I've a friend whom I consider rather a hardcore conservative. I
reached out to him recently about a week ago when news broke about
the DRUDGE REPORT — his favorite webzine — being linked to
propaganda from Russia.
1
His reply: "Sessions better be
planning a major Hillary investigation ... uranium one deal is potentially
steeped in corruption." When I asked what purpose further investigation
of Ms. Clinton would actually serve, he suggested that the "Best approach is to
watch Fox News. You won't learn what is happening in Congress
investigations on other news channels."
Shepard Smith Reporting
So this morning when I read an article examining a recent report by
Fox News' Shepard Smith regarding this whole Uranium One mess, I had to
share it with him. The article included the Fox News footage,
provided below:
I'd rather not decorate Mr. Smith's reporting with inputs from
other pundits, or with my thoughts just yet. I'd like to simply
point out what Mr. Smith addressed here:
- How Uranium One came to be under Russian control
- The accusation and its source
- Presidential Candidate Trump's allegation, dated June 2016
- CFIUS, and the federal government process for evaluating foreign
investment in the United States
- The actual NRC recommendation and stiplulation
- Donations to the Clinton Foundation — source and timing.
It sure seems to me that Mr. Smith ran this to ground.
Backlash and Fox's Identity
As word of the Smith segment spread to other news outlets (CNN 2
and The Washington Post 3 are a
couple of examples), they began to report just as much about the backlash
from Fox News viewers as Mr. Smith's piece.
A separate Washington Post "analysis" article discussed the "different
realities" in which Fox' Hannity and Smith live. I found the quote of a
Fox News spokesperson particularly telling, describing Hannity as "an
outstaning opinion commentator" and Smith as "an outstanding journalist."
4. Let that sink in. Hannity and Carlson
and their ilk may be Fox's bread and butter, but it's not news — it's
commentary.
Final Note
I suppose we've yet to really discern the impact of Mr. Smith's
report — particularly whether we'll see the Trump Administration,
Fox News commentators, and other conservatives back away from the
Uranium One story.