The Fox News Detox
A powerful strategy for 2024 and beyond
Hello everyone!
Let’s talk about a way to shift Republicans’ political beliefs without ever challenging their views.
Here are three smart tips for the week, plus two inspiring quotes, and one useful resource.
3 Smart Tips
Last week, a New York Times/Sienna College Poll cast a spotlight on something many of us have sensed but hadn’t quite quantified: the profound sway Fox News holds over its viewers, particularly in their support for Donald Trump. Specifically, they found that 100% of Republicans who mostly consume conservative media support Trump compared to only 79% of those who mostly consume mainstream media.
This result is consistent with a 2017 study by political scientist Gregory Martin and economist Ali Yurukoglu. Back then, the researchers determined that watching Fox News not only shifted voters’ attitudes to the right, but made them more likely to vote for Republican candidates. Perhaps most striking was the impact Fox has on Democrats. In 2000, for example, they determined that 58% of Fox viewers who were initially Democrats changed to supporting the Republican candidate by the end of the election cycle.
More recently, political scientists David Broockman and Joshua Kalla conducted an experiment that showed conclusively that the link between Fox News viewing and support for Republicans isn’t mere correlation, but causation. In 2020, the researchers paid a group of Fox News viewers to watch CNN for a month to see if the media they watched had an impact on their views. The result was clear. In comparison to a randomly matched group who continued to watch Fox as usual, the CNN viewers became more supportive of voting by mail, less likely to believe Joe Biden wanted to defund the police, and evaluated Trump and other Republican politicians more negatively. In other words, they changed their attitudes and beliefs in significant ways.
Taken together, these findings suggest that if we could change the viewing habits of Republicans, we could shift their political opinions and behavior. But how?
At the personal level, most of us have more power to influence loved ones than we think. While you aren’t going to get your friend or family member to change the channel by telling them Fox News is brainwashing them or spreading misinformation, there are things you can do to make a difference.
Here are three tips for getting people to reduce their exposure to right-wing media—without picking a fight.
Find new activities to enjoy together: Strengthen your bond and indirectly reduce their media consumption by engaging in shared activities. Whether it's grabbing a coffee, enjoying a leisurely walk, attending a local sports event, or playing a board game, these moments can create a natural distraction from the usual news cycle. Beyond just diverting attention, these experiences can deepen your relationship, providing a solid foundation for open, non-confrontational exchanges of views.
Suggest alternative non-news media: Recognizing that you can't always be there to suggest an activity, encourage your loved ones to diversify their media diet with non-news options. Introduce them to television shows, podcasts, or even video games that could capture their interest without the political charge. Whether it's the thrill of a live sporting event, the drama of reality TV, the intrigue of a well-produced podcast, or the fun of a new video game, these alternatives can provide enjoyable respite from constant news consumption.
Initiate a channel change: Sometimes, a straightforward request can be the most effective strategy. If they watch their preferred news source in your presence, let them know it makes you uncomfortable. Express your feelings calmly and explain that the negative portrayal of groups you identify with (like Democrats or progressives) feels unfair or hurtful to you. Suggest switching to more neutral news channels like ABC or CBS, which may be seen as less partisan than others like CNN or MSNBC. This approach respects their autonomy while gently nudging them towards more balanced media consumption.
2 Smart Quotes
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
— Malcolm X
“The effect of the mass media is not to elicit belief but to maintain the apparatus of addiction.”
— Christopher Lasch
1 Smart Resource
A few years ago I stumbled across a book that helped me understand Fox News a lot better. Foxocracy: Inside the Network’s Playbook of Tribal Warfare by Tobin Smith, a 14-year Fox News contributor and guest anchor. Smith explains how the channel intentionally manipulates public opinion with rigged “debates” and “identity porn.” Among other things, he lays out the five emotional pillars of the Fox phenomenon:
Existential white tribal fear
Bitter hatred and feelings of disrespect
Blasphemous outrage
Visceral bitter resentment
Victimhood and blame of “elites” and “others”
Admittedly, the book is at times a little overwrought, but it’s probably the best insider’s account of what it’s really like behind the scenes and provides a pretty solid analysis of the psychology behind its success.
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That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading!
Remember, Smart Politics offers regular free webinars for progressives who want to be more persuasive in their political conversations at home, in their communities, and on the campaign trail. You can sign up for upcoming events on Eventbrite.
Speaking of events, our next FREE webinar is Wednesday, March 27 at 8 pm ET. Sign up now to learn why it’s not too late to bring your loved ones back from MAGA and what you can do to help them come home. This 90-minute webinar introduces the four-step approach developed by cult expert Steven Hassan for reaching people in high control organizations and will show you how to get started immediately.
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