Under oath, Murdoch concedes Fox stars 'endorsed' lies about 2020 election : NPR
By: David Folkenflik (NPR)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
February 28, 20235:00 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition
David Folkenflik
In a $1.6 billion defamation suit, Dominion Voting Systems argues that Fox Corp. bosses Rupert Murdoch (left) and Lachlan Murdoch (right) were deeply involved in shaping editorial decisions at Fox News.
In the heat of the moment, right after Election Day 2020, media magnate Rupert Murdoch knew that the hosts on his prized Fox News Channel were endorsing lies from then-President Donald Trump about election fraud.
And he did nothing to intervene to stop it.
Instead, Murdoch, the network's controlling owner, followed the lead of the network's senior executives in sidestepping the truth for a pro-Trump audience angered when confronted by the facts.
Asked whether he could have told Fox News' chief executive and its stars to stop giving airtime to Rudy Giuliani — a key Trump campaign attorney peddling election lies — Murdoch assented. "I could have," Murdoch said. "But I didn't."
That's the picture that emerges in evidence presented Monday by the voting-tech company Dominion Voting Systems in a blockbuster $1.6 billion defamation suit against both Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corp.
Dominion's legal team is presenting only the evidence it believes will propel its case; Fox Corp. is arguing that the parent company and its top executives are wrongly being held responsible for reporting on the baseless assertions of a president and his advisers.
"Dominion's lawsuit has always been more about what will generate headlines than what can withstand legal and factual scrutiny," according to a statement released by a spokeswoman on behalf of Fox Corp. and Fox News.
The Fox statement called Dominion's stance "extreme," citing free speech concerns, and characterized the voting-tech company's legal position as "a blatant violation of the First Amendment" that would "prevent journalists from basic reporting."
To counter that defense, Dominion's legal filings summon the words of seemingly authoritative figures: Fox Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch and his top corporate advisers.
Speaking under oath, Murdoch confirmed the suggestion by a Dominion lawyer that Fox was "trying to straddle the line between spewing conspiracy theories on one hand, yet calling out the fact that they are actually false on the other."
Asked by a Dominion attorney whether "Fox endorsed at times this false notion of a stolen election," Murdoch demurred, saying, "Not Fox, no. Not Fox. But maybe Lou Dobbs, maybe Maria [Bartiromo] as commentators."
The lawyer pressed on. Did Fox's Bartiromo endorse it?
Murdoch's reply: "Yes. C'mon."
Fox News host Jeanine Pirro? "I think so."
Then-Fox Business Network host Dobbs? "Oh, a lot."
Fox News prime-time star Sean Hannity? "A bit."
Pressed whether they endorsed the narrative of a stolen election, Murdoch finally gave in: "Yes. They endorsed."
Dominion initially sued the network and its parent company separately. Fox Corp. has tried to sidestep the case, saying the decisions were left up to the executives and journalists within Fox News.
Similarly, Murdoch sought to distinguish between the two in his sworn remarks. When asked whether Fox News embraced the idea of election fraud, he pointed instead to his own stars: "No. Some of our commentators were endorsing it."
Fox Corp. argues that Dominion has produced no evidence showing that Rupert Murdoch; his son Lachlan Murdoch, Fox Corp.'s executive chairman; or other top corporate executives played a "direct role" in the decisions to air election-fraud claims. In their own filing Monday, Fox Corp.'s attorneys say the communications presented by Dominion that involve Fox executives are not directly related to the 115 allegedly defamatory statements at issue in the case.
"After obtaining millions of documents and taking dozens of depositions— including depositions of Fox Corporation's CEO, Fox Corporation's Chairman, Fox News's CEO, Fox News's President, and dozens of producers, on-air talent, and executives—Dominion has produced zero evidentiary support for its dubious theory," Fox Corp.'s filing claims.
Even so, Fox Corp.'s chief legal officer, Viet Dinh, acknowledged under oath that executives in the corporation's chain of command have an obligation "to prevent and correct known falsehoods." (Fox Corp.'s and Fox News' legal defense is handled by a team of outside lawyers led by Dan Webb, a highly regarded Chicago-based corporate litigator.) Some Fox News journalists debunked false election-fraud claims in reports. And star Tucker Carlson sharply questioned the basis for Trump's outspoken advocate Sidney Powell on his program. But Fox News never corrected the record on all the baseless allegations that unspooled on its airwaves.
Emails and other communications introduced into the case by Dominion reflect deep involvement by the Murdochs and other Fox Corp. senior figures in the network's editorial path.
Each Murdoch speaks roughly daily to Fox News chief executive Suzanne Scott, she testified. (While Lachlan Murdoch confirmed his daily chat with Scott, Rupert Murdoch said it was only once or twice a week.)
"I'm a journalist at heart," the elder Murdoch, who is just two weeks shy of his 92nd birthday, said in his deposition. "I like to be involved in these things."
He had been resolute about defending Fox News' call of the key state of Arizona for Joe Biden on election night — Nov. 3, 2020. Murdoch testified that he could hear Trump shouting in the background as the then-president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, told him the situation was "terrible."
To which, Murdoch said he replied, "'Well, the numbers are the numbers.'"
Yet a panic set in as pro-Trump viewers abandoned Fox News following the Arizona call. And when hosts scrambled to promote Trump's false claims of fraud, Fox News executives seized on it as a valuable strategy, according to the evidence presented by Dominion, even as at least two of Fox's corporate directors and a top corporate official took exception.
By Nov. 5, Hannity was on the air saying, "It will be impossible to ever know the true, fair, accurate election results — that's a fact."
And Dinh was warning Lachlan Murdoch, Scott and a top deputy that "Hannity is getting awfully close to the line with his commentary and guests tonight." The next day, Rupert Murdoch warned that if Trump refused to concede graciously, "we should watch Sean especially and others don't sound the same."
Scott forwarded his recommendation to the top executive over prime-time programming, Meade Cooper. Along with another executive, she canceled Pirro's show that weekend over fears that the "guests are all going to say the election is being stolen and if she pushes back at all it will be just a token," according to the filings.
On Nov. 7, Fox projected that Biden had won the election. The elder Murdoch told his son that Fox could have gone first once more, as it had in Arizona; "I think it's good to be careful," Lachlan Murdoch responded. "Especially as we are still somewhat exposed on Arizona."
On Nov. 8, Rupert Murdoch emailed Scott to say that Fox News was "[g]etting creamed" by CNN. Under oath, he later said that he, Scott and Lachlan Murdoch held "a long talk" about "the direction Fox should take" that day in response to the falling ratings. They decided together to give play to Trump's baseless assertions. "[T]his was big news," Murdoch said in his deposition. "The President of the United States was making wild claims, but that is news."
The next day, Scott wrote to Rupert Murdoch that Fox needed to retain "the audience who loves and trusts us. ... [W]e need to make sure they know we aren[']t abandoning them." And she wrote to Lachlan Murdoch that the network would "highlight our stars and plant flags letting the viewers know we hear them and respect them."
By Nov. 13, Raj Shah, a senior vice president at Fox Corp., was advising Lachlan Murdoch, Scott and Dinh of the "strong conservative and viewer backlash to Fox that we are working to track and mitigate." He said that positive impressions among Fox News viewers "dropped precipitously after Election Day to the lowest levels we've ever seen."
The next day, Lachlan Murdoch warned Scott that a Fox News anchor's coverage of a pro-Trump rally was "[s]mug and obnoxious"; Scott responded that she was "calling now" to remedy. (Anchor Leland Vittert's final appearance on Fox was in January 2021; he is now an anchor for the fledgling cable news outlet NewsNation.)
Fox News hosts would play a key role in stoking energy ahead of Trump's Jan. 6, 2021, protests that became a bloody siege of the U.S. Capitol.
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, an anti-Trump Republican, sits on Fox Corp.'s board of directors. He said he told the Murdochs "that Fox News should not be spreading conspiracy theories." And he testified that he advised them that the post-election period represented an inflection point in which Fox could pivot away from its prior support for Trump.
Rupert Murdoch played an integral role in advising his two major U.S. newspapers — the New York Post and The Wall Street Journal — to editorialize against Trump's false claims. Trump's campaign lawyers, Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, were no longer welcome on-air by mid-December.
On Jan. 8, Murdoch told a former executive that "Fox News [is] very busy pivoting. ... We want to make Trump a non person."
Fox Corp. board director Anne Dias wrote to the Murdochs on Jan. 11, 2021. "I believe the time has come for Fox News or for you, Lachlan, to take a stance. It is an existential moment for the nation and for Fox News as a brand."
Rupert advised Lachlan, "Just tell her ... Fox News, which called the election correctly, is pivoting as fast as possible. We have to lead our viewers which is [] not as easy as it might seem."
Behind the scenes, however, Fox News chief executive Scott had been wooing Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder, major advertiser and pro-Trump conspiracy theorist, according to Dominion's filing. Scott sent Lindell a personal note and a gift while encouraging Fox shows to book him as a guest to "get ratings."
On Jan. 26, Tucker Carlson had Lindell on his show. Rupert Murdoch told Dominion's attorneys he could stop taking money for MyPillow ads, "[B]ut I'm not about to."
An attorney for Dominion suggested, "It is not red or blue, it is green."
According to the filing, Murdoch agreed.
Karl Baker and Mary Yang contributed to this story.
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I think it's hilarious that rupert threw all of his on air talent under the bus.
Same. The more honest ones have already left, because they couldn't stomach the lies. These guys, though. They deserve to be outed by their boss as liars.
So. . . when is a 'firing offense' committed at Fox News? Can Tucker, "get on with his life" now and just piss off?
Here is a thought: With these legal admissions. . .what kind of class-action suit can be brought against FOX NEWS and the Murdoch Family over the deaths of Washington, D.C. police and. . . Ashli Babitt?
You think fox is liable because a black Israelite killed a Washington cop?
What? You have a link? And for the record, what do I care about a black Israelite without 'story' to back it up? How is this connected to Ashli Babitt (family)?
That’s the only capitol policeman murdered that I know of. Curios what relation it could possibly have to fox
Sean, come on, don't play games now. Ashli Babitt killed in the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. The Capitol Police officers that died from their injuries and involvement in fighting the insurrection, and last but not least, Rupert Murdoch admitting his 'air' was hosting bad information for the 'masses' of its viewers about election fraud (when there as no such thing)?
How much circumstantial evidence to you really, really, really need to make a connection? You 'fault' democrats for simply getting out of bed each day for 'hopely destroying' the national economy. Rhetoric, I know, but still you do something resembling it.
No police died on Jan 6th or thereafter because of injuries
Have it your way. Now how about Ashli Babitt, did she die on January 6, 2021 in the Capitol?
ashli committed suicide by cop. too bad, so sad. better luck in the next life, Q-nut.
That's a 'cold' assessment there, devangelical! Since Sean as done a 'drive-by' I will offer you the question if you please:
as cold as ashli is... LOL
SCOTUS needs to shed at least 2 mackerel snappers before balance is restored in the universe.
Oooooooooo Thou name is: ICEMAN!
[deleted]
But that can't be, CNN and the liberal media are the only ones that lie. /S
Fox News has always been my moral compass.
Whatever they are for, I'm 180 degrees opposed to.
And that apparently was the wrong move. Because he might not be in a court room under oath if he had done the right thing
rupert needs to lose his citizenship over his part in instigating the insurrection, then he needs to be deported.
And set to lose a buttload of money for his company.
I saw a clip of some FOX pundit that wanted to talk about the liars on his network, but then stated he was told by upper management not to do it. FOX viewers have achieved mushroom status.
... and I found it.
FOX's media competitors are shredding them online, on rwnj talk radio, and cable TV. media talking heads have moved past the defamation lawsuit amount and are now speculating on the devastating punitive damages and the pending domino effect of shareholder lawsuits that will now step thru a wide open door of future legal ramifications. future control of FOX by rupert is now in play. looks like it really sucks to be the propaganda arm of the GOP now.
Damn. I just bought popcorn, but probably not enough.
Media Buzz's Howard Kurtz. I remember him from CNN, before he moved over to Fox News. I have always had mixed feelings about that career choice.
FOX is one of the last refuges for those that will say/do anything for a paycheck.
expect the legal blizzard to start next week. everyone that can is going to want to carve a piece off that golden calf. I seriously question rupert's mental capacity and business acumen at this point.
I was watching CNN Tonight (Alisyn Camarota) last week and one guest was Frank Luntz, the "conservative" pollster more or less. and something he stated stayed with me as profound. The panel discussion turned to trans-people and Frank stated something to the effect: (Paraphrase.)
'The way to see politics and policy-making is who has the numbers to get passage. Trans-people, they are minuscule in society, they don't have the numbers - go with the 'winning' faction.' (
It's a bad paraphrase, but the point is spot on.
Frank Luntz, it struck me then and now, was making a DISMISSIVE point to Alisyn and the rest of the panel, a collection which had Josh Barrow (Homosexual) and another male homosexual sitting at the table if I remember it correctly, that transpeople have little to insufficient political 'power' to make law; therefore, republicans ESPECIALLY are not interested in what people who lack political 'clout' want.
Very profound. Very revealing. Reached deep into a 'mindset' about what matters to conservatives- winning and 'green.'
punitive damages, shareholder lawsuits, loss of journalistic credibility and advertisers...
oh wait, FOX won't lose advertisers, the "I believe anything on FOX" demographic is valuable...
And if it can be attached to Rupert Murdoch as knowing there was no there-there, a negative has been caused to Ashli Babitt who died following the 'script' of Fox News lies. What relief can the Babitt family or parents seek?
Fox News, The most trusted news in America... /s
They report, injecting bleach may or may not be healthy and/or cure Covid, but certainly the President is never wrong. Of course, all medical recommendations and common sense refute such insanity, but that's not Fox News's problem. Fox News reported, you decide whether to inject bleach or not and if you do and die, don't bother crying at their door, that's on you...
They report, massive election fraud by scheming Democrats, corrupt voting machine companies and illegal brown rapists and drug mules stole the election from the poor wittle victim Donald. Of course, there was ZERO evidence of any widespread election fraud, but that's not Fox News's problem. Fox News reported, you decide whether to believe them and head to the capital with the intent of violently stopping what would normally be a peaceful transfer of power, and if you do and end up in prison for being such a gullible fucking moron, don't bother crying at their door, that's on you...
They report, President Joe Biden's administration would require Americans to radically reduce their red-meat consumption by up to 90% under Biden's climate policy. Of course, Biden had no plan to require Americans eat less red meat and reducing meat consumption was not mentioned anywhere in the administrations climate policy. Fox News reported, you decide whether to lash out at the Biden administration get your panties in a bunch over another false accusation and deepening your hate for Democrats based on lies.
Fact: Fox is oversimplifying the narrative, and though violent crime increased, the rate of nonviolent crime such as burglary and larceny dropped.
Fact: While full data is not in yet for 2021, past trends show the homicide rate has increased nationwide.
Fact: Policies including bail reform and not prosecuting petty crime improve public safety, and a larger police force does not mean less crime.
Fact: This narrative that Soros is controlling DAs is an antisemitic conspiracy theory with no basis in reality.
Fact-checking Fox News’ narrative on “America’s Crime Crisis” | Media Matters for America
Fox News despicable lies are nothing new, they are simply the symptom of sick in the head rightwing religious conservatives who have retreated from reality into their own warped fantasy universe where they can redefine the world turning serial liars and adulterers into new Messiahs, turning shit into gold, turning lies into truth, turning a free and fair election into a 'stolen election' and turning a violent attempted insurrection into a peaceful patriotic tour of the capital. They have no shame so don't expect many Fox fans to admit that Fox lies to them no matter how much evidence is shoved in their faces because if they did they would have to admit what total and complete fucking gullible idiots they are. These are folk who are deeply invested in the lie so they can't afford to admit they're wrong because that would give a 'win' to their opponents and they would have to admit they are losers and their alternate reality is nothing but a fools fantasy.
I never heard that one about Biden forcing us to stop eating red meat.
But I don't watch Fox News, either
Fox News disseminates something Stephen Colbert once coined on the Colbert Report, "truthiness".
"Truthiness is the belief or assertion that a particular statement is true based on the intuition or perceptions of some individual or individuals, without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts."
Fox News knows what it's average rabid rightwing religious conservative viewer wants to hear so they give it to them on repeat, facts, logic, evidence and intellectual examination be damned. Even using a word like "intellectual" to your average Fox News viewer will almost certainly evoke in them a mindless frantic rage. And of course, if you ever dare point it out to them and contradict their religious conservative fantasy reality you're now the condescending liberal elitist asshole that will surely be put to death when their white ripped Jesus returns.
I remember when he coined that word. That was during the Bush II years when Bush was trying to make the case for invading Iraq
... the trumpster shopping channel.
Neither had I. No wonder so many people had their knickers in a twist over Cracker Barrel introducing vegan sausage. They thought it was the beginning of the end of bacon.
Which raises an interesting question. Cracker Barrels tend to thrive in areas populated largely by Fox viewers. That's kind of their target demographic. Does Fox really want to go making life harder for businesses that market to conservatives?
Of course, it was wishful thinking on the part of some conservatives trying to gaslight the new president or make him 'stumble.'
Selling 'sensationalism' to keep proverbial asses in their 'appointment television' seats. Full disclosure, I was a Fox News 'junkie' for its first ten years. Hannity & Colmes and O'Reilly Factor were my appointment television every evening, and I missed them deeply when I when to evening shifts. I 'walked away' permanently when in 2007 both shows partnered to try and take down Barack Obama using repetition and heavy-handed tactics. How in the "h" anybody with good sense did not know that Obama was being reputationally and professionally trashed simply because he dared to seek the office held by only white men and then got jacked for eight years as president just because 'they' could make money bouncing $hit off him (similar, but not exactly) like other presidents is beyond me.
Fox News is toxic. Even worse, they don't seem to give a damn (no firings over 'toxicity').
So when some conservative 'yahoos' try to tell me I don't know conservatism, or can't understand 'them' they're full of 'it.' What I won't tolerate is blatant, across the board, lying—nobody should accept that!
Even that foolish anchor: Judge Jeanine Pirro compromised her professional integrity to lie about the 2020 election. Now, she is demoted. How screwed up are things when you can't trust a judge to tell you what's factually and legally correct?
An 'article' here on NT the other day claimed that (insert name of city here) was/had been being controlled (and ultimately destroyed by) by a 'Soros funded DA' with absolutely no explanation as to what the fuck that meant.
Both sides are asking for a summery judgement. I believe that it will be sent to trial.
No matter the outcome it proves Fox isn't a news agency, they are liars, money over honesty and finally ''LEADER OF THE SHEEPLE''
The sheeple will never get it. The wolf can tell them to their faces that it's a wolf, and they'll still swear it's a sheep dog, and laugh at anyone who says otherwise.
Life on the Fox News 'FARM'? CEO Rupert Murdoch, has just flat-out stated in so many words, in court, and under oath he allowed the manipulation of his viewers. And yet those viewers come here and try to 'indict' liberals.
Of course, it is possible that some Liberal 'boss' is going to come out as #1 or #2 manipulator any 'minute' down, because-blah! that's how D.C. politics 'roll.'
FOX news won't get hurt in the long run, their audience is too fucking stupid.
Wow. Irony much?
The lack of self-awareness is amusing, isn't it?
From Murdoch's lips to Ashli Babbitt's family ears. Sue Fox New. See if it comes in court that Ashli B. was brainwashed by Fox News anchors. Don't pity Murdoch!
And now Thunder Mouth (Trump) is attacking Rupert Murdoch and defending the liars on Fox.
CLASSIC.
I'll pop the corn. This is getting amusing
I'm really looking forward to the FOX sourced news stories that will appear on NT in the future.
Fox still has a long way to go to be as full of shit as CNN and MSNBC
No they don't. FOX News has jumped the shark! And the shark got 'em, too!
As a conservative are you really telling us, you will continue to tune into FOX New for which: The lies, the mind manipulation, or both?!
Since I rarely watch fox it seems you are just pulling things out of your ass again. Just like CNN and MSNBC.
First, I would kindly ask you to keep my ass out of your mind. Second, since, as you write, you "rarely watch FOX" how the -h- do you intend to prove you know how much $hit they push back and forth on a routine basis?!
Thirdly and lastly, this one is evidence some conservatives are just peddling talking points they have 'heard' through the 'air,' because as we have been told so often that it can make one nauseous, some conservatives don't need "no" stinking sources for their views. /s
If some conservatives are legit about not watching FOX News and not bothering to read source materials, then some conservatives don't know anything about FOX News that they can share with others.
Thanks for the word salad.
It's a suitable comment and you're welcome!
Next time I would appreciate a little Russian dressing on the side.
Are you entitled to (mo') Russian dressing?! Sir, that is the question! Now before we get 'clocked' I recommend we return to the topic.
IMO Fox, MSNBC and CNN all start with a news nugget and spin things with an "expert" or two who "analyze" the nugget and it quickly devolves into an opinion show. They all do it. And if they say they don't they are lying. They all accuse the other guy of it and lately they have whole segments about how bad the other side is. Reminds me or the Hatfields and Mccoys or Democrats and Republicans. I see that as being pretty divisive and it has helped drive us to where we are today. Other than a show or two on fox that is mostly news (Brett Baier comes to mind) it is all opinion. The issue (IMO) is too many people take it as news and not entertainment. So I like to get the facts someplace else and then occasionally stop on a cable news show as I channel serf to see how they are spinning the facts. It is very entertaining seeing them spin things so much it is hard to believe they are even talking about the same news event. I am sure not going to get all excited by anything I see there, I just laugh at the fools that do
I also like a balsamic vinaigrette when I make a word salad. Enjoy.
This comment makes a great many assumptions. Including the notion that I have a word salad that I care to feed you. Not! As for the facts you "get" from "someplace else -break open the 'neck' of a good champagne and we can celebrate you telling this group what/when/where those facts are located. You Report; We're Decide.
In addition, I disagree with your analysis of CNN and MSNBC, because facts to tend to stand pact (0+0=0) or lean to either side (conservatives have rights and so liberals should have rights too). Every last one of us are feeling creatures not 'Spocks, plural' so we should express truth in a meaningful way. We should not express and dispense our truth without recognition of passion, because at some level, every level actually, we are passionate.
And frankly no one can truly live an ideology out fully anyway. Nobody. To pretend to perfectly live in an idealistic world is a lie straight out of "H."
Did you hear Kellyanne Conway attack the press for being dishonest ON FOX NEWS.
playing to those too fucking stupid to change the channel...
Confirmation bias is a problem I don't see a solution for.
No. Some have the intellect to overcome it. Many don't.
With major news outlets pushing Opinion columns over actual news columns it will be that much more difficult. Also don't forget the new IA chat bots being used in browsers that just flat out lie. They are being created to anticipate the "the next word" not to fetch data as a user would naturally think.
Yes, Fox News viewers by the millions are comfortably 'numb' to the handling they receive. That is, these people are not stupid, per se. They are INVESTED in right-wing politics and they follow it where-ever it 'goes.' Because it allows them to have the so-called "freedom" to disparage whoever the "h" that they choose not to allow to fit in to the 'circle of friends.'
Reading the above, Fox News puts me in mind of "mean kids" on some high-school tv drama. 'They' decide who is in the "in-crowd" and who will forever be kept out.
By the way, note the 'members' whose voices are missing from this 'round' of discussion with their usual spread of 'garbage' commentary negatively mocking and being condescending of 'every' liberal. Rupert Murdoch ("the Game") has exposed "the game" and how he permits his anchors to turn the network's millions of viewers into willing (paying) saps!
But they will be back on the NEXT article where a democrat/liberal steps on his or her 'dick.'
They're all over on my Rush urination seed. A blast (of stink) from the past has shown up and claiming that we're all being "petty"
I'll check it out!
funny how those that are so offended by that seed were the same people defending those soldiers that pissed on the dead in iraq or afghanistan several years back. you really think that's fishstick?
"if we don't talk about it, it never happened"
gee, how's that working out for the FOX devotees so far?
yeah, like every other time they've slammed their dicks in the door of hypocrisy...
The new Chairman of the Board of Fox News.
Hey! Did I miss something? Were the Fox News anchors involved in developing a fraudulent narrative deposed under oath or in court? Why are they not 'on the record'?
The actual jury trial does not even begin till mid April. What we know already comes from depositions and pre-trial pleadings. Since Fox has refused to settle the case is moving forward. Fox News hosts like Lew Dobbs, Janine Pirro, Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity will probably be forced to testify at the trial...
Big mouth 'freaks' masquerading as critical thinkers while lying to their audiences for $ash, power, and influence and did I mention: $CASH?