Propaganda Parallels: How Fox News, Newsmax, and The Epoch Times Mirror Russian State TV—and Why It Matters
Introduction
Fox News, Newsmax, and The Epoch Times aren’t just media outlets—they’re megaphones for a hard-right agenda. Call it a political slant if you want, but let’s be real: it’s more than that. You know exactly what I mean.
Russian state television, by contrast, is government-controlled media operating under a very different system. On the surface, a privately-owned American news network and a state-run Russian channel might seem worlds apart. Yet these outlets share some striking similarities in how they shape public perception.
Fox News paid $787.5 million to settle with Dominion Voting Systems. Newsmax handed Smartmatic $40 million to settle its defamation case.
You don’t write checks that big unless you know you’re in trouble. You don’t settle unless the truth isn’t on your side.
Facts matter. Accountability matters. Let’s not pretend otherwise.
This piece explores those parallels – in propaganda techniques, editorial biases, and audience targeting – and considers the challenges they pose to public discourse and democracy. Rather than accusing any network of wrongdoing, the aim is to highlight concerning patterns and encourage readers to stay vigilant and informed.
Do a Deep Dive with AI: When it comes to appreciating the quality and accuracy of the “news”, the stakes have never been higher. This special Perplexity AI page allows you do use AI to dig deeper on any issues or questions you might have regarding this article or the news outlets mentioned. No filters. No limits. Just more details, explanations and answers. Ask. Learn. Act.
Propaganda Techniques: Shaping Public Perception
A common thread between Fox News, Newsmax, The Epoch Times, and Russian state TV is the use of classic propaganda techniques to influence their audiences. Whether intentionally or as a byproduct of their editorial approach, these methods structure messaging in ways that sway public opinion. Key techniques include:
- Selective Reporting: These outlets often spotlight news that supports their narrative while downplaying or ignoring information that contradicts it. For example, a channel might devote hours to a political scandal involving an opponent but give minimal coverage to similar misdeeds by its preferred side. This cherry-picking of facts leaves viewers believing that the presented perspective is the whole truth.
- Emotional Appeals: Content is framed to provoke strong feelings like fear, anger, or patriotism. Russian state television might emphasize threats from foreign "enemies" to stoke nationalistic fervor. Similarly, American networks such as Fox News and Newsmax highlight crime, immigration, or cultural changes in ways that spark outrage or anxiety. Emotional storytelling can be compelling, but it bypasses calm, rational analysis and imprints messages more deeply in people's minds.
- Repetition of Messages: These networks hammer certain themes repeatedly to reinforce their narrative. A claim or slogan – whether about a "stolen election" or the greatness of a leader – is echoed constantly across shows until it becomes familiar and accepted by loyal viewers. This repetition can make questionable assertions feel like common knowledge. Over time, audiences internalize these claims as undeniable facts, a hallmark of effective propaganda.
By combining selective storytelling, emotional triggers, and relentless repetition, these media outlets create an immersive narrative bubble. Audiences may come away with perceptions that are carefully shaped – often without realizing the manipulation at play. Historically, propaganda has relied on these tactics; today we see them not just in authoritarian state media but also in segments of our own free press.
Editorial Bias and Framing
Another similarity lies in how these organizations frame issues to align with a particular ideological stance. Fox News, Newsmax, and The Epoch Times openly champion extreme right wing conservative viewpoints, just as Russian state TV promotes the Kremlin’s agenda. In practice, news events are filtered through a lens that supports preset narratives.
On these channels, complex issues are often reduced to "us versus them" stories. Fox News or Newsmax may present debates on immigration, climate change, or public health as battles against a dangerous liberal agenda, whereas Russian state TV frames international events as struggles against Western plots or depicts internal critics as traitors. The Epoch Times infuses its reporting with an anti-communist, anti-establishment angle, consistently siding with one political narrative. The common thread is a strong editorial bias: facts and context that challenge the preferred storyline are minimized, while those that reinforce it are amplified.
The consequences of this bias-driven framing are significant. Viewers who rely solely on these sources may develop a distorted understanding of current events. When a network paints one side as heroes and the other as villains, it becomes difficult for the audience to appreciate nuance or see any merit in opposing views. This polarization erodes the middle ground in public discourse.
In a democratic society, that's troubling: informed debate becomes harder when people cannot agree on basic facts or when each side inhabits an entirely different version of reality. Over time, heavy bias can weaken public trust in media – people start to assume all news is partisan and become cynical or disengaged. A steady diet of one-sided coverage may even normalize undemocratic ideas if they align with the outlet’s ideology.
Tailored Messaging and Audience Targeting
Propaganda and biased messaging are most effective when they resonate with their intended audience. Each of these outlets tailors its content to appeal to specific groups, much like a marketer targeting a niche.
- Fox News: Fox primarily caters to a conservative, often older American audience. Its programming – from purported traditional-values commentary to segments on law-and-order or military pride – is tuned to viewers who lean right. By tapping into its audience's fears and hopes (economic anxiety, cultural change, national security), Fox News crafts stories and discussions that validate those feelings.
- Newsmax: Newsmax targets a similar conservative audience but positions itself even further to the right. It gained traction among viewers who felt Fox News was not sufficiently loyal to certain political figures or narratives. After Fox acknowledged President Trump’s 2020 election defeat, some disappointed viewers migrated to Newsmax, which continued to promote the narrative of a "stolen" election. Newsmax's strategy is to double down on fervent talking points for a hardline segment of conservatives. The channel projects itself as the only trustworthy voice for its viewers, a refuge from the mainstream media.
- The Epoch Times: The Epoch Times has grown into a global far-right media outlet that caters to readers deeply skeptical of communism, globalization, and the mainstream press. In the U.S., it found a niche among supporters of populist and anti-establishment movements. Through aggressive social media campaigns, The Epoch Times targets individuals who feel distrustful of conventional news sources. Its content emphasizes themes like freedom vs. socialism, traditional values, and conspiracy-tinged explanations of world events – calibrated to engage people who suspect they're not getting "the full story" from other media.
- Russian State Television: In Russia, state TV's primary audience is the domestic population, including many older viewers accustomed to state narratives. The messaging is steeped in patriotism and often portrays Russia as under threat or misunderstood by outsiders, rallying viewers around national pride. For international audiences, Russian state media highlights criticisms of Western governments, features fringe voices from the West, and plays up controversies in democratic societies – aiming to attract viewers who feel alienated and to feed the suspicion that their own mainstream media cannot be trusted.
Each network's targeted approach creates a feedback loop. The audience hears what it expects to hear, grows more loyal, and then the outlet doubles down further on that angle. While it's normal for media to know their demographic, this is an extreme form of tailoring where reinforcing existing beliefs takes precedence over challenging viewers with uncomfortable truths. That might boost ratings or clicks, but it also creates echo chambers – closed loops where people rarely encounter information that contradicts their preexisting views. In both the U.S. and Russia, such echo chambers deepen social divides and make dialogue between groups more difficult.
Challenges for Public Discourse and Democracy
The parallels among these media outlets highlight a broader challenge: when propaganda-style techniques and heavy bias pervade news, the health of public discourse suffers. In an open society, the press should inform citizens so they can make reasoned decisions. But if large segments of media focus on persuading rather than informing – pushing a single viewpoint relentlessly – it misleads the public and fractures our shared understanding of reality.
One major problem is the creation of parallel realities. Audiences of these outlets often hold different "facts" than those who rely on more objective news, making it nearly impossible for society to agree on basic truths. This polarization makes meaningful debate extraordinarily hard. At the same time, propaganda tactics erode public trust. When a channel insists that all other media are lying or corrupt, its followers will dismiss any outside information. This breeds cynicism and even extremism: people either trust only their favored outlet or conclude that truth is unknowable.
This climate not only misleads people but also drowns out responsible journalism. Loud, sensational claims from propaganda-driven media often overshadow sober, fact-based reporting. That makes it harder for accurate information to break through the noise. History shows that when misinformation runs rampant, democratic norms weaken and societies become dangerously divided. We do not have to look far – from Cold War propaganda to recent online disinformation – to see how false narratives can destabilize communities.
Conclusion: Stay Vigilant and Think Critically
Let’s be clear. There’s a reason I’m writing this. Because what’s happening matters.
People forget fast. But here’s what shouldn’t be forgotten: Fox News paid $787.5 million to settle with Dominion Voting Systems. Newsmax handed Smartmatic $40 million to settle its defamation case.
You don’t write checks that big unless you know you’re in trouble. You don’t settle unless the truth isn’t on your side.
Facts matter. Accountability matters. Let’s not pretend otherwise.
In an age of information overload, the similarities between Fox News, Newsmax, The Epoch Times, and Russian state television remind us, in addition to these settlements, that not all "news" is created equal. Even in free societies, media outlets can slide into propagandistic habits, sometimes without realizing it. This convergence of techniques – selective reporting, emotional persuasion, relentless repetition, and partisan framing – should concern anyone who cares about a well-informed public.
The good news is that as media consumers, we are not powerless. Awareness is the first step: recognizing these tactics makes it easier to spot when a story is one-sided or playing on our emotions. We should approach the news with healthy skepticism, especially if it comes from a source with a clear bias. It's wise to cross-check important stories with multiple outlets, including those that offer different viewpoints. If one network insists the sky is falling but others aren't even reporting it, it's worth asking why. By getting news from a variety of sources and verifying claims through reputable facts, we can break out of any one outlet's narrative spell.
Ultimately, the goal isn't to shun these outlets entirely, but to consume them with open eyes and critical thinking. The networks discussed here will likely continue delivering news through their particular lens, and they have a right to their perspective. But we, the audience, have a responsibility to seek the truth beyond any single source.
Democracy works best when citizens stay informed through diverse perspectives and can separate propaganda from genuine reporting. By exercising due diligence and not taking any media at face value, we can guard against manipulation. In a world where some news outlets increasingly resemble propaganda machines – be they foreign or domestic – staying vigilant and informed is our best defense.
That’s my uncensored objection to Fox News, Newsmax and The Epoch Times, and I’m sticking to it.
Mitch Jackson, Esq. | links
The game is changing—fast. Politics doesn’t wait, and neither should you.
Yesterday’s headlines won’t help you win today. You need sharp insights, real analysis, and the signal in all the noise.
No fluff. No spin. Just what matters—delivered straight to you.
Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe now.
