Eric Swalwell Doesn’t Want To Dictate What Channels The Military Can Watch — Unless They Like Fox News

Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) suggested on Saturday that despite not wanting to “get in the business of telling troops what they can and cannot watch,” he might be open to banning Fox News on military installations.

Swalwell joined MSNBC host Katie Phang on Saturday, and she fretted about the ongoing Dominion lawsuit and the “damage” she believed was being done by Fox News, asking whether Congress was ready to get involved.

WATCH:

"Nothing makes [our troops] feel more like home than their access to American television programming, and a popular channel is Fox News," says Democrat Eric Swalwell.

"We need to take a look at how [Fox News] is being broadcast to our troops." pic.twitter.com/tzJeTfyEoU

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 11, 2023

“Has there been any discussions in Congress about maybe congressional oversight, regulations, maybe the FCC getting involved? I know we all respect the First Amendment, Congressman, but should there be some type of gatekeeping that happens so that this doesn’t happen again?” Phang asked.

Swalwell referenced a recent push from political action committee VoteVets to ban Fox News on military installations, adding that he understood it could be a particularly heavy lift because the network is popular with American service members.

“FOX hosts’ election lies and disinformation splits the ranks, hurts unit cohesion, and weakens America’s national defense,” the PAC tweeted. “They must be removed from all TVs on military installations NOW.”

FOX hosts' election lies and disinformation splits the ranks, hurts unit cohesion, and weakens America's national defense. They must be removed from all TVs on military installations NOW.

Share if you agree! pic.twitter.com/1a6WiYB0hV

— VoteVets (@votevets) March 6, 2023

“Nothing makes them feel more like home than their access to American television programming,” he said

“I don’t want to get in the business of telling troops what they can and cannot watch,” he said. “But, if you have a news station that a court is going to rule is, in its evening hour, you know, perpetuating dis- and misinformation, I don’t know if I disagree with VoteVets, who was saying that we need to take a look at, you know, how this is being broadcast to our troops,” Swalwell continued.

“I don’t think we’re without complete recourse,” the California Congressman said, appearing to suggest that threats of Congressional oversight would be “an incentive for Fox News to clean up” programming that did not fall in line.

Democrats and a number of legacy media talking heads have spent much of the last week criticizing Fox News and popular host Tucker Carlson over his broadcast of previously unseen footage from the January 6th riot on Capitol Hill.

‘I Hope It Tanks At The Oscars’: MSNBC Editor Slams Pro-Military ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ As ‘Poisonous’

One MSNBC editor is actively rooting against the adrenaline-fueled and Best Picture-nominated “Top Gun: Maverick,” complaining that it paints too positive a picture of the United States military.

MSNBC opinion writer and editor

Aleem referred to the summer blockbuster as “literal propaganda,” noting that the military had given filmmakers access to real aircraft in exchange for some oversight.

“In exchange for access to military aircraft, the producers of the movie agreed to allow the Defense Department to include its own ‘key talking points’ in the script. Perhaps equally important, the script had to be written in a manner that flatters the military in order to secure the buy-in of the Pentagon,” he wrote.

Aleem went on to argue that the 2022 film and its predecessor were used to “rehab” the military’s image, after periods of waning popularity. The original film, he said, helped the military’s reputation recover after Vietnam — and the sequel “diverts from the failed war on terror, and comes as defense officials eye the rise of China.”

“I don’t object to anyone’s enjoyment of the film, but I hope it tanks at the Oscars,” Aleem concluded. “It’s possible to make thrilling action without so brazenly priming the public for warfare.”

In addition to “Top Gun: Maverick,” the other 2023 Best Picture nominees are as follows: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “The Fabelmans,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Elvis,” “Tár,” “Triangle of Sadness,” and “Women Talking.” The ceremony will take place on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

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