Fox News Insider Explains How Network Ended Up In Historic Lawsuit

Рет қаралды 66,733

Күн бұрын

John Ellis, former consultant to Roger Ailes and founder and editor in chief of News Items, talks to Katie Couric about the defamation lawsuit between Fox News and Dominion. Ellis explains how ratings were what drove Fox to promote the idea of the rigged election, how he thinks Rupert Murdoch is feeling right now, the fate of Fox News anchors and executives who participated in the alleged defamation, how likely it is that the case will go to trial or if the two sides will settle, and how a $500 million settlement would impact Fox.
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00:00 Why Fox News decided to promote the idea of a rigged presidential election
02:53 John Ellis shares his reaction to seeing internal emails and texts from Fox employees
04:15 Understanding of how important Fox News Channel is to Fox Corporation
05:44 How Fox News Anchors and producers did nothing to stop those making false assertions
07:11 How unethical was what Fox News did?
08:28 John Ellis surmises that Rupert Murdoch is feeling incredibly embarrassed by the lawsuit
09:25 Was Rupert Murdoch pulling the strings behind the scenes
10:45 Why Roger Ailes would not have let this go as far as it did
12:13 The leadership vacuum at Fox News caused by talent having too much power
13:01 What is the fate of Fox News anchors and executives that participated in the alleged defamation
15:00 Has Dominion presented enough evidence to prove Fox’s claims hurt their business?
16:04 Is this a textbook case of malice?
16:55 What might happen with the lawsuit filed by Smartmatic
17:32 How likely is it that the case will go to trial
18:38 If Fox has to make an apology, will it alienate their viewers?
20:13 How would a $500million settlement impact Fox
23:25 What does this lawsuit portend for the future of defamation cases?

Пікірлер: 240

@josephguberman6959 Жыл бұрын

Not only irresponsible but they did a lot of damage to this country.

@Africa-ky1bg Жыл бұрын

THE USA, THE UK AND AUSTRALIA. Rupert Murdock is HORRIFIC.

@latinaforever4892 Жыл бұрын

Disgusting!! 👹

@suereed3474 Жыл бұрын

I think the base has harmed the country, forcing politicians and news outlets to cater to them.

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Not complicated, fire Suzanne. Ya good ole boy.

@oneirishpoet Жыл бұрын

I am so disappointed to hear that Dominion settled with Fox News, those bastards really needed to be put through a public trial for all of the bullshit lies and propaganda they spread not just in 2020 but for the last 30 years. Murdoch and Ailes and the rest of those lying right wing fascists and corporate whores have caused more damage to this country than any foreign terrorist organization could ever dream of!

@carolynsumners4915 Жыл бұрын

Foremost, stop referring to Hannity, Ingraham, and Tucker as journalists. They are entertainers!

@robertmakins5070 Жыл бұрын

They're barely human.

@SandyDechert Жыл бұрын

And pathetic entertainers, at that.

@tommac5411 Жыл бұрын

Propagandists is a better term.

@davidlombard3167 Жыл бұрын

Death by a thousand stabs. Faux can't write a big enough check. Dominion and Smartmatic are doing the world a favor.

@tommac5411 Жыл бұрын

Humiliated? Please. Money trumps all truth for Murdoch.

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Citizens United decision by Justice Roberts claimed speech=money. Sick and untrue.

@NickRichards Жыл бұрын

I trust he's correct, Murdock cares about money so it figures he's embarrassed about losing it.

@williambernstein4313 Жыл бұрын

Great interview Katie!

@tajr.2650 Жыл бұрын

Fox created this monster. Money is hell of a drug.

@latinaforever4892 Жыл бұрын

👹👿😈👿😈👿👹😈👿😈👿👹🔥🔥🔥🔥

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

The settlement proved so. This civil suit should have gone forward and televised.

@kellyyork3898 Жыл бұрын

Greed.

@NickRichards Жыл бұрын

No. We created this monster. Fox is just one of the many companies that profit from this End Justify The Means streak in USA. Consequences are under appreciated here unfortunately.

@fgcpeak9591 Жыл бұрын

so are your pretty eyes

@regalalien Жыл бұрын

Best objective analysis of the business ethos at Fox I've seen or heard. Nevertheless, I don't completely buy John Ellis's argument that (a) Fox was only serving the ratings God in their "reckless disregard for the truth" and that (b) the viewership determines the programming rather than the other way around. Quite independent of the viewership and the ratings God, I believe that people like Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham have a long history of spouting despicable opinions on many matters that are today standard fare at Fox: white supremacy, immigration, LGBTQ, and fascism (starting from Hannity's radio days and Ingraham's college days.) Not only that, these three have actively shaped the worldviews of some one-third of Americans and made them think that their base instincts of racism and hatred are perfectly normal and acceptable. The Fox News echo chamber and feedback loop is more than a little to blame for some of the worst excesses of Trump and his administration.

@wmp3346 Жыл бұрын

What do expect from a Roger Ahole guy?

@danishskiwarehouse Жыл бұрын

It’s an evil symbiosis

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Lies continue in Faux Primetime. 4b in cash is their slush insurance fund. 🛑Vote accordingly and boycott. Blue For True 🗣️🌊

@JamimaMagallanes Жыл бұрын

Fox made liars like Trump, Rudy G, Powell and entertainers Hannity, Ingraham, Tucker and Pirro win

@AE-bh5zs Жыл бұрын

Fox created the monster. Feeding the monster is just a cost of doing business.

@jeanlandreville4169 Жыл бұрын

Enjoying this interview with a Fox insider … 100% Accurate that the inmates were running the asylum

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

No enjoyment. Then fore Suzanne!!! Despicable in a democracy. UK/Australia exported Murdoch Family. Cease and desist. Period. $787m is NOT speech. Repeal Citizens United and remove Clarence.

@carrow1057 Жыл бұрын

Nope. It was Trump and his goons who put the idea in their heads and inspired the insurrection.

@matthewm2139 Жыл бұрын

This "insider" lost me when he started defending Murdoch. Murdoch could have stopped this at any time, and he didn't. This guy is just protecting his rich friends by paving over their horrible acts.

@NickRichards Жыл бұрын

70% of revenue is cable subscription. That Is where Fox News is weakest.

@gailremp8389 Жыл бұрын

Sometimes trying to figure out what might happen days before the settlement…defending someone from a different time doesn’t mean approval now… Is there one of us in this world that has not gone into a relationship, say, in our love, life, and thought a fantastic person, and they turned out to be horrid. And when you’re asked years later, how to describe what happened, you might say, at that time that person was wonderful. And I still respect X for that. But they turned out to be creeps. It’s an acknowledgment by this gentleman that there can be two ways of looking at the same individual. So try not to get too lost in the narrative. Just take it all and keep it in Balance with the entire conversation. That’s my two cents worth for the day Well four cents worth with inflation. Ha ha. Blessings.

@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282 Жыл бұрын

I have to agree. don't defend a mogul that is willing to do anything-including lying constantly-to keep the green in.

@kimberlyrub4920 Жыл бұрын

Really want the News to report FACTS

@abocas Жыл бұрын

This guest gave exactly the reasons why Dominion should NOT settle!

@charlesputnam9370 Жыл бұрын

We live in a society who's number one value is self-aggrandizement. Honor, wisdom, truth and reason are not important anymore. We worship these rich people it's so disturbing that self awareness is not considered important. The only thing that matters is wealth but so few people have it. We are broken morally as a society.

@fgcpeak9591 Жыл бұрын

those things never were when big money is concerned.

@SandyDechert Жыл бұрын

Terrific interview, Katie! Makes the mainstream news media look like kindergarteners!

@NickRichards Жыл бұрын

True, so happy she's interviewing deeply on relevant topics.

@adams0020 Жыл бұрын

What a fantastic interview. John Ellis comes across as very down to earth and honest/pragmatic, he can explain the real consequences of what is happening. Jon Stewart said in an interview with CNN a couple weeks ago, when asked about discussing politics with conservative Republicans: "If you can find an honest broker, you can work with them." John seems to be a perfect example.

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Does this guy even Like America? Ellis and Salazar or Jenna related, hope not. Constant daily lies are not normal in a democracy.

@SorrentoShore Жыл бұрын

I love Katie. She rocks

@NickRichards Жыл бұрын

She shows us how it's supposed to be done. Experienced career journalist, doing their thing.

@gregwilliams7210 Жыл бұрын

this explains so much. i used to like Fox but when they started lying to us the viewers i started to dislike the channel, now their on air personalities make my stomach turn

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Can't go 30!seconds in Late night without an untrue. 1/3 being duped, nightly.😰

@frankwhite3659 Жыл бұрын

I consider myself progressive and I used to be hooked on the factor,,but after 9/11 the entire Fox crew veered sharply to the right and that's when shit went bananas over there.

@coreyham3753 Жыл бұрын

FOX is not news, it is straight out propaganda.

@lynnegackstetter2779 Жыл бұрын

The FCC needs to take away Fox's license to Broadcast.

@locadisa Жыл бұрын

I'd like to hear them apologize!

@almathees3839 Жыл бұрын

Fox News took a page out of the movie “ Network!” ratings at all cost. Now it’s cost in punitive damage.

@rglongr Жыл бұрын

“Low as you can go.” The basic business model of most things MAGA.

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Down from a third to a quarter. Half Independents. People have the Power, Murdoch's know this and ignore, bc they Can.

@heliosmou Жыл бұрын

No way. Dominion has the high ground and moral imperative not to settle. You know, principles. Apologies are meaningless.

@GB-TX Жыл бұрын

As of today, that segment on the fate of Fox News anchors, sure didn't age well!

@marybranning8392 Жыл бұрын

If they only fire employees because they don't have large audiences and keep some of the worse liars (carlson and hannity) what have they learned? Good interview.

@sheckyfeinstein Жыл бұрын

Nuttin’, Honey.

@thestraightroad305 Жыл бұрын

If there is an apology, it better be a real one. Not what passes for “apologies” these day, that do not take any responsibility or admit “we were wrong to do x,y,and z.” That would take honesty and humility and I don’t know if they have the strength of character do do it properly.

@jpchristy6363 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating! You asked all the questions I had--and more! And John Ellis was wonderful.

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Clueless and broken

@chuckhall5347 Жыл бұрын

If you don't like what Fox News did make sure you are not sending them money every month when you pay your cable bill. Fox makes most of their money from cable subscriptions, not advertising. It might be a sacrifice on your part but it will be worth it. Cut the cord.

@funyscribe Жыл бұрын

Isn't the real issue that Fox was ever let itself name its entire broadcast/cable channel be called Fox News, when the truth is they have a true Fow News show that appears each day a few times when the rest of the programming is editorial not news. And editorial is really generous...

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Other commentators are successful with the truth

@deborahbaratti7683 Жыл бұрын

I am SO disappointed that Dominion settled and didn't take their case to court! I was so hoping the judgment amount would put Fox out of business. I surely do wish the FCC would yank Fox' license! Just get them off the air already!

@petesmitt Жыл бұрын

you are living in a leftist fantasy world..

@sharonneal8643 Жыл бұрын

Great interview with John. Thanks for having him on to tell what he knows of the Fox organization. It's a shame the trial didn't proceed, but what has come out is so damaging to the network. I plan on plastering this on social media as much as possible. I hope others will, too. This is only the beginning, and who knows, could be the end of Fox.

@snooks73 Жыл бұрын

I found this interview to be illuminating.

@mtdebh20 Жыл бұрын

They have groomed their audience to be uninformed.

@beckythao9820 Жыл бұрын

Great interview Katie! I'm watching this now after Dominion has agreed settle and this Interviewee was on point with his prediction on how things were going go, just a great interview!

@adammarshall6257 Жыл бұрын

Buddy doesn't mention one thing, what if the networks decide to drop Fox News over this.

@Ana84262 Жыл бұрын

Mr. Neil is the greatest…this guy is good too….

@Jcarolinajr Жыл бұрын

Insightful! Brava! Bravo!

@lynnegackstetter2779 Жыл бұрын

Yet they made a statement that they are dedicated to honesty in journalism even though they have to pay Dominion 3 quarters of a billion dollars.

@suereed3474 Жыл бұрын

It was all about the money.

@kevinbwillson4161 Жыл бұрын

Katie wonderful new look for you better lighting cleaner background you stayed in frame looking Lovely as you are. Oh and a wonderful episode too

@uniquelyyoucoachingcoachg4158 Жыл бұрын

Viewers aren’t “stolen.” They have itching ears. So they go where people are telling them what they want to hear.

@briester510 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@carmacn2129 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Katie. This has helped me finally make sense of it all. Appreciate your interview.

@joepublisher166 Жыл бұрын

I've always said it and I'll repeat myself for emphasis, "For anyone who would plant themselves in front of Tucker Carlson's show, that says more about the viewer than it does Tucker Carlson and NOT in a positive manner."

@mjinba07 Жыл бұрын

Though the most egregious anchors deserve proportionately severe consequences, and the whole industry should see examples made of them, the notion that they could take the full brunt is very strange. Obviously the buck should stop at management, regardless of what Ailes would have done had he been there. Sleazy, craven media production is one thing, abetting sedition is something else entirely.

@vidalbelen775 Жыл бұрын

FOX people are TRAITORS !!

@uqox Жыл бұрын

18:38 I greatly appreciate his quiet honesty. This is exactly how I see it. Fox remains the key source of the kind of news a significant portion of the US wants. I do not see them leaving because of an apology. Think how all smokers know that smoking is the leading cause of heart and lung disease...and yet they smoke. It's like that. Fox is smoking and there are people who, given all the evidence in the world, won't stop watching/smoking no matter how ill it makes them.

@latinaforever4892 Жыл бұрын

Agree 🤦🏻‍♀️

@thestraightroad305 Жыл бұрын

Great analogy.

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Individual rights have nothing to do with public Malice. Smoking/vaping by and large only hurts the individual and IS restricted. Terrible analogy, environmental harm would be a better comparison as it affects us All.

@sbartdbarcelona44 Жыл бұрын

Great episode. Thx

@danweaver3581 Жыл бұрын

Not just living to the audience- but - radicalizing the audience- blowing topics out of proportion from reality.

@ccchag6087 Жыл бұрын

I’ll mention Brian Williams. There has to be repercussions. Fire them all and start over. Credibility lost. Murdoch family, credibility lost. If I watched their news shows I would be looking for someplace else to get my news.

@jeaniemobley9863 Жыл бұрын

the narrative of the network allowing their purported 'news' to be what the audience wanted is outrageous and an example of the tail wagging the dog infotainment. They should be forbidden to ever use the word 'news' again.

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

When will election and poll workers get their 787million?

@liamcullen3035 Жыл бұрын

Very informative! Thanks for presenting us with this perspective on Fox’s unethical practices.

@dougmiller4251 Жыл бұрын

on deck... Smartmatic

@sheckyfeinstein Жыл бұрын

If ya can’t compete, cheat!

@lizannewhitlow1085 Жыл бұрын

I’d forgotten about the attempted pie in the face. 🥧

@connieclark4769 Жыл бұрын

The same could be said about all news teams all of the time.

@bernardliu8526 Жыл бұрын

Everything boils down to ratings, i.e., money.

@Yourereallykiddingme Жыл бұрын

SMARTMATICS 👍👍👍👍

@KidVolcano Жыл бұрын

While I very much doubt Rupert Murdoch would taste good, I think the image of turning him on a spit would help with deterrence.

@lyndachaufty4716 Жыл бұрын

So, is Newsmax more conservative than Fox ?

@lynnegackstetter2779 Жыл бұрын

Does Rupert really believe that his new wife married him for his looks?? Gross 🤢🤢🤢

@rosemariebredahl9519 Жыл бұрын

My fury about how settling kept the sum total of Dominion's evidence from becoming a permanent court record was mitigated when I heard a Dominion representative add to their claim that "the world can see that Fox lost" (which doesn't ring true for me given the "weasel words" in Fox's post-settlement statement + how many of their viewers' confirmation keeps them willfully ignorant") because he added the valid points that: A) If even one case isn't settled, the evidence can still be fully documented, plus B) Many of the witnesses are the same for all related lawsuits & many of these folks are being threatened & variously traumatized. Thus trying to limit a full trial to one big effort (& maybe settling the others) may limit the collateral damage to innocent parties willing to testify honestly. Food for thought. Nevertheless, I do feel strongly that it's crucial for Fox to be court-ordered to publish retractions following a trial for at least one of their liable lawsuits. In fact, if Fox published retractions prior to subsequent lawsuits, might that weaken other victims' cases?

@ellisonpearson3387 Жыл бұрын

‘you know where you stand in a HELL HOLE’. -Spinal Tap

@Carla_Jay Жыл бұрын

FoxNews also should bring an appology and the truth in an permanent tickker at their channels

@Fibonacci53 Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately they settled!

@rebeccacamacho-sobczak4282 Жыл бұрын

When the audience wants what it wants and they own your network, that is super dangerous.

@rossvoss5408 Жыл бұрын

We live in a corporate capitalist system. Whenever has truth, ethics or journalistic integrity ever gotten in the way of making money?

@bernardliu8526 Жыл бұрын

The raison d’etre of any media outlet is to report news, not spread lies.

@USVIsteve Жыл бұрын

Now that Fox has settled for almost $800 million I’d like to see a follow up interview with this guy who seems to be in spite of being an ex fox employee an entirely reasonable human being.

@pauldockree9915 Жыл бұрын

It is Audience News and Fox Viewers? Sounds sensible. Madness

@ianmuir3640 Жыл бұрын

If he worked at Fox News I won’t believe a word he says

@frankwhite3659 Жыл бұрын

This dude is Larry King incarnate.

@pcavesnana Жыл бұрын

I miss Walter Cronkite.

@carrow1057 Жыл бұрын

It was a craven attempt to hold onto RW power. Come on Katie.

@joe47771 Жыл бұрын

well he was wrong about the firings

@gailremp8389 Жыл бұрын

… sigh…

@julianlockwood3040 Жыл бұрын

I always wonder .. do Republican voters see this stuff? I’m a Dem but I would absolutely vote the other ticket if my side attempted a coup !

@sujoy1968 Жыл бұрын

This guest resembles Larry King!

@rdbeckett590 Жыл бұрын

Well that isn’t how news works….Let’s just call it what it is sensationalize journalism which means nothing

@fancypantsism Жыл бұрын

So. $787,500,000 divided by 3,000,000 Fox viewers is $260.50 each. That’s not bad. Especially when you know that Fox is subsidized by the other 87,000,000 cable subscribers who don’t watch it through unfair carriage fees. To the tune of $20 a year. So 87,000,000 times $20 a year = $1,740,000,000. I think they can afford to keep their current line up and business philosophy.

@billwatt3775 Жыл бұрын

Cousin It is AI

@lgfisher8463 Жыл бұрын

What about his 2 daughters with Wendy?

@juscholten4248 Жыл бұрын

I think it is dribble.

@angeline12345 Жыл бұрын

😂😂 seriously 😐. Bull !

@lyndachaufty4716 Жыл бұрын

FOX gets 90 of its income from cable fees. We all pay 2 to 3 times more for this channel Fox than any other except ESPN. THERE ARE 90 MILLION VIEWERS OF CABLE. .EACH OF US PAY ABOUT 3 A MONTH FOR THIS PROPAGANDA

@lyndachaufty4716 Жыл бұрын

He is wrong about no place else to go for this kind of "news" . But they can go to Newsmax.

@joepublisher166 Жыл бұрын

Katie, I won't even watch my local FOX news station because it has the no integrity word "FOX" in the title.

@jamesthomas8313 Жыл бұрын

Foxy news

@elizabethdaniels51 Жыл бұрын

Struggling with this interview.

@rebeccabrockway8258 Жыл бұрын

Katie: you're so pretty:)

@thomaswilson7441 Жыл бұрын

Katie, dear Katie, what other cable show makes fun of Mika Brzezinski our friend, and Joe Morning Joe ‼️‼️‼️‼️😉☺️🥺😆😉😚😚😚

@jannichi6431 Жыл бұрын

Ellis related to Jenna? Repeating an audience misinfo is no excuse for lies, creating a chicken/egg senario🌪️🕳️👺ugly. If viewers are so powerful, then boycott FUX Entertainment.

@lisabrightly Жыл бұрын

Fox news deserves every bit of it!

@catfunksfabulousfinds Жыл бұрын

I don't Dominion will settle. They want the truth to come out on FOX.

@user-ho3dk4pg8y Жыл бұрын

Dominion shouldn’t settle. The truth needs to be hit home over and over and over again, to undo some of Fox lies that were told over and over and over again. To settle has the perception that both parties were at fault.