News Hounds

Greenwald Skewers Fox, MacCallum on News Memo

Reported by Judy - Wed 10:15 PM

The producer of the Outfoxed documentary that helped start a cottage industry making fun of Fox News Channel took the channel to task Wednesday (Nov. 15, 2006) for fixing the news around its own propaganda aims and called on Rupert Murdoch to fire the author of a controversial leaked memo.

Fox Does, but Doesn't, "Cover" the War Crimes Complaint Filed Against Donald Rumsfeld in Germany

Reported by Melanie - Wed 7:57 PM

I haven't seen any coverage on Fox about the war crimes complaint filed in Germany against Donald Rumsfeld, have you? After a quick review of Fox's website I come up empty there too. But no one can accuse them of blacking that news out; they covered their tracks today (November 15, 2006) on that "business news" show, Your World w/Neil Cavuto. Problem is, the "coverage" was deliberately obscured and if you blinked, you missed it.

Roughly ten minutes into the show Cavuto headed to a break with this promo over a chyron that read, "Unknown Crimes?"

Geraldo goes waaaay off-script on upcoming OJ Simpson book and TV program

Reported by Chrish - Wed 7:39 PM

FOX News has already begun promoting the upcoming OJ Simpson book (published by News Corp. holding Harper Collins) and television program (to be aired on FOX television) in which Simpson is interviewed by News Corp. employee Judith Regan. The premise of the book and interview is Simpson telling how he "would have" commited the double murder of his ex-wife and her friend, IF he had done it. Geraldo was having none of this cutesy hypothetical and vowed to talk down the book and the program at every opportunity.

'Live Desk' Follows Script of Fox News Memo

Reported by Judy - Wed 6:30 PM

How closely did Fox News reporters follow the script laid out for them last Thursday (November 9, 2006) in that leaked memo obtained by Huffington Post? The evidence from Martha MacCallum's "Live Desk" for that day indicates she is one of the most loyal foot soldiers Fox News has. Updated with video

U.S. Marines Toys For Tots Turns Down Jesus Doll

Reported by Donna - Wed 4:47 PM

After teasing a few times on Studio B with Shepard Smith about some grumbling about a Jesus doll that was turned down by the U.S. Marine Reserves - the story finally came at the end of the show.

Apparently the U.S. Marines thought that they were too big an organization to take the chance on giving a Jesus doll to a Jewish child during the holidays. The Jesus doll quotes biblical versus.

Hannity Caves To Rangel

Reported by Ellen - Wed 12:10 PM

I wish more Democrats would take a clue from Charles Rangel who is a master at dealing with Sean Hannity with grace and humor. The result is that he has earned Hannity’s obvious respect and even, it seems, a measure of affection. You can watch Part 1 of his interview on Hannity & Colmes last night (11/14/06) on FOXNews.com. In Part 2, excerpted here after the jump, Rangel turns the tables on Hannity’s gotcha “yes or no” questions about whether or not Rangel will raise taxes. Hannity relents. Charles Rangel: Top dog again.

Sean Hannity Follows Up On Pledge To Sabotage Election Results

Reported by Ellen - Wed 12:50 AM

Sean Hannity did his best last night (11/14/05) to make good on his vow to thwart the will of the American people and undermine the results of last week’s election. Nancy Pelosi hasn’t even been elected Speaker of the House yet but Hannity and his sidekick for one segment, Karen Hanretty, were ready with shrill (in the case of Hanretty) and bombastic (in the case of Hannity) attacks on the so-called “liberal agenda” of the Democrats. The fact that America clearly and unequivocally voted for a Democratic agenda (liberal or not) was irrelevant to those two loudmouthed “patriots.” The same might be said of the FOX News producers who gave Hannity extra time to make his pitch. But Alan Colmes and Bob Beckel got the last laugh. Updated with video.

Dump on Murtha Day at Big Story

Reported by Chrish - Wed 12:36 AM

Two segments on The Big Story today 11/14/06 focused on the ethics questions and alleged earmarking records of Congressman John Murtha, who is up for the position of Majority Leader in the House come January. It's no secret that FOX loathes Murtha for his stance against continued involvement in Iraq and they are all too happy to provide a platform for criticism of him. Steny Hoyer, another possible leader, was not given any scrutiny and barely got his name mentioned except as an opponent to Murtha.

$2 Million Ransom Paid to Release FOX News Reporters Last August

Reported by Marie Therese - Tue 11:20 PM

WorldNet Daily reported today (November 14, 2006) that last August an unnamed American source paid $2 million in ransom for kidnapped FOX News reporter Steve Centanni and his cameraman, Olaf Wiig. The U.S. government issued its usual "we don't negotiate with terrorists" and, oddly, at the time FOX News remained curiously silent on the whole topic of the Centanni-Wiig abduction until it became impossible to stay quiet any longer.

Hear more from Judy on The Young Turks tomorrow

Reported by Chrish - Tue 9:31 PM

If you missed News Hound Judy on the Al Franken Show today, or if you just want to hear more, you can tune in to The Young Turks tomorrow morning (11/15) at 7:30 am EST. Judy's been making the rounds to discuss American media and her new book, Project Rewire. Pick up a copy or two for yourself and a friend - we all know someon who could use an eye-opening.

Fox News Memo: Look for Insurgents 'Thrilled' at Dem Victory

Reported by Judy - Tue 9:31 PM

Huffington Post has obtained an internal Fox News memo that instructs staff members to be on the lookout for any information from insurgents in Iraq, who, the memo says "must be thrilled" at Democratic victories in last week's midterm elections.

Bill O'Reilly And Michelle Malkin Have Post Election Hate Disorder

Reported by Deborah - Tue 9:25 PM

Bill O'Reilly and Michelle Malkin just let their hate fly last night on The Factor and viewers could really feel their pain. O'Reilly, self proclaimed Independent, exposed his tortured Republican soul with his opening attack on Pelosi asking how far left she would go? " She would like to cut and run with Murtha." He made sure to put extra emphasis on " cut and run" just to show his Republican allegiance and got so worked up, he mentioned Michael Moore twice. 11/14/06

FOX misidentifies Lamar Alexander as Democrat

Reported by Chrish - Tue 8:38 PM

Oops, they did it again!

On The Big Story today 11/14/06 the chyron beneath video of Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) presented him to viewers as a Democrat.

Hypocri$y Gone Wild: Rupert Murdoch Jump$ into Bed With Al Jazeera

Reported by Melanie - Tue 7:28 PM

Al Jazeera's English-language news channel is set to debut tomorrow (November 15, 2006). Per the article linked to above, it will be available on Sky TV (in Italy and Great Britain) which is owned by News Corp., the parent company of Fox News.

Fox News regularly vilifies Al Jazeera, claiming it is in essence a terrorist organization, fomenting hatred toward the United States.

Neil Cavuto Suggests The Big Three Auto Makers Are in Trouble Solely Because of Unions

Reported by Melanie - Tue 6:11 PM

Richard Wagoner, Jr., the CEO of General Motors, was a guest today (November 14, 2006) on Your World w/ Neil Cavuto. Wagoner and some of his cohorts met with President Bush (and Dick Cheney) today so much of the interview was about that meeting. Toward the end however, Cavuto wondered whether GM's unionized employees were the cause of its troubles:

Fox Discusses Journalism Ethics, Propaganda Network

Reported by Judy - Tue 5:42 PM

Laugh out loud funny. That's what it was Tuesday (November 14, 2006) when Fox News "journalist" Rebecca Gomez discussed such topics as the ethics of magazines using doctored photos and the right of an alleged propaganda network for terrorists to operate in the U.S.

Fox Uses Alert To Show Taped Presidential Coverage

Reported by Donna - Tue 4:10 PM

On Studio B with Shepard Smith today they showed a taped presidential spot and used it as a Fox News Alert.

There was nothing surprising - just the same old Bush-speak.

Uniting Christians and Muslims Through the War on Christmas (tm)

Reported by Janie - Tue 10:55 AM

November has arrived. The air is crisp, darkness falls early, leaves are changing, or as Scooter Libby put it so eloquently, "Out West, where you vacation, the aspens will already be turning. They turn in clusters, because their roots connect them."

In almost one week, families across the nation will gather with their loved ones to partake in large turkey dinners, enjoy football games, and give thanks for everything we've been given this year (including the Democratic takeover!)

Of course, November also means it's time to strap on our body armor, grab our guns and join the WAR ON CHRISTMAS (tm)! On "Special Report" last night (11/13) substitute host Jim Angle reported that Muslims and Christians can unite, but apparently only when Muslims respect and support Christian values.

Sean Hannity And Melanie Morgan Solemnly Vow To Put Partisanship Over Patriotism

Reported by Ellen - Tue 2:55 AM

Sean Hannity and Melanie Morgan demonstrated just what kind of “patriots” they really are as each vowed to thwart the will of the American electorate on last night’s Hannity & Colmes (11/13/06) by doing their best to block a Democratic Congress in order to promote their own partisanship and personal philosophy.

Dick Morris: John Murtha one step to the right of Cindy Sheehan

Reported by Ellen - Tue 1:04 AM

Dick Morris, the man who predicted that the aftermath of Katrina would provide a huge boost for President Bush, must be so disconsolate over last week’s election results that has has lost touch with the present as much as the future. Last night on Hannity & Colmes (11/13/06), Morris completely distorted Congressman John Murtha’s record in order to paint him as some kind of radical leftist. It’s easy to know what sparked that flight from truth: FOX News’ Uber-villainness Nancy Pelosi has just announced her support for Murtha as House Majority Leader. If Pelosi supports something, it must be bad - even if you have to make up the reason.