Newsmax has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fox News, alleging anti-competitive behavior that has stifled its growth. The suit claims Fox coerces distributors through “exclusionary and restrictive agreements” and uses “intimidation tactics,” harming Newsmax’s ability to gain viewers and advertising revenue. Newsmax is seeking a permanent injunction against Fox’s practices and triple damages, claiming significant financial harm. Fox News has responded, denying the allegations and attributing Newsmax’s struggles to “competitive failures.”
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Fox News anchor John Roberts is currently hospitalized with a severe case of malaria, diagnosed on August 25th. Roberts reported experiencing intense body aches and uncontrolled shivering before seeking medical attention. He believes he contracted the mosquito-borne illness during a recent vacation in Indonesia. While undergoing treatment with IV artesunate, he described his condition as “up and down” with hopes to return to work by next week.
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Following a meeting with Vladimir Putin aimed at brokering a ceasefire in Ukraine, former President Donald Trump claimed Putin now “respects our country.” Despite preparing to offer economic incentives for a deal, including access to resources and lifting sanctions, the meeting yielded no agreement. Trump attributed the failure to former President Joe Biden and repeatedly asserted that the invasion would not have occurred under his leadership, while also refusing to provide specifics. Trump scored the meeting a perfect “10” due to the pair’s good relationship, and he placed responsibility for future progress with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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The Independent’s reporting often covers critical developments in the US, including reproductive rights and political issues. Recently, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized Fox News, particularly its older audience, claiming it is not the future of America. Greene has publicly clashed with Fox News host Mark Levin, who called her a “lunatic.” According to recent data, older Americans are more likely to regularly get their news from Fox News compared to younger adults, which prompted Greene’s response.
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On Saturday, the Senate confirmed Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News personality and Trump loyalist, as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia by a vote of 50-45. Pirro had been serving in the role on an acting basis since May after previously co-hosting “The Five” on Fox News. The confirmation followed the approval of Emil Bove, a former Trump defense lawyer, to a U.S. appeals court. President Trump praised Republican senators for their efforts to approve his nominees, blaming Democrats for delays.
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In a recent episode, Fox News host Jesse Watters apologized to California Governor Gavin Newsom for insinuating he lied about a phone call with President Trump. This apology comes amidst a $787 million defamation lawsuit filed by Newsom, who accused Watters of misleadingly editing a video to create a false narrative. The lawsuit alleges Watters misrepresented the timing of the call to suggest the governor discussed troop deployment with Trump, when in fact, the call occurred earlier. Despite the apology, Newsom remains steadfast in his legal action, stating he looks forward to the court proceedings.
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In a surprising development, Vice President J.D. Vance made a brief trip to Montana to meet with Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan, and several Fox News executives. This secretive gathering, which occurred at the Murdoch family ranch, remains shrouded in mystery regarding its specific purpose. Amidst the meeting, Vance and his wife also found time for a hike at the Matador Ranch, showcasing the quick nature of the visit. This meeting occurred shortly after Vance helped de-escalate tensions between Trump and Elon Musk.
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During a recent segment on Fox News’ “The Five,” Greg Gutfeld suggested conservatives should reclaim the term “Nazi” in a similar manner to how Black people have reclaimed the “n-word.” Gutfeld’s remarks, which included the co-hosts jokingly using the word, immediately sparked widespread outrage, with critics accusing him of normalizing Nazism and being “beneath contempt.” This is due to the highly insensitive analogy used to deflect criticisms. The segment drew comparisons to past instances of Gutfeld’s increasingly extreme rhetoric, which has included calls for civil war and inflammatory comments against transgender healthcare providers.
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Following Donald Trump’s directive, Fox News and other MAGA media outlets have largely ceased discussion of Jeffrey Epstein. After the Justice Department released a memo stating there was no credible evidence of Epstein blackmail, many Trump-aligned figures initially expressed discontent. However, after Trump’s statement supporting Pam Bondi and discouraging further discussion of Epstein, prominent figures like Jesse Watters, Sean Hannity, and Greg Gutfeld fell in line, drastically reducing or eliminating mentions of Epstein on their programs. While some outside of Fox News have expressed dissent, the general trend among MAGA commentators has been silence or support for Trump’s stance.
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Amidst the controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein “no client list” memo, Fox News and its flagship morning program, *Fox & Friends*, seemingly heeded Donald Trump’s call to avoid the topic. Despite the weekend version of *Fox & Friends* warning Trump about sweeping the Epstein story aside, the Monday morning show ignored the issue, opting instead to focus on other less controversial news. This decision was a marked contrast to other news outlets, such as MSNBC’s *Morning Joe*, which extensively covered the story. Some within the MAGA media universe are also questioning whether the investigation into Comey and Brennan is a deliberate distraction from the Epstein case.
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John Q. Hosedrinker