Fox News is SO MAD about things that aren’t happening. Again.

by Therese Odell, posted in Uncategorized

It is a Tuesday, friends.

I understand this cat. I feel this cat. This cat is me.

I have a homework assignment for you: please call your Fox News-watching parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, and cousins and let them know that President Biden is not taking their beef away and that the government is not handing Vice President Harris’ book out to migrant children as “welcome gifts.” These are lies that Fox News itself is having to walk back because we live in a time when the Right is constantly looking for something to be outraged by since it’s hard to be outraged by an improving economy and the lessening of a deadly pandemic occurring on a Democratic President’s watch.

Let’s break down what happened, first with the Harris book story.

A Getty photographer took some photos of a Long Beach, California migrant detention center’s cots which have been set up with some basic essentials for children: toothbrushes, toothpaste, a backpack, shoes, blankets, and a book. The book on the cot in the foreground of the photo happened to be Vice President Harris’ book for children, Superheroes are Everywhere. However, intrepid viewers will notice that the cot in the background that also has some items on it does not have the same book.

The Washington Examiner story that first noticed the Harris book and ran a screaming headline about it, also notes in the second paragraph that: “A White House official told the Washington Examiner that the book was part of a citywide donation effort to collect books and toys for the children and that Harris was not aware of it.” So, a single copy of the book was donated to a shelter by some private entity. That’s it. That’s the entire story.

But of course, the story doesn’t end there, because this is something the Right Can Be Outraged About, so Fox News ran this headline and subhead: “Kamala Harris’ office stated ignorance of how volunteers, corporate sponsors chose her book for migrant kids; The inclusion of the book raises questions over who is providing funding for the welcome packs,” along with a cropped photo of just the one cot in question. And soon, Fox News’ Peter Doocy is asking Jen Psaki in the White House Press Briefing room: “Every migrant child being brought to a shelter is being given a copy of [VP Kamala Harris’] children’s book. Do you know why that is and if she’s making any money off of it?”

NO, BECAUSE NONE OF THAT IS HAPPENING. But that doesn’t stop the outrage machine because they lack critical reading skills:

Fox & Friends was forced to walk back this bullshit this morning, but even while doing so, they still planted the seed of “Well, what if this thing that didn’t happen DID HAPPEN? WHAT THEN? HMMM?”

As for this beef story, it begins with President Biden’s announcement that he wants to cut emissions by 50%–52% by 2030, a plan whose details have not been released.

That didn’t stop The Daily Mail, though, who ran this completely bonkers headline: “How Biden’s climate plan could limit you to eat just one burger a MONTH, cost $3.5K a year per person in taxes, force you to spend $55K on an electric car and ‘crush’ American jobs.”

WELL, THAT IS ALARMING! Especially if you don’t read the next bullet points, which includes:

  • But he [Biden] is yet to release any firm details on exactly how such a plan will affect the daily lives of ordinary Americans 

Huh.

So what happened here is to upset its readers, The Daily Mail dug up a study from Michigan University’s Center for Sustainable Systems that points out that cows are our least sustainable source of food (which is not exactly debatable as they require more land and create more methane than any other food source), and suggests that to lower one’s carbon footprint, one could cut back on beef. The study also notes that one does not have to become a vegetarian to make an impact as both pork and chicken have substantially smaller carbon footprints than cows, but interestingly, this seems to be left out of The Daily Mail piece which basically screams THIS maybe possibly could be IN THE BIDEN PLAN!!!

And guess who took this non-story and ran with it?

What’s that I hear? The sound of the Outrage Machine being plugged again?

Oh, and for fun, here’s Larry Kudlow upset that we will be forced to drink “plant-based beers”:

So then comes Monday, and Fox News anchor, John Roberts is forced to admit on-air that they lied:

I mean, Fox News clutched their pearls over this story for five days straight, so it’s cute that he attributes a single “graphic” and a single “script” but OK.

So Fake News does exist, it just exists on the Fox News Network (and OANN and the Sinclair Networks and The New York Post and The Washington Examiner and The Epic Times and The Daily Mail and and and …)

But this is what happens when your entire business and political model is based on trying to make people afraid and angry: if there’s nothing to be angry and afraid of, you have to make shit up to be angry and afraid about. And then, over time, the only people you’re going to have left in your party are conspiracy theorists and the very gullible who are stupid enough to believe that a President of the United States would try to forcibly take their hamburgers away from them.

ALL OTHER TV NEWS

A harbinger: Disney is shutting down 18 of its networks in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong as they try to shuttle more people onto Disney+ instead.

Pose returns for its final season this weekend, and the creator wants you to know that ending after three seasons was always the plan.

U.K. papers are reporting that The Crown is struggling to cast Prince Andrew, and The Crown is all, “NUH-UH.”

TV Line thinks these eight network shows are safe from cancelation. The only one that gives me pause is SEAL Team, only because it sounds like the cast is begging for a renewal.

This story about a Russian man trapped on a Chinese boy-band competition series and desperate to be voted off but his dourness appealed to the viewers and they kept him on feels like a metaphor.

Going Viral

Today’s big COVID news is that President Biden is expected to announce that new CDC guidelines will say that fully vaccinated people will no longer need to wear masks outdoors. Good. This is just common sense.

HOWEVER. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD CALL CPS ON PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE MASKED IN PUBLIC. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS TURD?

First of all, children are not eligible to be vaccinated, and, though they do not usually become dangerously sick from COVID, they are still able to transmit the virus. People under 30 are the biggest vector of the virus in this country right now and if parents choose to protect their children by having them wear masks in public and outside? THAT IS NOT CHILD ABUSE.

Secondly, you don’t know what that mask is for. That child could have allergies or asthma or cancer or an auto-immune disease or any number of other respiratory and/or immune disorders for which a mask provides protection. Also, maybe it was just me, but I found I was a lot less sick last year thanks to the mask mandates. Zero colds. I had, maybe for the first time in my life, zero colds last year. If people want to continue wearing masks in public even after this thing is defeated? I don’t blame them and I might join them.

Third, isn’t it funny how conservatives are so excited to police what other people do with their bodies, but if a private business decides to refuse service to someone because they are wearing a MAGA hat or even a mask, THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WHEREVER THEY WANT!

And in conclusion, fuck Tucker Carlson.

Of course, it’s just par for the course for a political movement that can be summarized thusly:

This is a real article, by the way, and not a parody. And it is exactly as stupid and immature as it sounds.

Meanwhile, in Miami, an expensive private school has told their teachers they will effectively lose their jobs if they get vaccinated because, and I’m not making this quote up: “… It appears that those who have received the injections may be transmitting something from their bodies to those with whom they come in contact.” Insanity.

Over in the United Kingdom, it’s been reported that in a meeting to discuss the possibility of a third lockdown, British Donald Trump reportedly said in a meeting that he’d rather see “bodies pile high in their thousands.”

In good (?) news, Vanderpump Rules is set to start filming again now that COVID restrictions are loosening up in Los Angeles.

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • Physical will debut on Apple TV+ on June 18.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale: One Burning Question, an aftershow for The Handmaid’s Tale launches tonight on Hulu.
  • Vivo, Lin-Manuel’s animated film, is coming soon to Netflix.
  • Special returns on Netflix on May 20.
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan will premiere on Starz on July 18.
  • Domina will debut on Epix on June 6.
  • Yasuke will premiere on Netflix on August 29.
  • Oslo will premiere on HBO Max on May 29.
  • The Boy from Medellin will debut on Amazon on May 7.
  • Move to Heaven will premiere on Netflix on May 14.
  • The Naked Director returns on Netflix on June 24.

R.I.P.

Bernie Kahn, A sitcom writer who wrote on Bewitched, Get Smart, Maude, The Addams Family, The Love Boat, Tabitha, Three’s Company, and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, among many others. He also wrote some screenplays, including The Barefoot Executive.

WATCH THIS

The Handmaid’s Tale: June strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader in the fourth season. Hulu

Fatma: A non-descript house cleaner goes on a murder spree looking for her missing husband in this dark Turkish drama. Netflix

The Real Housewives of New York City: How They Got Here: The ladies return next week. Here’s a handy recap of previous seasons — or you can read my recaps which I am still frantically trying to catch up with before the premiere of season 13. 9 p.m., Bravo

Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Michael Che, Roger Daltrey, Nicki Nicole & Lunay
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers: Ed Helms, Michelle Buteau, Sen. Jon Tester
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Kyle MacLachlan
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden: Zion Williamson, Years & Years
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live: Dave Grohl, Billy Porter
  • The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
  • Watch What Happens Live: Stephanie Hollman, D’Andra Simmons
  • A Little Late with Lily Singh: Justin Baldoni

TUES. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Pooch Perfect

(new)		 black-ish

(new)		 mixed-ish

(new)		 Big Sky
(new)
CBS NCIS
(new)		 FBI
(new)		 FBI: Most Wanted
(new)
CW The Flash
(new)		 Supergirl
(new)		 Local
FOX The Resident
(new)		 Prodigal Son
(new)		 News/Local
NBC Young Rock
(new)		 Kenan
(new)		 This Is Us
(new)		 New Amsterdam
(new)

 

Oh, and for fun, here’s Larry Kudlow upset that we will be forced to drink “plant-based beers”:

So then comes Monday, and Fox News anchor, John Roberts is forced to admit on-air that they lied:

I mean, they ran that story for five days straight, so it’s cute that he attributes a single “graphic” and a single “script” but OK.

So Fake News does exist, it just exists on the Fox News Network (and OANN and the Sinclair Networks and The New York Post and The Washington Examiner and The Epic Times and The Daily Mail and and and …)

But this is what happens when your entire business and political model is based on trying to make people afraid and angry: if there’s nothing to be angry and afraid of, you have to make shit up. And then, over time, the only people you’re going to have left in your party are conspiracy theorists and the gullible.

ALL OTHER TV NEWS

A harbinger: Disney is shutting down 18 of its networks in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong as they try to shuttle more people onto Disney+ instead.

Pose returns for its final season this weekend, and the creator wants you to know that ending after three seasons was always the plan.

U.K. papers are reporting that The Crown is struggling to cast Prince Andrew, and The Crown is all, “NUH-UH.”

TV Line thinks these eight network shows are safe from cancelation. The only one that gives me pause is SEAL Team, only because it sounds like the cast is begging for a renewal.

This story about a Russian man trapped on a Chinese boy-band competition series and desperate to be voted off but his dourness appealed to the viewers and they kept him on feels like a metaphor.

Going Viral

Today’s big COVID news is that President Biden is expected to announce that new CDC guidelines will say that fully vaccinated people will no longer need to wear masks outdoors. Good. This is just common sense.

HOWEVER. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD CALL CPS ON PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE MASKED IN PUBLIC. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS TURD?

First of all, children are not eligible to be vaccinated, and, though they do not usually become dangerously sick from COVID, they are still able to transmit the virus. People under 30 are the biggest vector of the virus in this country right now and if parents choose to protect their children by having them wear masks in public and outside? THAT IS NOT CHILD ABUSE.

Secondly, you don’t know what that mask is for. That child could have allergies or asthma or cancer or an auto-immune disease or any number of other respiratory and/or immune disorders for which a mask provides protection. Also, maybe it was just me, but I found I was a lot less sick last year thanks to the mask mandates. Zero colds. I had, maybe for the first time in my life, zero colds last year. If people want to continue wearing masks in public even after this thing is defeated? I don’t blame them and I might join them.

Third, isn’t it funny how conservatives are so excited to police what other people do with their bodies, but if a private business decides to refuse service to someone because they are wearing a MAGA hat or even a mask, THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WHEREVER THEY WANT!

And in conclusion, fuck Tucker Carlson.

Of course, it’s just par for the course for a political movement that can be summarized thusly:

This is a real article, by the way, and not a parody. And it is exactly as stupid and immature as it sounds.

Meanwhile, in Miami, an expensive private school has told their teachers they will effectively lose their jobs if they get vaccinated because, and I’m not making this quote up: “… It appears that those who have received the injections may be transmitting something from their bodies to those with whom they come in contact.” Insanity.

Over in the United Kingdom, it’s been reported that in a meeting to discuss the possibility of a third lockdown, British Donald Trump reportedly said in a meeting that he’d rather see “bodies pile high in their thousands.”

In good (?) news, Vanderpump Rules is set to start filming again now that COVID restrictions are loosening up in Los Angeles.

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • Physical will debut on Apple TV+ on June 18.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale: One Burning Question, an aftershow for The Handmaid’s Tale launches tonight on Hulu.
  • Vivo, Lin-Manuel’s animated film, is coming soon to Netflix.
  • Special returns on Netflix on May 20.
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan will premiere on Starz on July 18.
  • Domina will debut on Epix on June 6.
  • Yasuke will premiere on Netflix on August 29.
  • Oslo will premiere on HBO Max on May 29.
  • The Boy from Medellin will debut on Amazon on May 7.
  • Move to Heaven will premiere on Netflix on May 14.
  • The Naked Director returns on Netflix on June 24.

R.I.P.

Bernie Kahn, A sitcom writer who wrote on Bewitched, Get Smart, Maude, The Addams Family, The Love Boat, Tabitha, Three’s Company, and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, among many others. He also wrote some screenplays, including The Barefoot Executive.

WATCH THIS

The Handmaid’s Tale: June strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader in the fourth season. Hulu

Fatma: A non-descript house cleaner goes on a murder spree looking for her missing husband in this dark Turkish drama. Netflix

The Real Housewives of New York City: How They Got Here: The ladies return next week. Here’s a handy recap of previous seasons — or you can read my recaps which I am still frantically trying to catch up with before the premiere of season 13. 9 p.m., Bravo

Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Michael Che, Roger Daltrey, Nicki Nicole & Lunay
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers: Ed Helms, Michelle Buteau, Sen. Jon Tester
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Kyle MacLachlan
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden: Zion Williamson, Years & Years
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live: Dave Grohl, Billy Porter
  • The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
  • Watch What Happens Live: Stephanie Hollman, D’Andra Simmons
  • A Little Late with Lily Singh: Justin Baldoni

TUES. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Pooch Perfect

(new)		 black-ish

(new)		 mixed-ish

(new)		 Big Sky
(new)
CBS NCIS
(new)		 FBI
(new)		 FBI: Most Wanted
(new)
CW The Flash
(new)		 Supergirl
(new)		 Local
FOX The Resident
(new)		 Prodigal Son
(new)		 News/Local
NBC Young Rock
(new)		 Kenan
(new)		 This Is Us
(new)		 New Amsterdam
(new)

 

Oh, and for fun, here’s Larry Kudlow upset that we will be forced to drink “plant-based beers”:

So then comes Monday, and Fox News anchor, John Roberts is forced to admit on-air that they lied:

I mean, they ran that story for five days straight, so it’s cute that he attributes a single “graphic” and a single “script” but OK.

So Fake News does exist, it just exists on the Fox News Network (and OANN and the Sinclair Networks and The New York Post and The Washington Examiner and The Epic Times and The Daily Mail and and and …)

But this is what happens when your entire business and political model is based on trying to make people afraid and angry: if there’s nothing to be angry and afraid of, you have to make shit up. And then, over time, the only people you’re going to have left in your party are conspiracy theorists and the gullible.

ALL OTHER TV NEWS

A harbinger: Disney is shutting down 18 of its networks in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong as they try to shuttle more people onto Disney+ instead.

Pose returns for its final season this weekend, and the creator wants you to know that ending after three seasons was always the plan.

U.K. papers are reporting that The Crown is struggling to cast Prince Andrew, and The Crown is all, “NUH-UH.”

TV Line thinks these eight network shows are safe from cancelation. The only one that gives me pause is SEAL Team, only because it sounds like the cast is begging for a renewal.

This story about a Russian man trapped on a Chinese boy-band competition series and desperate to be voted off but his dourness appealed to the viewers and they kept him on feels like a metaphor.

Going Viral

Today’s big COVID news is that President Biden is expected to announce that new CDC guidelines will say that fully vaccinated people will no longer need to wear masks outdoors. Good. This is just common sense.

HOWEVER. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD CALL CPS ON PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE MASKED IN PUBLIC. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS TURD?

First of all, children are not eligible to be vaccinated, and, though they do not usually become dangerously sick from COVID, they are still able to transmit the virus. People under 30 are the biggest vector of the virus in this country right now and if parents choose to protect their children by having them wear masks in public and outside? THAT IS NOT CHILD ABUSE.

Secondly, you don’t know what that mask is for. That child could have allergies or asthma or cancer or an auto-immune disease or any number of other respiratory and/or immune disorders for which a mask provides protection. Also, maybe it was just me, but I found I was a lot less sick last year thanks to the mask mandates. Zero colds. I had, maybe for the first time in my life, zero colds last year. If people want to continue wearing masks in public even after this thing is defeated? I don’t blame them and I might join them.

Third, isn’t it funny how conservatives are so excited to police what other people do with their bodies, but if a private business decides to refuse service to someone because they are wearing a MAGA hat or even a mask, THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR RIGHTS TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WHEREVER THEY WANT!

And in conclusion, fuck Tucker Carlson.

Of course, it’s just par for the course for a political movement that can be summarized thusly:

This is a real article, by the way, and not a parody. And it is exactly as stupid and immature as it sounds.

Meanwhile, in Miami, an expensive private school has told their teachers they will effectively lose their jobs if they get vaccinated because, and I’m not making this quote up: “… It appears that those who have received the injections may be transmitting something from their bodies to those with whom they come in contact.” Insanity.

Over in the United Kingdom, it’s been reported that in a meeting to discuss the possibility of a third lockdown, British Donald Trump reportedly said in a meeting that he’d rather see “bodies pile high in their thousands.”

In good (?) news, Vanderpump Rules is set to start filming again now that COVID restrictions are loosening up in Los Angeles.

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • Physical will debut on Apple TV+ on June 18.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale: One Burning Question, an aftershow for The Handmaid’s Tale launches tonight on Hulu.
  • Vivo, Lin-Manuel’s animated film, is coming soon to Netflix.
  • Special returns on Netflix on May 20.
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan will premiere on Starz on July 18.
  • Domina will debut on Epix on June 6.
  • Yasuke will premiere on Netflix on August 29.
  • Oslo will premiere on HBO Max on May 29.
  • The Boy from Medellin will debut on Amazon on May 7.
  • Move to Heaven will premiere on Netflix on May 14.
  • The Naked Director returns on Netflix on June 24.

R.I.P.

Bernie Kahn, A sitcom writer who wrote on Bewitched, Get Smart, Maude, The Addams Family, The Love Boat, Tabitha, Three’s Company, and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, among many others. He also wrote some screenplays, including The Barefoot Executive.

WATCH THIS

The Handmaid’s Tale: June strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader in the fourth season. Hulu

Fatma: A non-descript house cleaner goes on a murder spree looking for her missing husband in this dark Turkish drama. Netflix

The Real Housewives of New York City: How They Got Here: The ladies return next week. Here’s a handy recap of previous seasons — or you can read my recaps which I am still frantically trying to catch up with before the premiere of season 13. 9 p.m., Bravo

Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Michael Che, Roger Daltrey, Nicki Nicole & Lunay
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers: Ed Helms, Michelle Buteau, Sen. Jon Tester
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Kyle MacLachlan
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden: Zion Williamson, Years & Years
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live: Dave Grohl, Billy Porter
  • The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
  • Watch What Happens Live: Stephanie Hollman, D’Andra Simmons
  • A Little Late with Lily Singh: Justin Baldoni

TUES. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Pooch Perfect

(new)		 black-ish

(new)		 mixed-ish

(new)		 Big Sky
(new)
CBS NCIS
(new)		 FBI
(new)		 FBI: Most Wanted
(new)
CW The Flash
(new)		 Supergirl
(new)		 Local
FOX The Resident
(new)		 Prodigal Son
(new)		 News/Local
NBC Young Rock
(new)		 Kenan
(new)		 This Is Us
(new)		 New Amsterdam
(new)

 

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