye6830]

It’s absurd to think Fox is now providing commentary or attempting to analyse the “news” given their track record! 🥴

[@iamkidfrankie]

Like CNN has a better record? Ok 👍

[@DP-hk6ox]

Brilliant commentary. Thanks! Brian Stelter brings unique takes on media.

[@stregalilith]

It's sad when common sense and honesty is unique.

[@Kendrix1]

I wake up each morning hoping Brian has a glioblastoma multiforme. He is so informative and fantastic

[@user-bx6cj3tt6t]

Tore my life to pieces for greed..

[@ellenweiss5850]

That is what i call real NEWS with email to back it up.

[@andreatreven7950]

Miss you, what a mistake they did to fire you!!!!!!!!

[@pamelahoward6220]

Where can I find Brian’s book on Kindle? I don’t find on Libby thru my library (Orange County, FL) nor do I find on Amazon. Thanks

[@jaelo2314]

I'm sure someone helped you by now, but it's on Amazon. I looked up Brian and it came up. It showed the book and said it was available on Kindle.

[@diIbert]

12:50 My favorite part was when Brian Stelter ate a gummy bear.

[@theresakohler-ruda1292]

Refreshing to hear how someone has held Donald accountable on small points of conduct, Murdock policies at Fox.

[@goldfruitco6841]

hahahahahhahahahahahaaaaaaaaa

[@veritas2222]

It’s so disspiriting to see the depths of human malevolence being revealed in scandal after scandal, but worse by far is seeing it happen to thunderous applause. We who were raised to give benefits of the doubt, to make allowances, assume the best … all those good social habits of a well-regulated people with ethics and love of the truth at their core are asking … What the hell happened? We want to know how so many of our neighbors are now identifying with the bad guys. They are shockingly eager to turn our democracy into a hate machine to persecute the “woke” ones. Far more of our citizenry than we ever imagined are actively choosing evil over good. It makes no sense. Once the shock has subsided, we will be able to identify the duplicity behind it and the greed that powers it, but damn! Even in the midst of WWII, Anne Frank still believed that most human beings are good at heart. The only thing that’s changed since then is the culture shifted to worshiping anti-heroes in music, movies, style and attitude. We started worshiping greed. Well … now that we’ve all seen how hideous we can get as humans, how about reversing that emphasis so we can begin revealing and demonstrating the highest good humanity can be? Becoming aware of cultural programming and how it has affected us is a good place to start. Let it begin on KZbin.

[@FrederickHiller]

Bravo...all honorable persons would agree.. And that is exactly what many pod-casters on KZbin, and what all honorable journalists intend to do on a daily basis; which is why all fascists since Hitler call fact-based journalism so called 'FAKE NEWS"; and why fascist dictator wanna-be's like Trump and his right-wing cronies always persecute, prosecute, slander and falsely accuse all those who are truly honorable, good, patriotic; and thus, those who automatically oppose the criminal fascists like Hitler, Putin, or Trump. and pardon the worst, most evil and wicked of their criminal cronies; like Paul Manafort, Mike Flynn, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, etc. The reason so many of our neighbors are falling for Putin/Trump's standard fascist big lies and social manipulation and radicalization tactics -- all the same fascist indoctrination tactics used by Hitler, Mussolini, Kim, Orban, Putin, Lukashenko, and all such fascist authoritarian dictators -- is because Fascists know that humans are very easily motivated and radicalized by fear, hate, xenophobia, "otherness"; manipulated by our own primal selfish greed and self-preservation instinct; by our own sense of entitlement and materialism. By contrast, those who believe in Democracy are motivated more by principles of Truth, Empirical Science and History, Justice, Law, Equality, Civility, Human Rights, Constitutional Rights...Fascists always claim to honors such principles, while promoting only the opposite. If you notice, Trump claims to be the defender of all such humanitarian principles, but nothing clearly could possibly be further from the truth; as all well informed observers know.

[@oceanecastelnau9821]

"... With the increase of lawlessness, love in most men will grow cold...." signs of the times

[@nicholasd62]

It's worse than a stockholm syndrome where at least hostages witness some humanity in their captors. True, your life may not be in danger getting news from Fox News(their opinion, you decide). They are willing to lie to you for their agenda and their political "side" though. No respect for democracy, no respect for you.

[@richarddietzen3137]

Sadly only 4 likes… but well said. Honor, truth, and duty seem increasingly passé in the last decade. John McCain saw that.

[@veritas2222]

@@richarddietzen3137 Thank you! Algorithms shade my posts, but not my passion for truth, reason and wisdom. We are not alone, not even close.✨

[@robotics4kids]

Excellent metaphor....the propaganda poisoners...being the heart that is pumping out the blood out into the GOP community, etc. Excellent.

[@MarkSHogan]

Fox News would be smart to hire Brian as CEO.

[@stregalilith]

Certainly off brand but in a perfect world that would happen!

[@Diametricallyopposed00]

😂🤣😂

[@mballer]

Why didn't he write about CNN? He had an inside view there.

[@FrederickHiller]

He did.

[@t.l.1610]

Probably signed many NDA’s as well and would get sued. All of the big networks do that, Fox included. Including NDA’s about crimes. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@jaelo2314]

The fox audience is heard at the polls. If they vote, they are visible. Decades ago I remember tv news spoke of the disenfranchised. It seemed to me the groups discussed changed with the results of the election. I always thought these folks had been convinced that they were aggrieved.

[@dominique217]

No rigor at Fox among the "opinion" guys. The average Fox viewer doesn't care about Cavuto/Baier reporting. Fox viewers want the rage of Hannity, Ingraham, and Pirro...and Carlson.

[@ellenweiss5850]

There lies are in does e mails

[@dominique217]

@@ellenweiss5850 Can you try that again?

[@t.l.1610]

@@dominique217Lol, an insult loses punch when your audience has to decipher it huh?

[@dominique217]

@t.l.1610 No idea WTF you're talking about. More importantly, don't care.

[@t.l.1610]

@@dominique217 Dude. Was laughing at the 1st comment and your reply. Geez buddy, lighten up huh?

[@michiganpatriot5322]

😂😂😂

[@theresakohler-ruda1292]

Too big for his breeches... Pull yourself up by your boot straps. You may have mixed the metaphors? OK, I enjoyed your front row observations. Much thanks!

[@lynnkalles2055]

I miss Brian on msnbc

[@browncoat516]

Nom nom nom nom nom😅

[@Usefulmusic]

A parade of hypocrites.

[@user-bx6cj3tt6t]

How u all doing im alive ..christina hicks..

[@SerDunk]

Shill fired from shill network going on shill show talking about another shill network. Classic.

[@DP-hk6ox]

At 52.26 Stelter really answers many questions as to him being unceremoniously fired by CNN and what he wants for his future. Well done.

[@shellimendoza7332]

Fox should lose FCC license

[@brianphillips5576]

Trump 2023... constitutional convention

[@abocas]

Thanks for posting this. I admire Stelter as a passionate newsman. And I miss him at CNN (from which I had a yearlong freak). I look forward to reading his book. Still waiting for it to come from the US 🤓

[@Fatpumpumlovah2]

Thank you for letting me know never watch this show again.

[@FrederickHiller]

That sounds like the kind of comment we'd hear from one of Putin's Russian trolls. Or do you mean to never watch Fox Spews propaganda channel?

[@Fatpumpumlovah2]

@@FrederickHiller lol, gotta love the fake youtube user that has no subs, nothing favorited, nothing liked LOL Starting to think youtube has special people just to reply to me :) nah far away from America and Russia. But will take living in Russia any day... Maybe travel some vs knowing all you know of a country thru your media. Been to both, Russias 10x America.

[@whynot5045]

Gawd, Stelter looks just like Al Capone. Probably just as evil too.

[@geegstar]

Such a FOOL!

[@dm273]

Lol

[@okeeydokeeey321]

If you tend to beleive djt's lies, take a close look at your circumstances, can you beleive those close to you?

[@urkiddingme6254]

Whereas the moderator is disgusted by "these people," Brian Stelter finds them intriguing. You probably have to have that perspective to be able to listen to them year after year and report on them without committing suicide. I was depressed and dismayed after the Trump election, so I can guess how the FOX viewers were feeling after the Biden election. FOX took advantage of their vulnerable state. No sympathy for FOX.

[@t.l.1610]

Gotta view it as a study in behavior. There’s a documentary “The Brainwashing of my Dad,” I highly recommend. In books, “Authoritarian Nightmare” is a good, really lays out why people gravitate towards this sort of thing.

[@urkiddingme6254]

@@t.l.1610 I might look that book up -- after I read the other 7 books about our political problems that I've already checked out. There is an endless supply of reading material these days.

[@t.l.1610]

@@urkiddingme6254 Lol! Man I hear ya. The documentary is good too. It’s about right wing media & their viewers’ losing their minds basically. I found it while my uncle was going from super smart, lovable, fun guy to an angry, bitter guy spouting nonsense. This was right around 2016. I was baffled, WTF happened to my family? Couldn’t even hold convos with them anymore. Sad.

[@ajohn6932]

I cannot watch this this isn't the truth

[@markporter9738]

Cue the Mark Dice Muppets...

[@based1669]

🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@pkel7086]

I miss Brian's show. His analysis and investigative skills were a gift.

[@relentlesshaggler909]

CNN never lies..😂

[@FrederickHiller]

TRUE... CNN has NEVER been credibly accused of sowing intentional disinformation like Fox has proven in court to have done on many occasions, and if CNN, or any of America's excellent responsible News networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, NPR, APR, AP, REUTERS, PBS, etc., do ever wrongly report a story, then they honorably RETRACT that story..... on Fox big lie Network, such disinformation is an everyday event, and they NEVER retract. All Fascist subversions of Democracy since Hitler and Mussolini rely very heavily upon vast disinformation as we see and hear daily at Trump rallies, and on Fox, OAN, Newsmax, Infowars, The Blaze, Turning Point, Epoch Times, NY Post ( NOT to be confused with the excellent NY Times ) or Washington Times rag ( NOT to be confused with the excellent Washington Post )... THIS is also why all criminal Fascists since Hitler claimed all real, verifiable, responsible fact-based journalism like CNN is supposedly all "fake news"...It's the most standard common of lies told by all criminal fascists and dictator wanna-be's like Putin and his corrupt protege' Traitor Trump.

[@t.l.1610]

I think this is a case of which network lies more? Also the network does not the reporter make - can’t paint them all by the same brush.

[@kennacurry5019]

More rhetoric. More blatant opinion.

[@tulionunez9964]

If Megyn Kelly with all their baggage can go back to NN, this guy should be there too

[@sallybright7172]

I can not believe your pushing this false narrative. I was listening with an open mind. But I have to stop listening. Good luck

[@t.l.1610]

False? How do? Do tell.

[@bean_dippp_101]

Brian is unethical and is spreading misinformation.

[@t.l.1610]

How so? What are your specific arguments? I’m actually interested.

[@jerrymiller9056]

Hey Brian Stelter -- how about finishing your breakfast BEFORE you go online?

[@frankmarsh1159]

1:48 OMG He uses a straw... Wait till Fox news hears about this !!!

[@alaine57]

So drinking a refreshment, in public, is a new crime.

[@erincaitlin1655]

Duh !!! Change channels !!

[@skyterror77postman47]

One question. I need straight ANSWER: what do you think is waiting at the end of your life,Heaven??? Or Hell? Thank you.

[@neildepoy7329]

Brian is top candidate for Dan Rather award, Fake News King.

[@marvymarier8988]

Poor boy........

[@LOdom-ws8xv]

​@marvymarier8988 Same thing I was thinking. He/she has no clue the they've been conned & brainwashed.

[@carlettesouthern-robert2992]

@ neildeploy7329 Looking to 🎉WIN Top Stupid Bott/Troll Award For The Year 23-24!😂

[@alaine57]

So, everyone knows, the trolls, are active. How much are you paid, for that position?

[@erincaitlin1655]

Boot out the troll !!