Too bad the US media isn’t giving more attention to this story. From what I read Turnbull also included the UK in the list of countries where the Murdochs are damaging democracy because of their ownership of The London Times and The Sun. Murdoch played a role in pushing Brexit with lies about its benefits. We keep being told that Rupert only really cares about business and financial issues but the fact that Brexit makes no economic sense the better explanation is his bias against people who are wealthy white people.
Back in the 90s when Republicans threw false accusation after false accusation against the Clintons in an attempt to impeach Bill, public opinion was strongly against what they were doing. Even after Republicans finally got proof of some actual wrongdoing — his affair with Monica — and used that go justify impeaching him, the public was strongly against what them. Now after decades of right wing propaganda with little pushback from the media a significant percentage of Americans are willing to believe any lie, no matter how insane or vicious, about Democrats.
I just hope Rudd and Turnbull lead the way in weakening the influence of the Murdochs. My only concern is that Rudd may be too busy in his new role as Uber driver to spend much time on that.😊
Thank you for all of your articles,especially this one. The Murdoch Crime Family is the biggest danger to the future of our democracy and everyone aligned with it should be dealt with it accordingly.
Murdoch is only a part of Right Wing Media. I know of no connection, beyond philosophical, between Murdoch & Sinclair Broadcasting. Is there a connection between Murdoch & the Mercer Family publishing enterprises?
The very concentration in Australia that poses the problem equally allows for the solution.
In the US, the diversity of the Right Wing Media hydra, makes “cutting off” one head relatively useless. You often have published on CNN trumpeting RW memes. Even the utter elimination of Fox won’t change that.
no connection i know of between Murdoch and Mercer, other than I think Murdoch inspired lots of rich, misguided conservatives to use vast wealth to undermine democracy. but yes, your point is a good one re: "cutting off head" of Fox News, the right-wing media industry is truly a vast, billion-dollar enterprise
It would be a revolutionary start if FOX, the hydra’s head, got nailed in Australia (here too of course) but my hopes are few. In my more naive days I figured good will overcome evil and the Fox crowd’s views would maintain certain moral boundaries for the good of the country. Boy, was I wrong. These days, between the craven power of the congressional and constituent Rs trumpeting the big lie backed by Murdoch, et al, I fear for future of the US. Never in my 73 years did I imagine I would say that, breaks my heart. Thanks again Eric, for highlighting this today. So important!
Murdoch's enterprises succeed in the ratings which, sadly, is mistaken for delivering truth. The free market propels it much the way cigarettes held favor for so long. The addicted can't be expected to quit without help, the kind of help which treads on freedom of speech to be effective.
it's an interesting quesetion abt the marketplace etc. yes, Fox News is top rated cable 'news,' but it's audience is relatively modest to the size of the country. and Tucker Carlson basically has no major advertisers left, but Fox News can make billions off the feels that carriers like Comcast pay the network.
Eric, funny, I was just thinking about this very issue yesterday and was gonna tweet you about it — and, voila!, your column is dedicated to the issue today. Great minds think alike.
What I was thinking about specifically ... Not sure if this is appropriate or not, but couldn't Biden call a meeting with Rupert and/or his son who's more or less taking over and say, hey, come on, you're ruining our democracy here. I realize this sounds a little Pollyanna-ish, but you get my drift. Or, I suppose, some Democratic lawmakers could do what Australia is doing and try to put them to task. Only problem is that they'd have zero support from the ReTrumplicans, which would make the case difficult.
As I've always said, the country that is most hurting America isnt necessarily the Russians, rather our allies the Australians — or, at least l, one Australian family.
Too bad the US media isn’t giving more attention to this story. From what I read Turnbull also included the UK in the list of countries where the Murdochs are damaging democracy because of their ownership of The London Times and The Sun. Murdoch played a role in pushing Brexit with lies about its benefits. We keep being told that Rupert only really cares about business and financial issues but the fact that Brexit makes no economic sense the better explanation is his bias against people who are wealthy white people.
Back in the 90s when Republicans threw false accusation after false accusation against the Clintons in an attempt to impeach Bill, public opinion was strongly against what they were doing. Even after Republicans finally got proof of some actual wrongdoing — his affair with Monica — and used that go justify impeaching him, the public was strongly against what them. Now after decades of right wing propaganda with little pushback from the media a significant percentage of Americans are willing to believe any lie, no matter how insane or vicious, about Democrats.
I just hope Rudd and Turnbull lead the way in weakening the influence of the Murdochs. My only concern is that Rudd may be too busy in his new role as Uber driver to spend much time on that.😊
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/former-australian-prime-minister-kevin-rudd-mistaken-as-uber-driver-235891
Thank you for all of your articles,especially this one. The Murdoch Crime Family is the biggest danger to the future of our democracy and everyone aligned with it should be dealt with it accordingly.
i think that's true, hands down
Thank you.
Needed--tighter libel laws that hold Screwpert and his fellow liars accountable.
Mr. Boehlert,
Murdoch is only a part of Right Wing Media. I know of no connection, beyond philosophical, between Murdoch & Sinclair Broadcasting. Is there a connection between Murdoch & the Mercer Family publishing enterprises?
The very concentration in Australia that poses the problem equally allows for the solution.
In the US, the diversity of the Right Wing Media hydra, makes “cutting off” one head relatively useless. You often have published on CNN trumpeting RW memes. Even the utter elimination of Fox won’t change that.
no connection i know of between Murdoch and Mercer, other than I think Murdoch inspired lots of rich, misguided conservatives to use vast wealth to undermine democracy. but yes, your point is a good one re: "cutting off head" of Fox News, the right-wing media industry is truly a vast, billion-dollar enterprise
It would be a revolutionary start if FOX, the hydra’s head, got nailed in Australia (here too of course) but my hopes are few. In my more naive days I figured good will overcome evil and the Fox crowd’s views would maintain certain moral boundaries for the good of the country. Boy, was I wrong. These days, between the craven power of the congressional and constituent Rs trumpeting the big lie backed by Murdoch, et al, I fear for future of the US. Never in my 73 years did I imagine I would say that, breaks my heart. Thanks again Eric, for highlighting this today. So important!
Fox News has been in Australia fro many years. Fortunately has few viewers although the Murdoch SKY News is almost as bad
Murdoch's enterprises succeed in the ratings which, sadly, is mistaken for delivering truth. The free market propels it much the way cigarettes held favor for so long. The addicted can't be expected to quit without help, the kind of help which treads on freedom of speech to be effective.
it's an interesting quesetion abt the marketplace etc. yes, Fox News is top rated cable 'news,' but it's audience is relatively modest to the size of the country. and Tucker Carlson basically has no major advertisers left, but Fox News can make billions off the feels that carriers like Comcast pay the network.
That's why I got rid of the cable box and now stream instead. Tired of being forced to pay for channels I wouldn't watch!
I can’t absorb the good stuff after that! America wake up! FOX was never news and always noise!
Eric, funny, I was just thinking about this very issue yesterday and was gonna tweet you about it — and, voila!, your column is dedicated to the issue today. Great minds think alike.
What I was thinking about specifically ... Not sure if this is appropriate or not, but couldn't Biden call a meeting with Rupert and/or his son who's more or less taking over and say, hey, come on, you're ruining our democracy here. I realize this sounds a little Pollyanna-ish, but you get my drift. Or, I suppose, some Democratic lawmakers could do what Australia is doing and try to put them to task. Only problem is that they'd have zero support from the ReTrumplicans, which would make the case difficult.
As I've always said, the country that is most hurting America isnt necessarily the Russians, rather our allies the Australians — or, at least l, one Australian family.
The reason I now have a paid subscription is to help fight against what the MURDOCKS are doing to our world.
the Murdoch media mafia is very active in the UK too
indeed! I'd put them in third place in terms of dealing w/ Murdoch cancer behind US and Australia.