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Join NowMoveOn Slams Advertisers Sticking with Fox News After Outrageous Segment Asserting Canadian Wildfire Smoke Causes No Adverse Health Issues and Denying Impact of Climate Change
Washington, D.C. – Today, MoveOn released a new video as part of its Stop Funding Fox campaign to spotlight consumer brands that are still inexplicably advertising on Fox News, despite the network’s track record of promoting lies and propaganda. The group debuted another “Bought and Paid For” video highlighting a segment on Fox News from June 7 where host Laura Ingraham egged a guest on to promote rampant falsehoods and deny the health emergencies resulting from the air pollution caused by the Canadian wildfires.
On last night’s “The Ingraham Angle,” coal industry shill Steve Milloy claimed there’s “no health risk … no public health emergency … this doesn’t kill anybody” and that particulate matter is “innocuous.” MoveOn’s video reminds consumers that the dangerous lies and disreputable views are bought and paid for by the likes of AT&T, GM, and Subway, three of the few remaining national brands that continue to advertise on the right-wing propaganda network.
Fox News had a coal industry shill on air to lie about the health effects of wildfire smoke.@GM, @Subway & @ATT—all 3 having climate sustainability pledges—made this segment possible through their ad dollars.
Tell them to stop advertising on Fox here: https://t.co/nBXO9YWGnv pic.twitter.com/RaETQ5Ytjq
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) June 8, 2023
“Americans across the Northeast are experiencing the harmful effects of the worst air pollution in decades,” said MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting. “Only Fox News would have the gall to both mock and deny the grave threat of air pollution blanketing the country right now. Fox News has been peddling misinformation and disinformation about the pandemic and global health issues for years. It’s irresponsible for corporations to have any financial ties to the network, given its blatant lies and climate change denialism. Every dollar AT&T, Subway, and General Motors spends on advertising on Fox News funds its extreme rhetoric, bigotry, disinformation, and conspiracy theories.”
Pressure is building on these companies to cut their ties to Fox News in the wake of the humiliating Dominion lawsuit exposing the network’s fraudulent coverage. Recent polling found that two-thirds of Americans believe Fox News divides Americans and puts a political agenda and profits ahead of getting the story right.
“Bought and Paid For” escalates the latest wave of Stop Funding Fox campaigning by MoveOn to discourage any current or prospective companies from advertising on—and therefore subsidizing—the right-wing propaganda outlet. In mid-May, MoveOn members staged a series of actions against Fox News and its advertisers. The group held actions and sponsored mobile billboards outside of Subway, AT&T, and GM’s respective headquarters, as well as an action in New York City to protest Fox’s upfront presentation the media company held to lure in advertisers. In concert with the actions, MoveOn also released a digital ad targeted to Subway, GM, and AT&T customers to shame the companies for funding and fueling Fox News’ dangerous lies.
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MoveOn is a people-powered force for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We are the homebase for millions of members who refuse to accept the status quo and are moved to take action. For more than a generation, MoveOn has been a bulwark against the radical right, channeling our voices to end wars, protect democracy, and advance justice for all.