Pete: Tucker’s Heir?

Bringing gravitas back! Strangely, Fox & Friends Weekend “co-host” Pete Hegseth is still listed as a contributor for Fox News Channel (FNC) in his FNC bio and on his Twitter page.  But, he appears to be the unannounced co-anchor of Fox & Friends Weekend a la his apparent predecessor Tucker Carlson and his seeming co-host Abby Huntsman. Perhaps, the F&FW suits have learned from the time they awkwardly replaced Fox & Friends co-anchors Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly with Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris without notice to F&FW fans.

Abby and Ainsley’s loose lips? Friday, Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley sat between guest co-hosts Pete and Clayton on the curvy couch and Abby Huntsman was the newsreader. Before Abby read the headlines at the top of the seven o’clock hour (ET), she pointed to Pete, Clayton, and Ainsley, declaring, “My weekend crew, Ainsley! You’re sitting right…[inaudible]….I love it!” Even though she was the queen of the F&F curvy couch, Ainsley sweetly cooed, “I know! I love being a part of you all! Thank you for letting me do this!”

On Fox & Friends Weekend (Saturday) and today, Pete’s ascendancy to F&FW co-anchor seemed crystal clear. Yesterday, at the top of each hour, the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were displayed as chyrons at the bottom of the screen underneath them: For the doubting Thomases at the top of the second hour, Clayton seemed to adduce evidence to Pete’s apparent new position, saying, “Pete, Abby, and Clayton in the house for you.” On F&FW today, the chyrons of the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were back at the top of each hour.

Perhaps, it is a mite premature, Pete: But, welcome aboard the F&FW ship! Your first mate Abby is a young smart beauty who is heir to her father’s political acumen and Clayton is the entertaining class clown who loves UFO’s, comic book cines, and the latest in tech products: And, you bring Tucker’s gravitas to the mix with your Princeton and Harvard education; much more importantly, your service to the nation; and your dedication to the nation’s vets.

For Pete’s sake, Pete, do yourself and your F&FW fans proud! Break a leg!

 

 

 

Proud Anna [Kooiman]: “Nice and Rough”?

“‘Nice and easy’: I’d like to do that for you….But we never, ever do nothing nice and easy: We always do it nice and rough!” Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Anna Kooiman may know how to give up a “booty-shaking” performance [vid] a la Tina Turner as a rocking fitness instructor: But, if she is ever going to rule the F&FW curvy couch, she needs to learn from the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” not only to translate her youthful enthusiasm and sexy energy into her new FNC gig but also to find a way to infuse her Southern niceness with a little old-time Tina “roughness.”

Too often, on the set with her co-anchors Clayton Morris and Tucker Carlson (and/or Mike Jerrick), Anna seems to embody her beautiful, playful yellow lab Baxter–overly eager to please. She would do well to remember the success of past F&FW “alpha bitches” (e.g., Juliet Huddy, Alisyn Camerota (thrice), Kiran Chetry, and Page Hopkins) and the failure of another nice Carolinian F&FW anchor (Ainsley Earhardt). If Anna hopes ever to rival her predecessor Aly (to whom Clayton bid adieu, saying, “I have never worked with someone in a female capacity on the air who has been just as effortless and fantastic as you”), she must learn not to be cowed by Clayton’s cleverness and Tucker’s intellect (and/or Mike’s deftness).

In other words, don’t be afraid to be an F&FW “alpha bitch,” Anna: Dominate the boys with your smarts, wit, and sensuality.

[Author’s aside: The subtitle, supra, is a quote from Tina Turner’s introduction to her legendary Proud Mary (with her then husband, Ike Turner). As to the inclusion of Mike Jerrick, supra, he seems to be co-hosting F&FW with increasing frequency for the incorrigibly absent Tucker.]

Missing Morris: “Pneumonia!”

Another weekend off? Today, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris continued to be M.I.A. from his post–for the second week in a row. Unfortunately, his co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs provided scant commentary for Clayton’s extended absence other than his being sick. Given F&FW‘s past anchor defenestrations (e.g., Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly), unexplained departures (Kiran Chetry), and questionable leaves of absence (Alisyn Camerota), Clayton’s fans surely deserved much more transparency. Happily, apparently, Clayton provided those answers last week–via Twitter.

On the day before F&FW Saturday (last week), Clayton Tweeted, “My wife [Natali Morris nee Del Conte] is a saint. Taking care of two kids and a husband with a 103 degree fever. I’m useless. Well, more than usual.” After the show, he remarked, “Chest X-Ray time to find out if this is pneumonia.” On the following Monday (two days later), Clayton comically revealed the results: He jested, “I’ve lost 6 pounds! My diet secret? Pneumonia!”

At least, Clayton gets it. Get well soon, Clayton!

Clayton: Aly’s “Maternity Shuffle”

Or, Bill Shine’s three-card monte? Just when is Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Alisyn Camerota returning to her show?  Three weeks ago, co-host Clayton Morris said, “She might be back next weekend.” Two weeks ago, he said, “We don’t know.” Saturday, he said, “The maternity leave shuffle continues. Uh, Aly still filling in for Martha [MacCallum on America’s Newsroom] who’s filling in for Megyn [Kelly on America Live]: So, a few more weeks.”*

As Clayton continued to fecklessly try to allay the fears of Aly’s fans Saturday, guest co-host Molly Line laughed yet again and co-anchor Dave Briggs smiled once more. But, Aly’s acolytes continue to wonder why she still has not returned to her F&FW post in eight weeks. Not unnoticed is that Aly’s “maternity shuffle partner” Martha MacCallum has returned to her own program, America’s Newsroom, for the last two weeks (if but for a day or so): furthermore, Martha said that she will also be on AN this coming Thursday and Friday.**

However, not only has Aly not gone back to F&FW but also she has not answered her Twitter followers (including the author) as to when she will. Perhaps, Aly has simply moved on or FNC Executive VP of Programming Bill Shine has moved her on. Remember, almost two months before Megyn Kelly went on maternity leave, Shine appeared to do an audition for the curvy couch center seat on F&FW (and F&F). (Cf. “5 Straight Days: 5 Hot Hostesses!“)

Shine, no more unexplained F&FW exits, e.g., Kiran Chetry, Page Hopkins, etc. Your FNC viewers and Aly’s fans deserve better. Is Aly still your F&FW starter?

*Fox & Friends Saturday – 06/04/11 (@ 9:01 a.m. ET)

**America’s Newsroom – 06/03/11 (@ 10:59 a.m. ET)

F&FW: More Courtney & Less Aly?

Reichmuth revelation? After Fox & Friends guest co-anchor Courtney Friel read a story Sunday about a breastfeeding mom who was ousted from McDonald’s and co-host Clayton Morris subsequently tossed to him, FNC meteorologist Rich Reichmuth jested, ““I’m just wondering now with [mom-to-be] Courtney there and [new father] Clayton, how many of these breastfeeding stories are there gonna be.”* In reply, Clayton deadpanned, “We’re actually building a whole block into the show now just for breastfeeding stories.” Laughing, Rick responded, “Of course.” Chiming in, co-anchor Dave Briggs joked, “We need a sponsor!” Perchance, aptly, Rick chuckled: “I know. I believe it. It’s perfect!”

Nothing would be unusual about Rick’s remark if he had uttered it at the beginning of the three-hour program (and, if his colleagues Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs had not then so readily embraced it). However, Rick made his comment with only twenty-two minutes, including commercial breaks, left in F&FW‘s last (and Courtney’s only) show of the weekend. Clearly, Rick indicated that a gravid Courtney’s presence would facilitate those future “breastfeeding stories.” And, Clayton and Dave’s respective remarks about creating a nursing “whole block” and obtaining a breastfeeding “sponsor” added credence to his implication.

Obviously, if Rick’s “revelation” rings true and Courtney returns to F&FW on a more regular basis, she would probably go back to her former role as newsreader or replace F&FW‘s current queen Alisyn Camerota. In that vein, could Aly’s apparent decision to possibly kybosh her blog, Alisyn in the Greenroom,  and to announce it Sunday before the show possibly indicate such a more tenuous relationship to Fox & Friends Weekend. Furthermore, was Dave’s comment at the beginning of F&F Sunday that Aly was taking off “a bit more than the President’s 27 hrs, a few more days than that” more pregnant with meaning that it first appeared to be?**

Conversely, Aly has played such an important role in righting the Fox & Friends Weekend ship after the defenestration debacle (of trio Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly) and its aftermath (Ainsley Earnhardt, Clayton, and Dave) that it seems highly unlikely that FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine would send Aly elsewhere or allow her to leave. However, it is conceivable if Shine thinks that her erstwhile wards, Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs, have grown sufficiently to carry the show with a less able captain. But, perish the thought!

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@9:39 a.m.)

**Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@6:01 a.m.)

Aly & her Doublemen Twins

“New and improved”: Double your pleasure? Double your fun? Fox & Friends (Independence Day edition) finally gave viewers a fireworks display yesterday after two prior years of virtual duds. In 2008, F&FW’s very green crew of Southern belle Ainsley Earhardt and her daft Doublemen twins Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs  made viewers yearn for the then recently defenestrated trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly. In 2009, F&F Weekend’s new queen Alisyn Camerota and her Doublemen major-domos still did not have the F&F house quite in order with their pedestrian music, dreadful duds, and arid air. However, this year, Aly, Dave, and Clayton treated their viewers to a hipper, smarter, and more sophisticated holiday fare: festive yet respective with their  military jazz band, jauntier garb, and vibrant tempo.

Even Aly seemed to have sensed the program’s progress since she joined Clayton and Dave. When producers put a photo of them together on the screen after a segment showing “other” happy couples who looked alike, Aly conversely noted that she was just beginning to be able to tell them apart (an apparently puckish reference to their earlier Doublemen Twin days). Happily, F&FW viewers are beginning to notice the difference, too.

Good job, Aly, Dave, and Clayton!

Page Appears on MSNBC

Fans of former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Page Hopkins got an early gift in their stocking if they were watching MSNBC. (And that’s a big if for many of her former viewers at Fox News.) Page was spotted by ICN providing afternoon updates last Sunday: the cable news blog reported that her status was unclear, i.e., if she were a freelancer or a more permanent employee.

It has been over a year since Page Hopkins left Fox News reportedly on her own terms in late 2008. Page had been a rather popular F&FW co-anchor before being unceremoniously canned in early 2008. Subsequently, she was relegated to a rather minor role before her departure with little fanfare.

F&FW: Dave’s Really on Vacation

Fox & Friends Weekend practically screamed to its viewers that Dave is still around. With the return of the popular former F&FW co-anchor Mike Jerrick to guest host the show, F&FW seemed to want to tamp down speculation that his stay may be more permanent. As long-time F&FW viewers may remember Page Hopkins was once, too, on “vacation” and famously did not return to host the program.

In fact, Mike Jerrick brought up the subject as the program opened: He asked, “Where is Dave, again?” As co-host Clayton Morris began to answer, colleague Alisyn Camerota cut in and said, “He’s on a fabulous vacation:  That’s all you need to know!” Mike laughed, “That’s all I need to know?” Aly riposted, “Yeah!” Since then Dave has been mentioned five more times and Mike’s being in for him thrice more.

Ergo, viewers, the message appears clear: Dave is really on vacation.

F&FW 2day: Past or Future?

“I like [M]ike!” For long-time fans of Fox & Friends Weekend, the return of former F&FW co-anchor Mike Jerrick was a welcome blast from the past. The “old master” showed that he still had the goods, i.e., a wicked wit, audacious ad libbing, and a real rapport with the audience.

Today was a delightful amalgam of the various incarnations of F&FW (save the Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly one). Mike represented the first (Mike, Juliet Huddy, and Julian Phillips); Alisyn Camerota the second (Aly, Kiran Chetry, and Julian Phillips); and Clayton Morris the penultimate one (Clayton, Ainsley Earhardt, and Dave Briggs). Of course, F&FW has had various other manifestations that were too fleeting to mention.

Today Mike, Aly, and Clayton informed and entertained the viewer seamlessly. It was as it should be–especially, on the weekend. No self-absorption, cause celebres, or excessive emotiveness. They simply allowed their audience to sit back and enjoy their coffee, mimosa, or other fave bev.

Bravo, Aly and the boys!

F&FW Back on Course?

No gratuitous groping, no scandalous shots, and nothing overtly outrageous. Yet, it still clicked! Nothing remarkable about Fox & Friends Weekend today but that may be the very reason it was.

F&FW has come a long way indeed since FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine first threw Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly overboard without warning F&F fans and replaced them with the very callow crew of Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris. The ensuing very rough ride on the ill-fated excursion precipitated the necessary mid-voyage conscription of captain and co-anchor Alisyn Camerota. Under her nurturing leadership, her co-hosts Dave Briggs and Clayton Morris have begun to evolve into more mature mateys.

For example, today when Dave was called Steve [Doocy] at the end of an interview by a guest, he did not bristle as a young buck normally might. Rather, he took it in good humor and then segued to an upcoming Clayton Morris interview with Stevie Nicks by referring to Clayton as Brian [Kilmeade]. Not surprisingly, Aly seamlessly joined in by addressing Dave as “Steve” and exclusively calling Clayton “Brian” throughout the tease. I.e., no worries: it’s all good!

F&FW appears back on course.

Clayton: “I’m the Flake”

As Fox & Friends opened today, guest co-host Clayton Morris upstaged the weekday regulars with his self-deprecatory humor. Introducing the show with the viewer slogan du jour, Clayton read, “If morning shows were breakfast cereal, Fox & Friends are like flakes I’d eat in the morning.” Co-anchor Steve Doocy exclaimed, “Ouch! Can we have a do-over on that one? Hey, welcome to the flakecast!”

Taking herself a tad seriously, too, co-anchor Gretchen Carlson declared, “I’m not so sure I’m ready to call myself a flake just yet: I get enough blonde jokes as it is.” Steve concurred, “Just by putting that into the open, it seems as if we’re going along with it: I’m with Gretchen on this!” Good-naturedly self-effacing, Clayton responded, “Why don’t you just say flake? I’ll take the hit for that….I’m the flake this morning, yeah!”

Clayton seems to be growing into his role as F&F guest co-host (and F&FW co-anchor). After FNC made Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly walk the proverbial plank, newly conscripted Clayton and his co-hosts, Ainsley Earhardt and Dave Briggs, were like sailors on a rudderless ship. However, now that a recommissioned Camerota is captaining the ship, Clayton seems to have found his sea legs.

F&F: Alpha Bitches Needed

The demure and attractive Ainsley Earhardt returned to Fox & Friends’ curvy couch today as guest host and reminded the author of the sine qua non of a successful F&F, an alpha bitch. The sweet Southern belle does not quite fit the bill. E.g., when co-anchor Dave Briggs questioned who was still stirring and who had just awakened, Ainsley replied that she had been working all night and was still awake: no response from Dave. Also, when Ainsley queried who Clayton Morris and Dave had kissed at midnight, they answered but did not inquire the same of her. Nothing big but Alisyn Camerota would not have been so lightly regarded.

An essential element of F&F has been a strong woman who can stand up to the boys and put them in their place. On F&FW, a jaunty Juliet Huddy kept her salty pal Mike Jerrick corralled and third wheel Julian Phillips cowed; luscious lovelies Kiran Chetry and Alisyn Camerota ran the show as Julian watched from the sidelines; and siren Page Hopkins kept her uncertain colleagues Greg Kelly and Kelly Wright on a slow burn. On F&F, cowgirl E.D. Hill held Four-H’r Steve Doocy and city slicker Brian Kilmeade firmly in her riata.

Now Fox & Friends Weekend has returned to its formula for success. F&FW took the reins from a diffident, callow Ainsley and handed them to a confident, veteran Aly. Aly took charge of the show and Clayton and Dave fell in line.

On the other hand, Fox & Friends weekday has not quite regained its moorings since E.D. left. Gretchen seems to try to ape her predecesssor in her diurnal diatribes but receives less deference from her colleagues than did E.D. Steve and Brian are the alpha males, and they know it. However, Gretch is not the alpha bitch, and she knows it. Whether she can grow into the position is yet to be seen.

Colmes: Ciao!

An odd farewell from and to Alan Colmes, the liberal counterpart to Sean Hannity on FNC’s popular political polemics program, Hannity & Colmes. During the show, Alan mentioned with little fanfare that he had an announcement to make and Sean seemed to treat it rather lightly: However, in the final segment, Alan announced that he would be leaving the show after twelve years to continue his radio program (“Alan Colmes Show”), contribute to FNC, and to, perhaps, do occasional specials for FNC. He and Sean affirmed their on-screen, off-screen long-time friendship and traded pleasantries. And then the usual segue to Greta and it was over.

According to TVDecoder, Alan will leave at the end of the year. Fox News may be slowly learning from its mistakes. Its past pathetic partings to Fox & Friends’ E.D. Hill and F&FW’s Kiran Chetry, Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, Greg Kelly, and Ainsley Earhardt left a sour taste in its faithful fans’ mouths. Hopefully, when he leaves at the end of the year, they will give him a respectful send-off.

Adieu, Alan. You have proved yourself a vociferous and vigorous adversary to Sean. And you do so without being mean spirited. Bravo!

http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/one-half-of-hannity-colmes-is-leaving/?hp

http://soupcans.blogspot.com/2008/11/hannity-colmes-to-lose-colmes-part.html

E.D. Out: Over FNC’s Hill

After over a decade on Fox News, E.D. Hill was shown the door by Bill Shine, FNC’s Senior Vice President of Programming according to TVNewser: E.D. is scheduled to depart in a few months as her contractual term ends. The attractive, opinionated towhead had a highly successful seven-year stint as co-host of FNC’s morning news show, Fox & Friends. Further, she served as anchor of America’s Pulse and guest host of the O’Reilly Factor.

However, E.D. recently has had a rough road of late. First, on September, 22, 2006, with little apparent warning, FNC celebrated its 10th anniversary by replacing her with a younger blonde, namely,  Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America. E.D. was moved to a later FNC morning news program for a short time before she found a home at FNC’s America’s Pulse in the afternoon. There she made her infamous “terrorist fist jab” gaffe and found her show canned ten days later.

The resilient, brassy Texan beauty will no doubt land on her feet. Maybe, she could join her fellow flaxen-tressed FNC exiles, Page Hopkins and Laurie Dhue, in an edgy morning news show or, perhaps, an all-blonde Red Eye for the Straight Guy.

Good luck, E.D!

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/ed_hill_to_leave_fox_news_channel_100945.asp

http://blog.radioleft.com/blog/_archives/2006/9/24/2354501.html

E.D.’s Barack Knock

E.D.’s Edge

Page: A New Chapter

Dhue Point Evaporates

E.D. Again: Relates 2 “Nut Cut” Comment

Page: A New Chapter

An observant ICN reported yesterday that the bio of Page Hopkins had been removed from the FNC site. Today TVNewser revealed that sources said former Fox & Friends co-host had indeed left Fox News recently on her own terms. Were these sources the same ones that said she was on vacation when FNC exiled her to Etna with an occasional pass (to guest host at the Breaking News desk on Happening Now)?

Page will be missed by her many fans, especially, those who deeply resented FNC’s sudden replacement of her and her co-hosts, Greg Kelly and Kelly Wright, without notice or explanation. Page is a real asset that FNC is losing. Hopefully, she will find a stint at another network that will fully utilize her talents.

Much continued success, Page!

Hopkins and Quinn: Gone from FNC?

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/brigitte_quinn_page_hopkins_leave_fox_news_channel_95761.asp

Ainsley’s Fate Sealed

The fate of Ainsley Earhardt, the South Carolina cutie, was sealed as soon as the castrato choir (and Courtney Friel) was enlisted to sail the F&FW ship with her. To Ainsley afficionados, she appears sweet, genuine, and promising whereas to her detractors, she seems saccharine, naive, and green. She may well share all of these attributes in some measure but she never was able to find her footing flanked by the castrato choir.

Why Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs were conscripted after Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly were thrown overboard is unfathomable to this author. I missed FNC’s inexplicably delayed introduction of the pair to the F&FW audience. If anyone gleaned a reasonable explanation, please comment: if not, please feel free to share the import of the segment. Thanks!

Aly on Vacation. Sound Familiar?

Is Aly on vacation or on a FNC “vacation”? Last Friday Aly told the Fox & Friends First audience that she was starting her vacation the next day. According to Johnny Dollar (JDP), Aly’s is taking a nine-day holiday which coincides with the possible expansion of Fox & Friends to three hours incorporating Fox & Friends First. Johnny Dollar ominously observes, “IF this report [F&F expansion] is correct (and I put a question mark on it deliberately) then Gretchen will be doing all three hours from now on.” (JDP references Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tim Cuprisin who said Fox & Friends with Gretchen Carlson, Steve Doocy, and Brian will expand to three hours including the time spot of F&FF.)

Is FNC pulling another fast one on its loyal fans? When it canned the comely Kiran Chetry and later the trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly, it breathed nary a word to its Fox & Friends viewers. If F&FF is indeed being replaced by F&F, then what becomes of Alisyn Camerota? Will she return from vacation as a mere newsreader on F&F? Or will she be exiled with Page Hopkins to FNC’s Siberia?

If Aly goes on permanent holiday from Fox & Friends, then I very well may join her. FNC cannot continue to treat its viewers with little to no regard without consequences. Roger Ailes, you called in to F&FW Saturday: hopefully, you’ll get back with the program in general. It needs your attention desparately.

Links:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=772056
http://homepage.mac.com/mkoldys/blog/jdp.html

Aly: Greg Kelly Here

Greg Kelly admirers, your dreamboat is still with Fox News according to Alisyn Camerota. This author has heard the murmuring about Clayton Morris filling in for Brian Kilmeade vis-a-vis G.I. Ken. Apparently, FNC does not want to roil the waters any more than they are by bringing in one of the former canned co-anchors (i.e., Greg Kelly, Kelly Wright, or Page Hopkins) to guest host. It appears determined to “stay the course” with its new cast of Clayton, Dave Briggs, Ainsley Earhardt, and Courtney Friel: seemingly, it does not want to stir a poignant nostalgia for the past.

http://greenroom.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/07/jay-thomas/#comments

Penitant Page

Page Hopkins, former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host, appeared yesterday at the “Breaking News desk” on FNC’s Happening Now and America’s Pulse. One begins to wonder whether she is stationed on the isle of Elba or languishing in the Siberian cold. The still-on-the-payroll-for-now flaxen Fox News beauty appears to be atoning for some inside baseball error or the cardinal sin of aging. how much more penance must the lovely lass endure?

E.D.’s Barack Knock

Erstwhile Fox & Friends co-host and current America’s Pulse anchor E.D. Hill gave FNC cover to ax her. According to the Huffington Post, in reference to the knuckle knock of Barack and Michelle Obama, E.D. asked if it were a “terrorist fist jab.” Today the beautiful blonde Texan ate crow and apologized on America’s Pulse. According to TVNewser, her show has been canned to extend Martha MacCallum’s show The Live Desk for another hour.

Was E.D.’s Barack knock answered? She appears to be out of a show and with FNC in an unspecified capacity. Look for her in the shadows with Page Hopkins.

Links:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/09/fox-anchor-calls-obama-fi_

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htmlhttp://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/changes_to_fox_news_

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