Behind the scenes: Fox News analyst's stunning note hit network 'like a bombshell'

[UpInArms]

On Tuesday afternoon, Fox News employees gathered in Studio F, the opulent new set on the ground floor of the company's Manhattan headquarters, for the network's quarterly meeting.

Executives at the meeting boasted about the network's high ratings. They bragged about the outlet's increased digital presence. As one employee told CNN, "The theme was all very positive."

But the positive feelings coming out of the meeting soon subsided. A note sent by retired Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters, a longtime Fox News analyst, leaked to BuzzFeed. In the note to a handful of colleagues, Peters said that he could not in good conscience renew his contract with the network, explaining that he believed Fox News had become a "propaganda machine" for President Donald Trump.

"The thing hit like a bombshell," a longtime Fox News employee, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter, told CNN.

...More...

[tanyev]

1. How dare he spoil their party celebrating the Emperors fine new set of clothes?

[UpInArms]

3. Hahaha

I just love that he left a turd in their punchbowl

[Dem2]

2. Glad a few people over there are tired of being commonly referred to as "American Pravda"

[gratuitous]

4. The party stopped dead while attendees examined their own souls

A second (or less) later, it was back in full swing.

[lunatica]

14. LOL!

Following an inperceptible and inaudible gasp.

[LiberalLovinLug]

20. And saw only a blank space

and then forgot what they were looking for

then it was back in full swing.

[Glamrock]

5. Hannity said Smith was "clueless" about what Hannity does on his show each night.

He's not alone. We're all clueless about wtf you do on your show every night.

[UpInArms]

6. insanity plays the batshit crazy card nightly

🤦🏽‍♀️

[poboy2]

7. Look out, there may be more!...

"The stunning note reverberated through the Fox News community. Employees passed it along to other employees, people familiar with the matter said, with many agreeing with the thrust of the note: That Fox News opinion personalities were out of control in their devotion to Trump. One employee even told CNN that they were "jealous" about the way Peters made a splash on his way out and that the person "fantasized" about doing the same.

And it wasn't only the rank-and-file employees who were talking about it. Fox News executives were "rattled" by the leak, afraid that the story has the potential to grow legs, as Peters is a fierce conservative with a lot of credibility within the conservative community, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.
Indeed, it's possible Peters could speak out on rival networks after he is freed from the constraints of his contract, which he said is set to expire next week. "

[FakeNoose]

17. I guess that means he didn't sign an NDA

Whoopsie!

[poboy2]

22. That gif is hilarious. -nt

[Leith]

8. It Is Up to Them to Do Something About It

But they don't have the guts. They will continue, along with hate radio, to destroy what's left of the country and drag down as much of the world as they can claw at.

[Stuart G]

9. Occasionally, someone tells the truth about Fox snooze...

like this guy did...Now that is the problem..isn't it?

The truth is so rare, .. over there...
No one knows what it is.
Smith and this guy....
Do not lie.
Hannity is a calamity..

What is sad,
Is not that Fox is bad
And.. it tells lots of lies.
But what makes me sick,
Is so many hicks
And idiots galore watch this crap!!!
And when they are through..
They think this is true....

Thank you ...well I tried.......

[lagomorph777]

26. Can I sing that to the tune of "For What It's Worth?"

[Stuart G]

27. You may sing that to any tune that tunes you on.....

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. "Are WE the baddies?"

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. For the Win!

Mitchell and Webb have a few sketches which really hit the mark, like this one.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

23. Never heard of them before this. I do like certain British comedy.

The IT Crowd is one of my favorite comedies of all time, and this clip reminded me a little of that brand of humor.

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. This was as succinct a criticism of TV using inane social media comments as anything:

[LuckyLib]

33. This is local "news" in the US to a T. That, interviewing children,

and dog stories.

[Hortensis]

11. This doesn't mention the reality that Trump is

basing policy on statements by people especially on the opinion side, often Fox and Friends. I was just reading this morning about something or other he'd heard from that show and regurgitated as president.

[flotsam]

12. A time for introspection...

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. Love that movie!

[zentrum]

13. I don't believe the premises of this story.

Fox employees know it's propaganda and don't give a damn. They've always known this. It's an utterly cynical operation.

[FakeNoose]

18. I think that is Peters' point and the reason why he's quitting

There has never been a President that stupidly, blindly believed everything they said, until now.
Peters sees the damage they've caused and it bothers him. Apparently it doesn't bother anybody else.

[zentrum]

24. I hear you.

But it was propaganda under Obama and Clinton and Bush too. He has some new red line, but FOX has been destroying democracy for several decades. And he was part of it's credibility and build out. Ugh.

[FakeNoose]

28. Yes and Cheeto is their easiest mark of all

[yuiyoshida]

15. Wow, suddenly someone woke up

maybe they should all wake the fuck up and leave Fox Noise to wither on the vine with the rest of the hateful rhetoric. Maybe some will hate working with Donald Trump and figure he has become too Juvenile to work with "Adults".

[Poiuyt]

16. This couldn't have come as a surprise for Fox executives

I thought it was their goal to be a propaganda machine for Trump

[enid602]

29. Stain

I'll bet Judge Jeanine Pirro left a runny shitstain on her upholstered chair.

[7962]

32. I always put Judge in "", since she's not a real judge !

[louis-t]

30. What, they didn't know?

[raven mad]

31. I don't like Ralph Peters.

But he, at least, did the right thing. As for a "bombshell"??

[Beartracks]

34. Expressing opinions "in order to gain attention"

What is it with rightwing personalities and propaganda outlets claiming that anyone expressing an opinion they don't like is only doing so "in order to gain attention"? Ironically, they're always ready to get online or on-air themselves and make that claim!

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