Newsmax Agrees to $67 Million Settlement in Dominion Lawsuit
Newsmax, a right-wing cable news channel known for supporting MAGA loyalists, has decided to pay $67 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems. The claim against Newsmax was that it deliberately spread false information about the integrity of the 2020 presidential election favoring Joe Biden.
This situation isn’t just about careless reporting; it goes beyond that. Dominion’s lawsuit emphasized that Newsmax showcased a conspiracy theory that, while not completely unfounded, was utterly absurd. The lawsuit pointed to 18 distinct statements from both television broadcasts and social media, claiming that Dominion’s software changed votes from Donald Trump to Joe Biden.
What Newsmax did wasn’t journalism at all. It felt more like some sort of fantastical storytelling masquerading as news. Now, the cost of this fiction stands at a staggering $67 million.
This might ring a bell for some, as a similar situation occurred in April 2023 when Fox News paid out $787.5 million to settle its own lawsuit with Dominion. In that case, Fox propagated similar conspiracy theories, driven by the fear of losing audiences to other right-wing media outlets.
Interestingly, Newsmax had previously settled another related suit for $40 million brought by Smartmatic, another voting technology firm. Meanwhile, Fox is still facing a monumental $2.7 billion lawsuit from Smartmatic, which could end up in court unless a settlement is reached.
These lawsuits aren’t merely frivolous claims; they are backed by substantial allegations and troubling evidence. What both Fox and Newsmax did was beyond unethical; it had corrosive effects, undermining trust in democracy and the credibility of journalism itself. Their actions intensified political discord and fueled conspiracy theories which culminated in the violence seen on January 6, 2021.
But why did they go down this route? Simple—it’s profitable. The business model for partisan cable networks, regardless of their political leanings, often prioritizes delivering what viewers want to hear over simply informing the public.
After the 2020 election, the conservative audience craved narratives suggesting that Trump had been cheated. They wanted to believe in grand conspiracies involving the deep state, Democrats, and voting machine companies plotting against their leader.
While Fox and Newsmax didn’t create these delusions, they certainly cashed in on them.
When journalism devolves into partisan cheerleading, it’s no wonder that certain individuals on air become more like carnival barkers, pushing aside facts in favor of fantasies.
The unfortunate reality is that millions of viewers accept these narratives, believing every word. When people are conditioned to distrust all institutions except for the broadcasting personalities they idolize, even the most outrageous claims can begin to feel credible.
Perhaps it’s a bit unsympathetic on my part, but I can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction witnessing these media giants face repercussions for their recklessness. They lied, got caught, and are now paying the price.
Meanwhile, viewers who bought into the misinformation, who may have argued heatedly at family gatherings and on social media, aren’t being held accountable in the same way. In an ideal situation, they would share some of the blame. They weren’t just passive observers; they were active participants in this debacle.
The networks sold this deception, but it was the audience that chose to buy it, often with enthusiasm and anger.
And now, we find ourselves still trying to piece together the aftermath years later.
