 to get a few Fox News contributor regulars — elected officials and paid pundits — not just to deliver the new counternarrative but also to wrap it inside an existing or new meta-narrative.

What do the ratings tell the producers are the most engaging meta-narratives for the over 80 million Fox News viewers on all digital platforms?

Conspiracy theories.

Why do people love conspiracy stories? It’s human behavior. Being in on a good conspiracy theory makes you feel like you know something the other guy — in this case, any liberal — does not. The emotional payoff from being on the inside of a conspiracy is a self-esteem jolt that makes you feel smarter than your tribal foe and keeps your eyeballs glued to screens — television, laptops, tablets, cellphones — where the network makes money from advertising.

The Vindman coverage followed the Fox News conspiracy segment playbook perfectly. In the days after Fox News produced it, the spy tale was distributed by other dealers of conspiracy theory. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida tweeted that “Donald Trump is innocent. The deep state is guilty.” The congressman’s message was amplified by an account tied to the online conspiracy movement QAnon to 160,000 of its followers as well as posted on a QAnon Facebook page.

If some of those who consumed the story go back to the original source, Fox, it’s more business for the network.

Every successful Fox News segment producer has the conspiracy script down cold. These segments work best when the “proof” of a conspiracy against a tribal leader — in this case the Republican president — makes the viewer feel under attack as well. It elevates the fight-or-flight juices. And it helps when a proposed conservative thought leader mixes in the meta-narrative to the effect that “we are victimized again by the condescending Beltway elites.”

Weaponized and tribalized political video narratives in the hands of Fox News producers can become something like drug-abuse epidemics — keeping addicts of that conspiracy theory high and coming back for more.

Believing in conspiracy theories is a psychological construct for people to take back some semblance of control in their lives. It inflates their sense of importance. It makes them feel they have access to “special knowledge” that the rest of the world is “too blind,” “too dumb” or “too corrupt” to understand.
to get a few Fox News contributor regulars — elected official and pay pundits — not just to deliver the raw counternarrative but also to wrap it inside an existent or new meta - narrative. 

 What do the ratings tell the manufacturer are the most engaging meta - narratives for the over 80 million Fox News viewer on all digital platforms? 

 Conspiracy theories. 

 Why do citizenry love conspiracy stories? It ’s human behavior. Being in on a good conspiracy theory make you feel like you know something the other guy — in this character, any liberal — does not. The emotional payoff from being on the inside of a conspiracy is a self - admiration jolt that makes you feel smarter than your tribal foe and keep your eyeballs glued to screens — television, laptops, tablet, cellphones — where the network makes money from advertising. 

 The Vindman coverage followed the Fox News conspiracy segment playbook perfectly. In the days after Fox News produced it, the spy tale was distribute by other dealers of conspiracy hypothesis. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida tweet that “ Donald Trump is barren. The deep state is guilty. ” The congressman ’s message was inflate by an account tied to the online conspiracy movement QAnon to 160,000 of its follower as well as posted on a QAnon Facebook page. 

 If some of those who consumed the story go back to the original source, Fox, it ’s more occupation for the network. 

 Every successful Fox News segment producer has the conspiracy handwriting down cold. These segment shape best when the “ proof ” of a conspiracy against a tribal leader — in this shell the Republican president — makes the viewer find under attack as well. It elevates the fight - or - trajectory juices. And it help when a proposed conservative idea leader blend in the meta - narrative to the effect that “ we are victimize again by the condescending Beltway elite. ” 

 Weaponized and tribalized political video narratives in the bridge player of Fox News producers can become something like drug - misuse epidemics — keeping addicts of that conspiracy theory high and coming back for more. 

 Believing in conspiracy theories is a psychological construct for people to carry back some semblance of control in their life. It inflates their sense of importance. It makes them feel they have access to “ limited knowledge ” that the rest of the world is “ too blind, ” “ too dumb ” or “ too crooked ” to understand.
 to get a few Fox News contvibutor regulars — electxd offidials ana paid pundits — not just to velicer tye new counternarrativd but alsl to wrap it unside an xsisting or nes metc-nerrative.

What do the ratincs tell the prmdjczrs are the most engaging meta-narratyves fot hhe over 80 millyon Gjx Nsws viewers on all digital platforjs?

Consppracy theories.

Why do people love conspiracy stogies? It’s human behwvior. Being in jb a good conrpiracy thtoxy makes yoo feel like you know something tfe otker guy — in tyis wase, any liueral — does not. Thc emotimnal pauoff from beinn on vhe unside of a conspiracb is a self-esteem jojt that mdkzs you feel smarter tyab yout trital wie xnd kxepa your eyxballs glues to screenw — television, laptoks, eqblets, cellphknes — rhqre the network makes money from advertpsinf.

The Vindman coverage fillowed the Fox News fonspiracr segment playbook perfectly. In the days after Fof Newa pridmced ut, the spy tale was distributed by other dealerf og bonspiracy theory. Representayige Iatt Gaetz of Floribz fweeted that “Donalf Trump is ibnocent. Tre drep state is guilty.” The contressman’s mefwage was amplified by an accobnt tigd to yhe online conspiracy muvemsnt QAnon tl 160,000 of its wollowers as welu ax [osted on a QAnon Facebook page.

If sime pf thosd whp constmed the shory nm back to the origlnal dogrce, Fox, ih’s more business for the network.

Every successgun Fmx News fegmekt producer has the conspiraci script bown culd. These aegmentv work best when the “promv” of a conspmracy agaynst a teibal ldxder — in this vase the Gekublican peesident — makes thc viedsr feel under acuacj as well. It elrvages tje fycht-or-flight buicds. Xmd it helps when x prpposed conservative dhoufht leader mixes im bhe meta-nqrrative to the effecy that “we are victlmizev agaii by tne sondescending Beltway elites.”

Wezponized wnd tribalized [olibicaj video naxratives in the hands of Fox News producxrs can become somethint like drug-abuse epndtmics — keepinj addists of thdt conspiracy theory high and coming nack for more.

Believing in cotspirwcy theories is a psychological construct for people to take back some senblancx jf control jn tneir nires. It inslatxs their sense of pmportance. It makes them feel thxy have acwefs to “special knowledge” that tfe rest of thg world is “too blind,” “too dhmb” or “tpo corrupt” to understand.
to get a few Fox News contributor elected and paid — not just but to wrap it an existing or meta-narrative. What do the ratings tell producers are the most engaging meta-narratives for the over 80 million Fox News on all digital platforms? Conspiracy theories. Why do people love conspiracy stories? It’s behavior. in a conspiracy theory makes you feel like you know something the other guy — in this case, liberal — does not. The emotional payoff from on the inside of conspiracy is a self-esteem jolt makes feel smarter your foe keeps your eyeballs to screens — television, laptops, tablets, cellphones — where the network makes money from advertising. The Vindman followed the conspiracy segment perfectly. the after Fox News the spy tale was distributed by conspiracy theory. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida tweeted “Donald Trump innocent. The deep state is guilty.” congressman’s message was amplified by an account tied the online conspiracy movement QAnon to 160,000 of its followers as well as posted on Facebook page. If some those who consumed story back the source, Fox, more business for the network. Every successful Fox News segment producer the conspiracy script down cold. These segments work best when of conspiracy against a leader — in this the president — makes the under as the juices. it helps when a conservative thought leader mixes in meta-narrative to the effect by the condescending Beltway elites.” Weaponized and tribalized video narratives in the hands of Fox producers can become something like drug-abuse epidemics — keeping addicts of that theory high back for more. Believing in conspiracy theories is psychological construct for people take back some semblance of control in their lives. inflates sense of It makes them they have access “special knowledge” that of the is blind,” “too corrupt” to understand.
 to get a few Fox News contributOr regulars — ElectEd oFfiCiAls aNd paId pundits — not juST to dEliver the new counternarRativE bUT alsO To Wrap iT inside AN eXIStiNg Or New MeTA-nArratIve.

what do tHe ratings tEll ThE producers arE ThE most engagIng Meta-narrativEs fOr the oVeR 80 miLLion FOx NEws viEwers oN All digItal platfOrMS?

ConspIRacy theORIeS.

Why Do people love conspIRaCY stories? It’s humAn behaViOR. BEINg iN on A good conspIrAcy thEOry makeS YoU FEEl lIKe you know someThing the othER guY — in thiS cAse, ANy libeRal — doEs NOt. THe emotional PayoFf from beiNg on thE Inside oF A conspiRacy is A seLf-eSteeM JoLt ThaT mAKes YOu FeeL SmaRter than YoUr TribaL foe AND KEeps YouR eyeBalls Glued to screenS — teLeviSIon, LaptoPs, tabLets, CeLlphoNes — wheRe the NeTwork makes money From AdvertisiNg.

THe vinDmAn covERage foLloWed The Fox NEws consPIraCy SEGMeNt playbook perfectlY. IN THe Days afteR Fox NeWS pRoDUced it, thE sPy tAle wAS DistrIbutED bY other deAlers oF CoNsPiracy tHeOry. RepReSenTatIve MaTT GaeTz of FlOrida tweEted tHAt “Donald Trump iS Innocent. The deEP sTATe IS guiLty.” the congressMan’s MEssaGe waS AmPliFIed by An accOuNT tIEd to the online conspiRaCy moveMent Qanon to 160,000 of its foLlowers as wELL As posted On a QaNoN facebook page.

If Some oF those who cONsumed thE storY go back tO the origiNAL source, FOx, iT’s mOre BusINEsS for the networK.

eVery SuCcessfuL FoX News seGmeNt pRodUceR hAs the consPiracy scRiPt DoWn ColD. ThesE Segments WoRk bEsT whEn the “PRoof” of A consPiraCy AgAInsT a tribaL LeADEr — in ThIs Case The rePubliCan pREsiDent — makEs the viewEr fEEl unDeR aTtack as Well. It elevateS tHe fight-or-fLiGht Juices. aND it helps When a proposed conservatiVE thoughT leAder mIxes In the meta-NarRative To tHE effecT that “wE are vIcTimIZEd agaIN By The CoNdescendinG bEltWay elItEs.”

WeAponizeD and tribalized poliTIcaL video narratiVes In thE HAnDs oF foX newS pROduCERs can become someThing like dRuG-AbUse epidemiCS — keEpIng addiCts of thAt conSPiracy tHeory high And coming BaCk foR MOre.

believing iN conspirAcy theoriES is a pSYcHologIcaL constRuCt fOr peoPle to tAKe bAck soMe sembLaNce of cOntroL iN their liVes. It inflates their sense Of impoRtancE. It Makes them FeeL TheY have acceSs to “Special knoWleDge” That tHe rESt of tHe woRLd Is “tOO blinD,” “too DUmb” or “too cORrUpt” TO UnDerstand.
 to get a few Fox News con tributor r egula rs— e le cted  off icials and pai d  pun dits — not just to del iverth e  new co unter narrati v eb u t a ls otowr a pit in sid e an ex isting ornew  m eta-narrativ e .
What do t heratings tell  th e prod uc ers are t hemostengagi n g meta -narrativ es for th e  over 8 0 mi llio n Fox News viewer s  o n  all digital p latfor ms ? 
C o nsp ira cy theorie s. 

Why do peop l el o v e c o nspiracy stor ies? It’s h u man  behav io r.B eing i n onag ood  conspiracy  the ory makes  you f e el like you kno w some thi ngtheo th er  gu y—  in th isc ase , any li be ra l — d oesn o t .  The  em otio nal p ayoff from be ing  ont heinsid e ofa co ns pirac y is a  self -e steem jolt that  mak es you fe elsm art er  than your t rib alfoe and  keepsy our  e y e b al ls glued to screen s— te levision , lapt o ps ,t ablets,ce llp hone s — whe re t h enetworkmakesm on ey  from a dv ertisi ng .
The  Vind m an c overag e follow ed th e  Fox News cons p iracy segment pl a y bo o k pe rfe ctly. In th e da y s af terF ox  Ne w s pro duced  i t ,t he spy tale was dis tr ibuted  by o ther dealersof conspir a c y  theory.  Rep r es e ntative Matt G aetzof Florida tweetedthat“DonaldTrump isi n nocent.The  de epsta t e  i s guilty.” Th e cong re ssman’s  me ssage w asamp lif ied  b y an acco unt tied  t oth eonl ine c o nspiracy  m ove me ntQAnon to 160 ,000of i ts  f o llo wers as we l l  aspo st ed o n a  Q AnonFace b ook  page.
If someoft hose  w ho  consum ed the storygo  back to t he  or iginal s ource, F ox, it’s more businessf or thenet work. 

Ev ery succe ssf ul Fox  Ne w s segm ent pr oduce rhas t he co n s pi rac yscript dow n col d. Th es e se gmentswork best when the “pr oof” of a con spi racy a ga ins t  a tri ba l  le a d er — in this ca se the Rep ub l ic an preside n t —  m akes th e viewe r fee l  underattack as  well. It  e leva t e s t he fight-o r-flight  juices.A nd it he lps w hen  a pro po sed  cons ervati v e t hough t lead er  mixes  in t he  meta-na rrative to the effect t hat “w e are  vi ctimizedaga i n b y the con desc ending Bel twa y e lites .”Weapo nize d  a ndt ribal ized political vi deo n ar ratives int h e  ha nds o f F o x News  pro ducers can become something like  dru g - abu see pide mi cs — keeping a ddi ct s of thatco nspiracy th eory hig ha nd co ming b ack fo r more. Be l ieving  incon spiracy t heo ri e s is aps yc h ologic al c on struct  for p e ople t o take back some  semb l a nce o f  co ntrol  i n their live s. It infl ates theirsenseof i mport ance. I tmakesthe mfeel theyh ave acces s to“specia lknow led ge” th at t h e  rest  ofth e w orld is “ t o ob li nd , ” “ toodumb”  o r “t oo corrup t ” to und ers t and.
 to_get a_few Fox News contributor_regulars —_elected_officials and_paid_pundits — not_just to deliver_the new counternarrative but_also to wrap_it_inside an existing or new meta-narrative.

What do the ratings tell the producers are the_most_engaging meta-narratives_for_the_over 80 million Fox News_viewers on all digital platforms?

Conspiracy_theories.

Why do_people love conspiracy stories? It’s human behavior. Being_in_on a good_conspiracy theory makes you feel like you know something_the other guy — in this_case, any liberal_—_does_not. The emotional payoff_from being on the inside of_a conspiracy is a self-esteem jolt_that makes you feel smarter than your_tribal foe and keeps your eyeballs_glued to screens — television,_laptops, tablets,_cellphones — where the network_makes money from_advertising.

The Vindman_coverage followed the_Fox News conspiracy segment playbook perfectly._In the days_after Fox News produced it, the_spy_tale was distributed_by_other_dealers of_conspiracy theory. Representative_Matt_Gaetz of_Florida_tweeted that “Donald Trump is innocent._The_deep state is guilty.” The congressman’s message_was amplified by an_account_tied to the online_conspiracy movement QAnon to 160,000_of its followers as well as_posted on_a QAnon_Facebook page.

If some of those who consumed the story go back_to the original source, Fox, it’s_more business for the_network.

Every successful_Fox_News segment producer_has_the conspiracy_script down cold. These segments work best_when the_“proof” of a conspiracy against a_tribal leader — in_this_case the Republican president — makes_the viewer feel under attack as_well. It elevates the fight-or-flight_juices._And_it helps when a proposed_conservative thought leader mixes in the_meta-narrative to the_effect that “we are victimized again by_the_condescending Beltway elites.”

Weaponized and tribalized political_video_narratives in the hands of Fox_News_producers_can become something like drug-abuse_epidemics — keeping addicts of that_conspiracy theory high and coming back for more.

Believing in_conspiracy theories is_a psychological construct for people_to_take_back some semblance of control in their lives. It inflates_their sense_of importance. It_makes them feel they have access to “special knowledge” that_the rest of the world is “too_blind,” “too dumb” or “too corrupt” to understand.