As Fox News gained strength, progressive activists turned to comedian Al Franken and young online communities to fight back. But could the left put up a real fight without its own Fox News? And what did Fox’s critics miss when they focused only on politics?

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Season 10 of Slow Burn was written and reported by Josh Levin. The executive producer was Lizzie Jacobs.

Slow Burn is produced by Sophie Summergrad, Joel Meyer and Rosie Belson with help from Patrick Fort, Jacob Fenston and Julia Russo.

Derek John is the executive producer of narrative podcasts at Slate.

This season was edited by Susan Matthews and Hillary Frey.

Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. Mix and sound design by Joe Plourde.

Our theme music was composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Derreck Johnson created the artwork for this season. Episode artwork by Ivylise Simones.

Sources for this episode:

Books

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Sherman, Gabriel. The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News—and Divided a CountryRandom House, 2014.

York, Byron. The Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy: The Untold Story of How Democratic Activists, Eccentric Billionaires, Liberal Activists, and Assorted Celebrities Tried to Overthrow a President—and Why They’ll Try Even More Next TimeCrown Forum, 2005.

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Boynton, Robert S. “How to Make a Guerrilla Documentary,” New York Times Magazine, July 11, 2004.

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Hello, Sherri. “Pepsi Says Its Pop Music Stars Can Reach Minorities and Mainstream Simultaneously,” New York Times, August 27, 2002.

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Most recently, Jonathan V. “Mad About Fox,” Washington Examiner, September 2, 2004.

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Moore, Frazier. “Fox News Has a Pro-Bush Stance, Film Claims,” Chicago Sun-Times, July 17, 2004.

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“MoveOn.org launches online Fox Watch group to track Fox News’ partisan bias,” MoveOn.org, November 21, 2003.

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Pressman, Matt. “What Ever Happened to Air America?”, Vanity Fair, March 12, 2009.

Reulas, Richard. “Former Fox journalist not afraid to be honest,” Arizona Republic, August 23, 2004.

Ruby, Daniel. “Liberal Radio Network goes on the air,” Philadelphia Inquirer, March 11, 2004.

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Saulny, Susan. “Courtroom Laughter at Fox and a Victory for Al Franken,” New York Times, August 23, 2003.

Check, Frank. “Outfoxed,” The Hollywood Reporter, August 9, 2004.

Shafer, Jack. “Bill O’Reilly Wants You to Shut Up,” Slate, August 28, 2003.

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Span, Paula. “And don’t even get them started on the war,” New York Times, March 25, 2007.

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Audiovisual

Doob, Nick and Chris Hegedus. Al Franken: God spoke, 2006.

Farrelly, Patrick and Kate O’Callaghan. Left of the dial2005.

“New York Protesters Hold ‘Fox News Shut-Up-A-Thon,'” Democracy Now!, September 1, 2004.