Fox News Hosts' Texts Revealed in Lawsuit—5 Bombshells FOX NEWS ELECTION LIES FOR RATINGS!

 

“Newly unredacted filings in the $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit brought by voting technology company Smartmatic against Fox News have revealed private messages sent by Fox personalities and executives in the weeks after the 2020 presidential election.

The communications, disclosed through court filings, shed light on how some of the network's most prominent figures discussed the fraud claims they later covered on air.”

https://www.newsweek.com/fox-news-hosts-private-texts-revealed-lawsuit-bombshells-2116299

News network Newsmax files antitrust suit vs. Fox News

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/03/news-network-newsmax-antitrust-lawsuit-fox-news-00543044

Fox News Hosts' Texts Revealed in Lawsuit—5 Bombshells

Published Aug 20, 2025 

Newly unredacted filings in the $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit brought by voting technology company Smartmatic against Fox News have revealed private messages sent by Fox personalities and executives in the weeks after the 2020 presidential election.

The communications, disclosed through court filings, shed light on how some of the network's most prominent figures discussed the fraud claims they later covered on air.

Fox News has consistently denied Smartmatic's allegations. In court filings and public statements, the network has argued that it was reporting on "newsworthy" statements made by the president and his lawyers, not endorsing them.

Why It Matters

The newly disclosed text messages go to the heart of Smartmatic's defamation case against Fox News, highlighting a disconnect between the private doubts of network hosts and the on-air amplification of election fraud claims.

For Smartmatic, the contrast supports its argument that Fox acted with "actual malice" by prioritizing ratings and audience retention over verified reporting. For Fox, the lawsuit tests its defense that covering statements from a sitting president and his lawyers was protected, newsworthy journalism.

The case follows Fox's earlier $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, which also centered on the network's coverage of election fraud claims. Unlike Dominion, Smartmatic operates primarily outside the United States, but the company alleges that Fox's broadcasts caused significant reputational and financial harm.

The outcome could have broad implications for how courts weigh press freedom against accountability for misinformation in high-stakes political coverage.

What the Texts Showed

VVVVVVVVVVVV

 

 

Fox News host Jesse Watters appears on air during the Fox News Special prior to President Trump's Joint Address to Congress. Waters was broadcasting from Fox News' D.C. Bureau on March 4, 2025 in Washington,...

  Jemal Countess/Getty Images

 

 

Jesse Watters on Ratings and "Stop the Steal"

One of the most widely cited revelations concerns Fox News host Jesse Watters. On December 5, 2020, Watters allegedly texted colleague Greg Gutfeld: "Think about how incredible our ratings would be if Fox went ALL in on STOP THE STEAL."

The comment, included in Smartmatic's filings, appears to suggest Watters was weighing the ratings implications of amplifying election fraud narratives. According to The Washington Post, Watters later testified under oath that he had seen "no evidence that Smartmatic Technology switched votes in the 2020 Election in the United States."

In another November 2020 exchange with producer Megan Albano, Watters described "an audience uprising vs. Fox like I've never seen" after the network's decision to call Arizona for Joe Biden. In separate texts to colleagues, he referred to Trump lawyer Sidney Powell as having "lost it" and being "radioactive now" because "[w]hat she is peddling is out there."

 

The now-U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro holds a press conference at the Patrick Henry Building on August 12, 2025 in Washington.

Jeanine Pirro Texts About 'Helping Trump'

Smartmatic's filings also reference messages from other Fox figures. Jeanine Pirro, then hosting Justice with Judge Jeanine, allegedly texted in November 2020 about "helping Trump while at Fox News," according to the company's motions,

"I work so hard for the party across the country," Pirro texted then-Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, according to the court filing. "I'm the Number 1 watched show on all news cable all weekend. I work so hard for the President and party."

Bret Baier's Desire to 'Fact-Check'

Bret Baier, anchor of Special Report, expressed concerns over misinformation, the court filing said.

In a November 2020 text, Baier wrote Fox News Media president and executive editor Jay Wallace that "None of that is true as far as we can tell," when confronted with fraud allegations being promoted on-air. "We need to fact-check this crap."

Fox News Skepticism

Other hosts expressed skepticism about Powell. According to the filings, Sean Hannity referred to her assertions as "insane," while Laura Ingraham texted Hannity and Tucker Carlson that Powell was "a complete nut" and said, "no one will work with her."

Maria Bartiromo shared claims from Trump's legal team about Smartmatic with Fox colleagues while acknowledging privately that the information was "not verified." Rupert Murdoch, chairman of Fox Corporation, texted an executive in November 2020 that it was "really bad" Giuliani was allowed on air with unverified claims about Smartmatic.

Fox's Response

In court filings and public statements, Fox has argued that it was reporting on "newsworthy" statements made by the president and his lawyers, not endorsing them.

In May 2025, the Associated Press reported that a New York appeals court allowed Fox to access Smartmatic records related to a bribery case in the Philippines, which the network has argued supports its defense that Smartmatic's reputational issues predate its 2020 election coverage.

What People Are Saying

Fox News said in a statement: "The evidence shows that Smartmatic's business and reputation were badly suffering long before any claims by President Trump's lawyers on FOX News and that Smartmatic grossly inflated its damage claims to generate headlines and chill free speech. Now, in the aftermath of Smartmatic's executives getting indicted for bribery charges, we are eager and ready to continue defending our press freedoms."

Smartmatic alleges the network: "amplified false election fraud claims as a strategic response to viewer backlash" after calling Arizona for Joe Biden.

What Happens Next

The case, still moving through New York courts, will test the limits of defamation law as it intersects with political coverage and press freedom. No trial date has yet been set, but proceedings could extend into 2026 given the scope of evidence and pre-trial motions.

NEWSWEEK

Morning Joe takes down the legacy media U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA IS NOT REPORTING THE TRUTH!

 

Recently, MSNBC’s Morning Joe aired a powerful critique of the legacy media’s pro-Trump bias. Host Joe Scarborough called out major outlets like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal for scrutinizing Kamala Harris' qualifications while giving Donald Trump a pass on his mental fitness and divisive, hate-driven campaign.

For a decade, Trump’s rise to power has been closely tied to the legacy media’s obsession with "both sides" reporting. 

Rather than discussing policy or trying to unify the country, Trump thrives by dividing the public, spreading hate and conspiracy theories. 

Like many authoritarians, he creates chaos and then claims he’s the only one who can fix it.

In 2024, Trump’s rhetoric has become even darker. His speeches increasingly include calls to violence, and he often sounds incoherent, revealing a sharp decline in his mental faculties.

For these reasons and more, Trump is not fit for public office. As General Mark Milley, who served under Trump, warned, Trump is “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous man in this country.”

Yet, because of the “both sides” logic, media outlets that report these truths are accused of bias. This allows Trump’s fascist behavior to go unchecked by the press, and voters don’t get a sense of the real danger he poses to our democracy.

Take this week’s Fox News interview with Bret Baier and Kamala Harris. Baier spent much of the interview grilling Harris, pushing right-wing talking points, and cutting her off. At one point, he even aired a Trump campaign ad, amplifying Trump’s message further to the 8 million watching at home. 

So why did Baier—once seen as a serious journalist—fall into this trap? As Scarborough pointed out, it’s all part of the media’s effort to create a “permission structure” to defend Trump, despite the clear danger he poses to democracy.

At COURIER, we don’t play into this false “both sides” narrative. Our reporting focuses on the truth: Trump is dangerous and a threat to our democracy. The legacy media’s failure to cover him properly is part of the reason he rose to power in the first place.

We need to change this—and COURIER is doing its part by holding the media accountable. But we can’t do it without your help. Our funding comes from supporters like you. Can you chip in $7.00 now to support our critical work?

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Trump Finally COLLAPSES As Fox News Reveals Stunning Party Consequences #TDR

 

Fox News completely spirals at backlash over Donald Trump's announcement and Republican party consequences as Arizona reveals highly restrictive abortion ban. John Iadarola and Sharon Reed break it down on The Damage Report. Read more here: Fox News contributor says timing of Arizona's near-total abortion ban “absolutely seems scripted” to hurt Republicans politically - https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news... "BRET BAIER (ANCHOR): Byron, significant and it seems like politically harmful to Republicans kind of across the board. BYRON YORK (FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR): Almost seems scripted. Trump comes out yesterday and makes this big statement about leaving abortion to the states. He's really trying to create a tent that enough Republicans can stand under to elect him in November. So he does that yesterday. Today, Arizona comes out, after the Biden campaign jumps all over Trump and said, “States are going to do radical things and Trump is going to be at fault," and then they do this with this 1864 law. It absolutely seems scripted. And Trump is going to get stuck with this time after time after time throughout this campaign." ** Be part of the Dragon Squad as a YouTube channel member: http://go.tyt.com/join-tdr Follow The Damage Report on Facebook:   / thedamagereporttyt   Help build the Home of the Progressives http://tyt.com/JOIN Subscribe to The Damage Report YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/thedamagerepo... Follow The Damage Report on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedamagerepo... Follow The Damage Report on Instagram:   / thedamagereport   Follow The Damage Report on Twitter:   / thedamagereport   #TheDamageReport #JohnIadarola #TheYoungTurks

FOCUS: Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng | Pro-RFK Jr. Super PAC Has Deep Ties to Marjorie Taylor Greene, George Santos

 

 

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FOCUS: Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng | Pro-RFK Jr. Super PAC Has Deep Ties to Marjorie Taylor Greene, George Santos
Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng, Rolling Stone
Excerpt: "The Super PAC is just one example of the nominally Democratic candidate running a campaign that's awash in support from backers of Donald Trump."

The Super PAC is just one example of the nominally Democratic candidate running a campaign that's awash in support from backers of Donald Trump

Last month, supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential bid created a Super PAC titled Heal the Divide. On its website, the group — whose name is borrowed from Kennedy’s own campaign slogan — advises voters that “Only Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. can unite the Nation to start healing America,” and allows visitors to donate both in dollars and cryptocurrency.

There’s nothing abnormal about a candidate getting a Super PAC, even a candidate making a long-shot bid like Kennedy’s. What is abnormal, however, is that Kennedy is running as a Democrat in the Democratic primary, while the creators of the Super PAC have a deeply pro-Donald Trump bent — including ties to arch-MAGA officials such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, George Santos, and Herschel Walker.

Federal Election Commission filings list Jason D. Boles of RTA Strategy as its treasurer and use RTA’s website and mailing address. In 2022, Greene’s campaign and leadership PAC, Save America Stop Socialism, paid the firm more than $372,000 for work on her 2022 congressional race, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets.

The Georgia-based RTA, founded by political consultant Rick Thompson, also worked for Walker in his failed 2022 Senate race in Georgia. Thompson served as custodian for Walker’s campaign committee and Boles worked as treasurer of the committee, earning the firm roughly $50,000, according to campaign-finance records. More recently, Boles and Thompson have signed on as treasurer and designated agent, respectively, for the embattled Santos after the indicted congressman struggled to find personnel to handle his campaign finances.

Reached by phone, Thompson declined to comment on the Kennedy Super PAC. “We have a strict policy at our firm that we don’t discuss our clients,” he tells Rolling Stone. And the Heal the Divide site does not advertise its Republican backing. But a mistake on the group’s website gives away its origins: The site’s terms of service appear to have been copied and pasted from MAGA PAC, a Trump Super PAC, and incorrectly refers to the Heal the Divide site as MAGApac.com.

It’s not just one MAGAfied Super PAC, however, that’s backing Kennedy’s run against President Biden in the Democratic primary. His bid is awash in support from Donald Trump’s allies in MAGA World, conservative media, and some of the Republican-donor elite. Broadly, they’re hoping Kennedy will make Biden look weak in the primary, hurting his chances against Trump — or whichever candidate emerges from the GOP primary.

MAGA influencers and longtime Trump associates such as Roger Stone have praised Kennedy’s candidacy as a way to “soften Joe Biden up.” Former top Trump political adviser and campaign strategist Steve Bannon also reportedly spent “months” encouraging Kennedy to run in order to energize anti-vaxxers who make up much of Trump’s base, according to CBS News.

Kennedy’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the candidate has denied that he’s effectively aimed at torpedoing Biden. He has at times criticized Trump, while also praising the former president on things like his draw among middle-class voters. And he has consistently attacked Biden on foreign policy and other subjects. “Our internal poll numbers are showing me stronger against both Republican candidates than President Biden,” Kennedy claimed to Fox News host Harris Faulkner early this month. “Democrats are going to want somebody who can beat Governor DeSantis and who can beat President Trump.”

But whether he wants pro-Trump support or not — he’s certainly getting it.

At Fox News, three staffers and a producer tell Rolling Stone that some higher-ups have privately discussed how much they value not just interviewing Kennedy on the network, but featuring segment after segment about his candidacy and his unexpected poll numbers in the 2024 Democratic field. “Management loves RFK [Jr.] coverage because it makes Biden look weak. You can expect a lot of it,” the Fox producer says.

Before Tucker Carlson was fired by Fox in April, the network’s then-top host would promote Kennedy and argue that the candidate somehow wasn’t an extremist. “So, at this point, the question isn’t who in public life is corrupt? Too many to count. The question is, who is telling the truth? There are not many of those. One of them is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” Carlson said on Fox earlier this year.

In the time since, other hosts have praised or interviewed Kennedy, though some not quite as sympathetically as Carlson once did. Still, Kennedy has continued to enjoy a wellspring of backing from influential right-wing media outlets, including among the top tier at Fox.

Pete Hegseth, another Fox News host who, like Carlson, has privately advised Donald Trump on policy over the years, defended Kennedy in an April segment, saying: “The establishment will do whatever it takes to keep Biden in the White House. You know that. He’s very useful to them.… The deep state gets deeper every day. They work quietly while Joe does other things. They’re already trying to kneecap Joe’s primary opponents. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — he’s surging in the polls.… Now that he’s a threat, [the mainstream media is] going for his throat.”

Meanwhile, Trump and some of his senior aides have delighted in Kennedy’s presence in the 2024 race, viewing him as a useful anti-Biden agent of chaos, according to three sources on and close to the Trump campaign. The ex-president and 2024 GOP front-runner briefly praised Kennedy during this month’s interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, while getting his name wrong, calling Kennedy “very nice” and a “very, very fine person” who Trump knows “very well.”

Members of Trump’s team are also pushing the message that Kennedy’s candidacy is a sign of Biden’s weakness. “The fact is, President Biden is a very weak incumbent. He’s just fortunate more opponents have not entered the primary. Ironically, the last time America had a failed Democratic incumbent president, Ted Kennedy ran against Jimmy Carter. Now, Robert Kennedy Jr. is running against Joe Biden,” says John McLaughlin, one of Trump’s top pollsters. “RFK Jr. is on a mission, and Joe Biden is weak and vulnerable. His poll numbers are extremely soft.”

Wealthy right-wing donors and activist groups have also pitched in to support and amplify the long-shot presidential campaign.

David Sacks, the South African-born venture capitalist who has donated to Ron DeSantis’ gubernatorial campaign and hosted his campaign launch on Twitter, recently held a fundraiser for Kennedy last week. He was joined by fellow venture-capital investor Chamath Palihapitiya. The event included “Democrats, Republicans, and Independents,” according to Palihapitiya.

The far-right anti-gay group Moms for Liberty has also scheduled Kennedy to speak at its annual summit in Philadelphia next week. In advertising the summit, the group leads with a quote from conservative 2016 presidential-primary candidate Ben Carson: “A lot of individuals in the room have decided to get up and do something about what they believe because that is what is going to save us as a nation.”

Kennedy’s claim that he’s running to defeat Trump contrasts with his stance when the 45th president was first heading to the White House. During the Obama-Trump presidential transition in January 2017, Kennedy visited the then-president-elect at Trump Tower in Manhattan — for a job interview.

According to a former senior Trump transition official, Kennedy “wanted to have some kind of role in vaccine research and the questions he raised about the safety of the vaccines,” and had been following some of what Trump had been saying about vaccines, including regarding the widely debunked theories about links to autism. Just after Kennedy left this meeting, Trump said to staff, “Oh, he’s gonna help us with vaccines,” according to the former official. (Kennedy in 2005 popularized some of his anti-vaccine rhetoric in a since-debunked article in Rolling Stone. He has recently attacked the publication, falsely claiming editor-in-chief Noah Shachtman somehow played a hand in the story’s retraction in 2011 and subsequent removal from its website. Shachtman began his tenure in 2021.)

Kennedy’s senior role on so-called “vaccine safety” never happened in Trump’s four years in office. Several of Trump’s closest advisers during the transition and early administration urged him never to appoint Kennedy to that kind of position, arguing that Kennedy had too much baggage and would be too much of a public-relations nightmare for the young presidency, former White House aides say. “It took longer to talk him out of it than it should have,” says a former senior administration official, who recalls trying to talk Trump out of officially appointing Kennedy in the Oval Office. But ultimately, Trump got talked out of it. In the years since, Kennedy has publicly trashed Trump for helping to launch the “tyranny” of Covid-19 vaccination.

The 2024 campaign is far from the first time that Kennedy has rubbed elbows with MAGA donors. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kennedy’s political ecosystem often tilted to the fringes of the left, capitalizing on liberal skepticism of large pharmaceutical companies. But as Trump pushed Covid-19 myths and attacked public-health experts in 2020, the far-right swelled the ranks of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists and offered Kennedy a new audience.

In particular, Kennedy has courted Ty and Charlene Bollinger, two pro-Trump political activists who held a rally outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 to promote Trump’s lies about a stolen election. The couple, labeled as members of the “Disinformation Dozen” for their prominence in posting vaccine myths on social media, have featured Kenendy in an interview on their United Medical Freedom Super PAC, and as a speaker at their Truth About Cancer Live anti-vaccine conference alongside Eric Trump.

David and Leila Centner, two big-dollar donors who forked over $1 million for Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign and attended the former president’s Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally on the mall, also briefly served on the board of Kennedy’s Children’s Health Defense nonprofit.

But for all of the support and hype from the right wing, Kennedy polls at 14 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics polling aggregator, 50 points behind Biden’s 64 percent average.

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