Trump-boosting pillow salesman Mike Lindell swung at Fox News this week, complaining that the conservative network – which essentially loops its MyPillow commercials – is not providing him with a platform to spread his baseless voting machine conspiracies. Fox may be “involved” in a conspiracy against MAGA chiefs, Lindell eventually suggested.
The pillow tycoon, who has become the face of a dead-end MAGA coalition still trying to overturn President Joe Biden’s election victory, appeared on far-right pundit Eric Metaxas’ radio show Monday to discuss his ongoing efforts to prove the lie that The 2020 election was “stolen” from Donald Trump. Lindell also discussed his fraught efforts to create a new social media site (he was booted from Twitter and other platforms earlier this year for repeatedly pushing mood disinformation).
After boasting that his new platform would automatically earn the so-called influencers ‘millions’ of followers when they join – especially if they got kicked off YouTube for making false claims – Lindell then grumbled that Fox News would supposedly give kowtowing to voting software companies Dominion and Smartmatic After Billion Dollar Legal Complaints.
“Lawsuits can be used as a way to silence people,” Metaxas noted in a moment first highlighted by Salon Staff Writer Zachary PetrizzoThey can be legitimate. But they can also be used to silence people. And I’ve found that instead of facing the matter, Fox and other people just say: We don’t talk about that, we don’t want to be chargedThat is what is happening in America. “
Last month, Smartmatic filed a $ 2.7 billion libel lawsuit against Fox News, three hosts (including recently canceled Lou Dobbs) and former Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, saying they were all spreading false information that it was company had faked the 2020 elections. Dominion, another voting machine company at the center of unmasked election plots, has sued Lindell himself for $ 1.3 billion.
“I want to say one thing here – here are things that don’t add up,” replied an animated Lindell. Let’s talk about Fox! You have already been charged! It is too late to close the gate, the cows are already out of the barn! “
The MAGA maven continued, “Then why can’t people out there express their freedom of speech ?! You’ve already been charged, Fox. What have you got – are you being charged twice? What’s the matter with you? “
Lindell became increasingly irritated, expressing anger and frustration with the network before finally asking, ‘What are they doing about it? I do not get it. Is it a fake? “
Lindell’s pillow ads, in particular, are by far the largest advertiser on Tucker Carlson tonight, Fox’s most watched show As presenter Tucker Carlson has sparked controversy in recent years, the vast majority of the network’s blue-chip advertisers have left the primetime show, leaving mostly MyPillow ads, Fox News promos, and direct marketers.
While it remains to be seen if Fox News responds in any way to one of its biggest sponsors the network is calling directly, Lindell has been able to force a right-wing outlet to back down for not letting him spill crazy conspiracies on the airwaves. .
After Newsmax anchor Bob Sellers interrupted Lindell repeatedly during an interview before literally walking off the set when the founder of MyPillow wouldn’t stop talking about voting machines, Sellers ‘friend of the network’ Lindell begged for forgiveness while assuring viewers that the pillow tycoons remain a major guest on Newsmax. “