The mainstream media have accused President Donald Trump of endangering journalists and press freedom by criticizing “fake news” — but were largely silent as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) launched an attack on Fox News on Tuesday.
Fox News did nothing to provoke the attack, other than inviting Warren to appear on a candidate town hall and to reach its audience of millions. Several other Democrats — and even socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) — have done so.
But Warren turned down the offer, saying she did not want to help the network make money for “hate.” She went even further, using the Fox invitation as the pretext to launch an attack on the network across several social media platforms.
On Instagram, Warren posted a GIF calling Fox a “hate-for-profit … racket,” and added a statement: “I won’t do a town hall with Fox News because I won’t invite millions of Democratic primary voters to tune in, inflate ratings, and help sell ads for an outlet that profits from racism and hate. If you agree, sign our petition.”
Combustible Republican Senate primary in Texas heading into overtime
BREAKING: Jasmine Crockett Gets Stomped in Primary as Even Democrats Find Tolerating Her Presence Impossible
Austin suspect unleashed anti-Christian, antisemitic, misogynistic rants on social media before mass shooting
New York AG orders Manhattan hospital to resume gender-transition treatment for transgender youth
Natural gas prices surge worldwide as Iran conflict crimps supply
BREAKING: Masked Man Arrested Outside GOP Campaign Event – Cops Bagging Multiple Rifle and Pistol Magazines – No Injuries
Trump says NYC Mayor Mamdani made ‘big progress’ embracing Declaration of Independence
Watch: Australian News Host Becomes Legend – Starts Speaking Persian and Signs Off with Brutal Curse for Khamenei That She’d Never Get Away with in English
BREAKING: Largest US Base in Middle East Hit by Ballistic Missile from Iran – Details Still Coming In
Waymo autonomous car blocks ambulance crew responding to deadly Austin mass shooting
Watch the most viral moments as Kristi Noem’s hearing goes off the rails
Israel First? MAGA divide erupts over allegations Netanyahu pushed US into Iran conflict
Iran retaliation fears fail to move Democrats on DHS shutdown
Lindsey Graham already moves on from Iran, warns ‘Cuba is next’
Nancy Mace to force vote targeting fellow GOP lawmaker accused of affair with staffer
I love town halls. I’ve done more than 70 since January, and I’m glad to have a television audience be a part of them. Fox News has invited me to do a town hall, but I’m turning them down—here’s why…
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019
Fox News is a hate-for-profit racket that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracists—it’s designed to turn us against each other, risking life and death consequences, to provide cover for the corruption that’s rotting our government and hollowing out our middle class.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019
Hate-for-profit works only if there’s profit, so Fox News balances a mix of bigotry, racism, and outright lies with enough legit journalism to make the claim to advertisers that it’s a reputable news outlet. It’s all about dragging in ad money—big ad money.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019
But Fox News is struggling as more and more advertisers pull out of their hate-filled space. A Democratic town hall gives the Fox News sales team a way to tell potential sponsors it's safe to buy ads on Fox—no harm to their brand or reputation (spoiler: It’s not).
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019
Here’s one place we can fight back: I won’t ask millions of Democratic primary voters to tune into an outlet that profits from racism and hate in order to see our candidates—especially when Fox will make even more money adding our valuable audience to their ratings numbers.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019
Combustible Republican Senate primary in Texas heading into overtime
BREAKING: Jasmine Crockett Gets Stomped in Primary as Even Democrats Find Tolerating Her Presence Impossible
Austin suspect unleashed anti-Christian, antisemitic, misogynistic rants on social media before mass shooting
New York AG orders Manhattan hospital to resume gender-transition treatment for transgender youth
Natural gas prices surge worldwide as Iran conflict crimps supply
BREAKING: Masked Man Arrested Outside GOP Campaign Event – Cops Bagging Multiple Rifle and Pistol Magazines – No Injuries
Trump says NYC Mayor Mamdani made ‘big progress’ embracing Declaration of Independence
Watch: Australian News Host Becomes Legend – Starts Speaking Persian and Signs Off with Brutal Curse for Khamenei That She’d Never Get Away with in English
BREAKING: Largest US Base in Middle East Hit by Ballistic Missile from Iran – Details Still Coming In
Waymo autonomous car blocks ambulance crew responding to deadly Austin mass shooting
Watch the most viral moments as Kristi Noem’s hearing goes off the rails
Israel First? MAGA divide erupts over allegations Netanyahu pushed US into Iran conflict
Iran retaliation fears fail to move Democrats on DHS shutdown
Lindsey Graham already moves on from Iran, warns ‘Cuba is next’
Nancy Mace to force vote targeting fellow GOP lawmaker accused of affair with staffer
I’m running a campaign to reach all Americans. I take questions from the press and voters everywhere I go. I’ve already held town halls in 17 states and Puerto Rico—including WV, OH, GA, UT, TN, TX, CO, MS & AL.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019
I’ve done 57 media avails and 131 interviews, taking over 1,100 questions from press just since January. Fox News is welcome to come to my events just like any other outlet. But a Fox News town hall adds money to the hate-for-profit machine. To which I say: hard pass.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019
One journalist who offered a mild criticism was Yashar Ali of New York magazine, who pointed out — after prompting by “a rival campaign” to Warren’s — that she had appeared on Fox News last year:
2. A rival campaign just sent me this Fox News clip from last year. Warren appearing on Fox News a year ago. Obviously there’s a difference between this and a townhall but worth noting this appearance. https://t.co/0vVHX8oJ5A
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 14, 2019
Several Fox News hosts have been targeted by coordinated advertising boycotts, and Tucker Carlson’s home was vandalized by a left-wing Antifa (“anti-fascist”) mob last year.
Story cited here.
