By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Newsmax has agreed to a $67 million settlement in a defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, following similar settlements by Fox News Channel and Smartmatic. The court had previously ruled that Newsmax defamed Dominion by spreading false information about its voting equipment. This settlement was reached before a trial could take place, which was revealed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Internal communications from Newsmax demonstrated that the network knew the claims of election fraud were baseless, yet it continued to air them.
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Conservative network Newsmax agrees to pay $67M in defamation case over 2020 election claims. Well, here’s a headline that’s got some serious implications. Newsmax, a conservative media outlet, has agreed to pay a hefty $67 million to settle a defamation case related to the 2020 election. It really makes you think, doesn’t it?
Newsmax’s decision is a pretty big deal. When you consider the context, like the fact that Fox News had to cough up nearly $800 million and Alex Jones over a billion for similar transgressions, the sum feels like it should have been much higher. But the fact remains, this settlement underscores the consequences of spreading false information, especially when it comes to something as critical as the integrity of an election. It seems like the “cost of doing business” can be a pretty expensive one these days.
The thing is, it took nearly five years to get to this point. And although $67 million is nothing to sneeze at, it’s still arguable that it’s not enough for the damage done. It’s a reminder that there are real-world consequences when news networks take a dive into disinformation. You have to wonder, is this supposed to be winning? It looks like another case of “we paid the price for false reporting,” echoing Fox News’s own struggles.
Now, let’s be honest, the settlement itself is likely to be framed in certain circles as some sort of liberal conspiracy or fake news. You can almost hear the arguments now – “they were set up,” “it’s a deep state plot,” “the judge is a liberal hack.” But regardless of how some choose to spin it, the reality remains: Newsmax was found to have aired false information, specifically defaming Dominion Voting Systems, and now they’re paying the price. This is something you will not see on the conservative subreddit.
One has to wonder, given the network’s financial performance, how much of a sting this $67 million will actually cause. Newsmax reported strong revenue growth in the first quarter of 2025, and this profit represents a little over 9 months of profit for the company. That said, it’s important to remember that revenue doesn’t always equal profit, and right-wing propaganda machines are often willing to take losses if they think it will help them take over the country.
When you’re dealing with this kind of situation, you have to consider the source. Given Newsmax’s financial health, the impact may not be as strong as it could be. They might even see this as a necessary business expense or chalk it up to political persecution.
It’s easy to get cynical, but that doesn’t mean the settlement is insignificant. Dominion Voting Systems is, understandably, doing well with these lawsuits, and it’s a reminder of the importance of truth. The hope is this settlement will have some kind of deterrent effect. It’s a shame that Newsmax has been spewing all the misinformation that it does, and it may not change their behavior, but at least it’s a start.
And yet, even with this settlement, the biggest defamer is still sitting in the White House, still spreading lies, and still making headlines. It’s disheartening to consider that this is the point, which makes for a tough situation for American democracy.
There’s also the very real possibility of future pardons, as Trump has previously pardoned corporations. It’s another layer of complexity to the situation, and a worrying sign of how far some will go to protect their own. So it becomes a question of, will this even make them think twice about what they’re doing? It’s tough to say.
Ultimately, this settlement is a stark reminder of the price of truth, the potential for consequences, and the ongoing battle against disinformation. The question now is whether this will serve as a turning point or just another bump in the road. It’s up to each of us to be critical, informed, and to demand truth from our news sources. If the network is going to keep doing what it’s doing and getting away with it, then people have to change their viewing habits. Critical thinking is extremely lacking when that information is not used to change habits.