How Fox News Convinced a President That Portland Was a Hellhole

[Mark Jeffries]

In a copiously documented ProPublica article, for whatever reason Fox News Channel decided to visualize the relatively-peaceful protests against ICE agents in Portland, OR with mislabeled file footage from the BLM protests in 2020 in the same city, convincing a President of the United States that watches too much cable news that the National Guard had to be called in when they weren't needed:

https://www.propublica.org/article/portland-protests-national-guard-fox-news-coverage

The question is how did Fox News screw up so bad--or was it on purpose because if-it-bleeds-it-leads? One does have to point out that the interns and backup staff they have seem to be mostly from Hillsdale College, Bob Jones University and other conservative institutions and they have a long history of inaccuracy. And it does not need to be said that most of Trump's TV diet is the cable news channels and sports, and maybe the late-night shows. If he subscribes to HBO (or any streamer), it's for Melania to watch movies. And I would love to know what was the last scripted show he watched.

[Kevin M.]

Portland has been the target of a sweeping disinformation campaign going back to the days when right wing media decided it was the headquarters of “antifa”. 

Back when I was still on Twitter (back when it was still Twitter), there was a nutcase YouTuber who claimed he was assaulted in Portland, only if turned out he was harassing some people and one of them got fed up and dumped a milkshake on his head. That there was video evidence he was the instigator did not prevent his baseless accusations from spreading. He eventually left town… he eventually left the country… but magically kept “live-streaming from the downtown Portland war-zone.” 

Visited Portland a couple summers ago as part of my anniversary trip. Hit up Powell’s books and Voodoo doughnuts. Dined street-side on the patio of a downtown coffee shop. The same day I was there, Twitter overflowing with videos of the very neighborhood I was in supposedly on fire. I’m not the most observant guy, but I’d like to think I’d notice if I was walking around in a war zone. I know my wife would have noticed; as a general rule, she dislikes downtowns, yet she thoroughly enjoyed our visit there. 

I know Portland. I have friends there. There is crime. There are unsafe streets and alleys. But it’s about as pleasant a metropolis as you’re likely to find. 

Kevin M. (RPCV)

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[David Bruggeman]

I lived in Portland from 1994-1999, have visited regularly since.  If I can ever afford to retire, I would strongly consider moving back.  I co-sign Kevin's perspective.

This is not the first time that Fox News or other conservative outlets have ran misleading or outright false b-roll over various claims of violence and/or pending invasion from (insert threat of the week here).  Portland seems to catch a lot of these, but they aren't alone.

David