Bonus Podcast - Presidential Debate - 1st Showdown Between Harris and Trump

Fox News hosts blamed ABC and the moderators for Trump’s disastrous performance in the last presidential debate. Trump called into “Fox & Friends,” and threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcasting license. The cast of The Five melted down two days in a row. Sean Hannity tried to terrify his audience while lying about positive economic data. The network also got major milage out of a comment Sen. Bernie Sanders made on “Meet the Press.” This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

The folks at Fox desperately tried to spin Trump’s disastrous debate performance. Dana Perino and Brit Hume openly admitted that Trump had a bad night. Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters and Sean Hannity refused to accept reality. It was a night of dashed expectations, delusions and broken dreams for Fox News. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Plastic straws! Fake accents! Non-existent bans on fracking! A local Fox News affiliate debunked its parent company! Nebraska Walzes for Trump haven’t even met Tim Walz! Fox News hosts pretended Kamala Harris has plummeted in the polls even when she hadn’t. Jesse Watters bragged about sounding like Russian propaganda. Vladimir Putin would be so Proud. Steve Doocy repeats a hateful myth about American Muslims and Pete Hegseth was shocked when an Israeli American said that Israelis want a return of every hostage, and end to the conflict and the end of Benjamin Netanyahu’s failed strategy. I threw in a silly impression at the very end. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

A video breakdown of Trump’s last town hall on “Hannity,” on September 4, 2024. Juliet Jeske of Decoding Fox News breaks down Trump’s incoherent ramblings. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Fox News was desperate for some kind of scandal to help boost Trump’s presidential campaign. Fox tried to boost RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump, Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter to Jim Jordan, Kamala Harris had an interview with her running mate, Joe Biden somehow controlled Trump’s DOJ, and finally Kamala Harris stranded astronauts in space. Absolutely nothing stuck but that wasn’t going to stop anyone at Fox from insisting all of these stories were life and death important. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

A crazy old man named Donald J. Trump called into the last night of Fox News’ coverage of the DNC. When the first show hung up on him he called in to the next show - the worst comedy show on television. Jessica Tarlov broke down his meltdown. Jesse Watters made a racist statement about crime. Sean Hannity waited for a riot that never happened. Brit Hume referred to women who suffered sexual assault and serious pregnancy complications as “abortion speakers” Multiple Fox News hosts whined about how the Dems have treated Biden. Nancy Pelosi proved she’s a boss on PBS. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Kat Abughazaleh, journalist and influencer - Mother Jones, Zeteo and formerly Media Matters chats with Juliet Jeske of Decoding Fox News. We talk about covering Fox News, Abughazaleh’s journey to become a media journalist, stand up comedy, misogyny, women in media, the Democratic Party’s relationship with Arab voters and the Democratic Party’s many challenges navigating the conflict in Gaza. Abughazaleh is currently an influencer with credentials at the DNC. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Kamala Harris is a copycat of Trump but also a communist. Will Cain tried to pretend Trump came up with the Child Tax Credit. Greg Gutfeld exaggerated Tim Walz’s DUI arrest from 1996. There was a Casserole Controversy! Trump advisor and Project 2025 author made up a bunch of nonsense about Black and Latino Americans. Tammy Bruce encouraged Joe Biden to turn into Dark Brandon at the DNC and Stuart Varney went rogue - Democrats are good for the stock market. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

The folks at Fox News are still freaking out that Kamala Harris is starting to beat Trump in some polls. Last week was “Let’s Swift Boat Tim Walz” week as multiple Fox News hosts accused the Minnesota Governor of stolen valor even though he served in the National Guard for 24 years. Brian Kilmeade invented Chinese conspiracy theories. Jesse Watters tried to force his Black co-host to wear a “White Dudes for Harris” cap. Laura Ingraham attacked Tim Walz for being an assistant coach. Judge Jeanine Pirro made up crime stats and a Fox guest went rogue. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe

Fox News tried to create a smokescreen of deception to hide the rise of Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. Fox was outraged by an anti-Christian opening ceremony that wasn’t about Christianity, and a trans athlete who wasn’t trans. Fox also claimed a crowd cheered Trump at a convention for Black journalists when in reality they laughed and jeered at him. Judge Jeanine Pirro claimed white dudes are only supporting Kamala Harris out of white guilty and Dana Perino claimed Democrats are trying to “superglue” Trump to Project 2025. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit decodingfoxnews.substack.com/subscribe