21 hours ago, 'stache said:

Has it become self aware?

5 steps to pretend you aren’t a brainwashed cultist, but don’t worry if it doesn’t work, you’re still good to blindly consume our propaganda.

Stole this from AI: Fox publishing an article about how to repair the resulting family estrangement is some real cigarette-company-publishing-lung-health-tips energy.

21 hours ago, Sheep Have Wool said:

This isn't the only article I've seen on Fox News lately that was similar - I do check it fairly regularly, just to see what the latest talking points are. Here's another recent example:

5 reasons more Americans are cutting off their own parents, according to psychologist

Cutting off family members is becoming more and more common, leading experts to consider the drivers of the division.

NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers' years-long estrangement from members of his family — which reportedly ended recently after a reconciliation with his parents — has renewed public interest in why some relatives become permanently divided.

A 2025 YouGov survey found that 38% of U.S. adults are estranged from at least one family member, including siblings, parents, children or grandparents.

Based on his research and work in the field of family estrangement, Dr. Richard L. Blake, a British psychologist and author based in Austin, Texas, shared the following five factors that he believes commonly contribute to fractured family relationships.

No. 1: Political and value differences

A longstanding study of more than 2,000 mother-adult child relationships found that "value dissimilarity" was a strong predictor of estrangement, suggesting that differing beliefs may play a large role in family rifts.

"That could be political values, that could be gender ideology," Blake told Fox News Digital.

"There were people more likely to cut off someone for having a different opinion than for people who have done serious violent crimes," he said. "So certainly, political differences are a big problem."

No. 2: Social media influence

Heavy social media use has been linked to poorer parent-child relationships. A study of nearly 9,800 teens found that spending more than two hours a day on social media was linked to significantly greater odds of negative relationships with one or both parents.

Blake believes social media may also normalize family estrangement by exposing users to viral "no contact" stories and encouraging what he described as "word-of-mouth mimicry."

"Someone might see a video on TikTok — 'I cut off my parents, and I'm much happier now. They were toxic narcissistic boundary crossers. And now I'm great,'" he said. "And people mimic that. Or they think, 'Oh, this person's getting a lot of attention.'"

Although he acknowledged that there are no long-term studies that have definitively documented an increase, "that doesn't mean absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence."

According to Blake, society has shifted away from what he described as a "dignity culture" toward one that places greater value on "victim culture."

"So now it's a race to the bottom," he said. "If you don't have enough victim status because of the way you were born, you can create a victim status by suggesting your parents abused you or neglected you … and therefore you have value, a reason to cut them off."

No. 3: ‘Therapy culture'

The expert also pointed to what he described as "therapy culture," claiming that changing attitudes toward trauma and abuse have influenced how some people view relationships with their parents.

"Another justification is, ‘I cut off my parents to protect my mental health’ — and this is a sort of false belief," he told Fox News Digital. "There is this huge bias that if you're struggling in your adult life, it must be because your parents did something they shouldn't or didn't do something."

Blake argued that family relationships remain one of the strongest protective factors for mental health.

"Families are one of the most evidence-based buffers against mental illness," he said. "There’s this myth that families are not important."

The psychologist pointed to a well-known Minnesota study of adopted twins, which found that twins often resembled their biological parents more than the adoptive parents who raised them.

He also cited a 2024 study led by German sociologist Karsten Hank, which found that adults estranged from parents or siblings reported lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms than those who maintained family relationships.

"So it seems like it's certainly a health event for parents who get cut off, and it's probably a negative health event for the kids or the adult children who are doing the cutoff," he said. "It's this lie they're getting sold on social media: ‘Cut off your parents and your mental health will be better.’"

No. 4: Communication breakdowns

The way families communicate during conflict can determine whether disagreements escalate into long-term estrangement, according to Blake.

It’s important to listen first, he said, noting that "hostage negotiation" can be useful in these scenarios.

"[That means] listening to the other person and then repeating back what they said as you understood it and validating that … and then waiting until that person's really finished before you give your side of it."

Blake also raised the issue of "moralized language," or "therapy words" that get thrown at parents — "such as abuse, toxic, boundaries, narcissists, gaslighting."

"When you use moralized language like that, compromise becomes far more difficult," he said.

"So I tell parents to pause before they really react ... and then say back, ‘Okay, you've used the word toxic. Can you describe the behavior or behaviors that you consider to be toxic?’ Then you're dealing with facts and events, rather than who’s a better person or who's the worst person."

The psychologist also recommends starting with "I" statements rather than using the word "you," and also avoid using the words "always" and "never."

No. 5: Outside influences

Finally, Blake said that outside influences — including romantic partners and evolving parenting philosophies — can also contribute to family estrangement.

Those outside influences may differ by gender, he noted, with romantic partners often playing a larger role for men.

As an example, Blake pointed to public figures such as Brooklyn Beckham and Prince Harry, suggesting that romantic partners can sometimes influence how people view their relationships with family members.

Conflicting parenting philosophies may also strain family relationships, as adult children and grandparents sometimes disagree over how children should be raised, according to Blake.

"Parenting styles are obviously different, and they've changed a lot over the last few years," he said.

"If you look at the outcomes of the gentle parenting or the permissive parenting that we've slipped into, we have the most mentally ill generation in history, the least fit for adulthood," Blake suggested. "Perhaps we should be learning from our grandparents more than the therapists."

tl;dr - shithead parents who get cut off are the real victims here. The 5 reasons:
No. 1: Political and value differences
No. 2: Social media influence
No. 3: ‘Therapy culture'
No. 4: Communication breakdowns
No. 5: Outside influences

I’m pretty sure Scientologists have pamphlets like this as have every other fucking cult to exist. The last time I attended a catholic ceremony for my nieces confirmation the priest went on a rant about how others will hate them for their catholic beliefs and that it’s their fault and to stay strong. They’re never the asshole it’s everyone else is the assshole. Just like the old saying.

Edited August 13Aug 13 by 'stache

• 
• Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com

Fox News graphic claims falsely that the average price of gas one year ago was $4.13, lower than it is right now. It was actually $3.14!

• 5:13 PM · Aug 17, 2026

On 8/12/2026 at 9:04 AM, 'stache said:

Has it become self aware?

Lulz. Now NYT from the opposite side.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/16/opinion/parents-children-no-contact-families.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

• 
• Acyn @acyn.bsky.social

Watters: You think it’s ok to slash a ding-a-ling off

El-Sayed: Do you really want to have this conversation? Are you circumcised?

Watters: Yeah

El-Sayed: Then you probably want to move on.

• 12:53 AM · Aug 25, 2026

2 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

• 
• Acyn @acyn.bsky.social

Watters: You think it’s ok to slash a ding-a-ling off

El-Sayed: Do you really want to have this conversation? Are you circumcised?

Watters: Yeah

El-Sayed: Then you probably want to move on.

• 12:53 AM · Aug 25, 2026

"That's whacky."

iswydt Jesse.

8 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

• 
• Acyn @acyn.bsky.social

Watters: You think it’s ok to slash a ding-a-ling off

El-Sayed: Do you really want to have this conversation? Are you circumcised?

Watters: Yeah

El-Sayed: Then you probably want to move on.

• 12:53 AM · Aug 25, 2026

"aren't you the guy who thinks it's ok to slash a woman's tires in an attempt to meet her?"

Maria Bartiromo is out at Fox

• 
• Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com

Wow! Maria Bartiromo, longtime anchor of Fox Business's morning show and a Sunday show on Fox News, is done with the network

• 5:12 PM · Sep 3, 2026

New press sec?

New Treasury Secretary?

New secretary of D-U-M

Edited September 3Sep 3 by Bozo_Casanova

She was one of the main ones exposing them to liability in the Dominion case by her unquestioning promotion of lying nutbags (while also being aware of their lies).

She's pretty much continued that until the present, but mostly with administration nutbags.

• 
• Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social

“Him/Her”

• 9:13 PM · Sep 3, 2026

Scott Jennings just lost the moon.

Eh, dp.

Edited September 3Sep 3 by Francisco 2.0

I would've bet the mortgage on my single wide she'd be the scapegoat for FN over the Dominion debacle...

1 hour ago, The Dog said:

That makes a lot of sense. I remember the day after that speech and how FOX was acting as if it didn't happen.

10 hours ago, HenryJames said:

• 
• Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social

“Him/Her”

• 9:13 PM · Sep 3, 2026

lol wut

1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

lol wut

He's probably convinced some commie Dem transitioned her during a commercial break.

• 
• David_j_roth @davidjroth.bsky.social

I can exclusively report at this time that Maria Bartiromo was NOT fired by Fox News for violating the network's "do not obviously be loaded on camera" policy. "That policy does not exist," a network source tells me, "and it never will."

• 3:45 AM · Sep 4, 2026

Edited September 4Sep 4 by HenryJames

14 hours ago, The Dog said:

Different from what I was thinking, but this deal driven by Dominion-related concerns at Fox.

53 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

Different from what I was thinking, but this deal driven by Dominion-related concerns at Fox.

They have to be scared shitless what Trump and his supporters on Fox News are gonna say after the midterms. The voting companies know there’s big money in the lawsuits. More importantly, Fox News sure does act like there’s big money in the lawsuits.

Edited September 4Sep 4 by atomheartbevo

Keep in mind the Smartmatic lawsuit against Fox News is still ongoing and they have not settled.

15 hours ago, TexasHooch said:

That makes a lot of sense. I remember the day after that speech and how FOX was acting as if it didn't happen.

Hell, the Trump Administration is acting like the speech didn't happen.

When Trump rolls out the red carpet out for President Xi next month do you think all this "nefarious China election interference" will even be mentioned?

Think how nuts it is that the President went on national television during prime time and spewed a bunch of insane nonsense. Everyone shrugged and went "yeah that's about right" and it was forgotten 24 hours later.

1 hour ago, The Dog said:

Keep in mind the Smartmatic lawsuit against Fox News is still ongoing and they have not settled.

Discovery that Fox allowed their people to continue to spread lies about election integrity would have been awesome for the punitive damage multiplier.

18 hours ago, HenryJames said:

• 
• Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social

“Him/Her”

• 9:13 PM · Sep 3, 2026

Did he use X.ai to write that? Are those the same pronouns he uses for his daughter?

This screed about education appeared on Fox and was served me by Google news.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/americas-massive-labor-crisis-started-classroom-not-workplace

Its author is Marissa Streit, the head of PragerU. In addition to her obvious bias, she claims to have been an "education insider." According to her bio, she was born in 1981, did Israeli military service, graduated UCLA, was a teacher in a Manhattan Beach private school, and then began at PragerU in 2009.

So, if she graduated UCLA at 22, which seems unlikely given her IDF service, she spent a whopping seven years in education at what appears to be an extremely affluent private school. That service is supposed to be two years plus, so probably more like five years.

She knows nothing about average American public schools.

And, the problems she alleges with schools are really problems that originate at home, both with teaching that should occur at home (morality, resilience) and things that are taught as a result of local control/parental influence.

The screed is an opinion piece, but it cites no evidence. Are some of the problems she identifies somewhat real? Yes, I am sure they are to some extent. But, again, they're not problems of the educational system, they're problems of the parents and they're not really political or policy problems, and certainly not partisan.

White House's Navarro Tells Trump: 'Stay Off Fox News' Newsmax

White House senior counselor Peter Navarro is escalating his criticism of Fox News, questioning why President Donald Trump and members of his administration should continue appearing on the network and accusing Fox of working to undermine the president.

During an appearance Wednesday on Real America's Voice's "War Room," Navarro suggested the Trump administration should withhold its officials from Fox.

"Why are we feeding them talent anymore?" Navarro asked. "Why do we let anybody in this administration go on their network?"

When Bannon pressed him on whether he was calling for the administration to stop making officials available to Fox, Navarro said the idea deserved serious consideration.

"I'm calling for that question to be seriously asked," Navarro said. "Fox has revealed itself to be essentially undermining the Trump administration."

Navarro went further, arguing that Fox poses a particular problem for Trump and his supporters because its conservative image gives it credibility with Republican viewers.

"Fox News is much more dangerous to MAGA, much more dangerous to the Republican Party, because they wear our colors when they're, in fact, helping the other side undermine the president," Navarro said.

His latest comments follow weeks of public criticism of Fox, particularly after the network's abrupt separation from longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo.

Fox has characterized Bartiromo's departure as a "business decision."

Navarro made similar accusations during a Sept. 9 appearance on Newsmax's "Greg Kelly Reports," warning Trump supporters against assuming Fox is aligned with the president or his MAGA movement.

"The bigger story here is, forget about anybody thinking that Fox is a conservative network that's friendly to MAGA, that's friendly to Trump," Navarro told Newsmax.

Navarro argued that Fox provides conservative viewers with coverage of some culture-war issues while restricting discussion of subjects he considers central to Trump's agenda.

"They'll feed you some red meat over there — the easy stuff, the trans stuff, stuff like that — but when it comes down to MAGA things, Suzanne Scott gets rid of everybody over there who wants to talk about MAGA issues," Navarro said, referring to Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott.

He pointed to the departures of Bartiromo, Tucker Carlson and the late Lou Dobbs as evidence supporting his criticism.

Fox has not said Bartiromo's departure was connected to her reported sharing of internal Fox communications or Navarro's subsequent decision to pass information to the White House.

Navarro also told Newsmax that Fox's treatment of Trump-related subjects amounted, in his view, to censorship, while accusing the network of retaliating against Bartiromo.

The dispute now appears to have moved beyond Navarro's criticism of Fox programming and management.

His comments on Real America's Voice raise a more consequential question for the administration: whether Trump and his senior officials should continue giving Fox News access to some of the network's most sought-after political guests.

Meanwhile, a quick perusal of foxnews.com shows not one mention of the Jack Smith Hawks-vs-Hawkeye senate hearing fiasco. But multiple stories about how scary California is. Surprise.

2 minutes ago, Horn Dog said:

Meanwhile, a quick perusal of foxnews.com shows not one mention of the Jack Smith Hawks-vs-Hawkeye senate hearing fiasco. But multiple stories about how scary California is. Surprise.

Nothing on cnn.com, either.

Never mind. There is a link at the top of the site. I just missed it.

Edited September 30Sep 30 by The Hot Dog Buffet

I'm seeing teaser notices that Karoline Levitt's joining Fox News. Gee...what were the odds?