[elklindo69]

We study the effects of news coverage of the novel coronavirus by the two most widely-viewed cable news shows in the United States – Hannity and Tucker Carlson Tonight, both on Fox News – on viewers’ behavior and downstream health outcomes. Carlson warned viewers about the threat posed by the coronavirus from early February, while Hannity originally dismissed the risks associated with the virus before gradually adjusting his position starting late February. We first validate these differences in content with independent coding of show transcripts. In line with the differences in content, we present novel survey evidence that Hannity’s viewers changed behavior in response to the virus later than other Fox News viewers, while Carlson’s viewers changed behavior earlier. We then turn to the effects on the pandemic itself, examining health outcomes across counties. First, we document that greater viewership of Hannity relative to Tucker Carlson Tonight is strongly associated with a greater number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the early stages of the pandemic. The relationship is stable across an expansive set of robustness tests. To better identify the effect of differential viewership of the two shows, we employ a novel instrumental variable strategy exploiting variation in when shows are broadcast in relation to local sunset times. These estimates also show that greater exposure to Hannity relative to Tucker Carlson Tonight is associated with a greater number of county-level cases and deaths. Furthermore, the results suggest that in mid-March, after Hannity’s shift in tone, the diverging trajectories on COVID-19 cases begin to revert. We provide additional evidence consistent with misinformation being an important mechanism driving the effects in the data. While our findings cannot yet speak to long-term effects, they indicate that provision of misinformation in the early stages of a pandemic can have important consequences for how a disease ultimately affects the population.

[johnforbes]

Elkin, the Left Wing already controls almost all media outlets.

Fox itself, now owned by Disney, has turned far more toward Left Wing lunacy.

You should be happy.

You won't have to worry about those pesky opinions different from your lazy leftist stereotypes.

[Clownkicker]

johnforbes is getting all nostalgic and sentimental for the days when he could safely turn on his boob tube and bask in an entire day of comforting, soothing opinions consisting of nothing but lazy rightist stereotypes.

NOW where is he going to go to get his daily dose of unfair and unbalanced 'news'?

[johnforbes]

The solution is simple -- I merely glance at whatever Clownslacker posts, then assume the opposite.

By the way, there is a new book out about the years Clowntoker and I have spent on this fine forum.

It is entitled The Splendid and the Vile.

Goes without saying which part relates to Clown...

[Clownkicker]

johnforbes is also nostalgic about the 1980 release of his own memoir about his days in Frisco titled Splendor In The Ass

[johnforbes]

Wait a second, I believe that is one of my own jokes.

That reminds me of the time I went to a video store to rent "On Golden Pond" but got the wrong movie.

I got "On Golden Blonde." Whole different plot.

[Clownkicker]

They actually used a picture of johnforbes sporting a horseshoe mustache and wearing black leather chaps on the VHS box for "The So-so, the Bad, and the Ugly"

They were right, it sure wasn't good.....or pretty.

[elklindo69]

Now Fox news has gone silent on hydroxycholoroquine.

What went wrong Johnnie, according to you this was supposed to be some miracle drug?

[johnforbes]

Elkin, nobody called it a miracle drug, but apparently it works well on covid, and you would know that if you did your homework.

The VA study was moronic, and I posted the link to Didier Raoult's devastating response.

Don't be too lazy to read it; it is actually quite interesting.

[elklindo69]

If it's working so well so how come Trump is not parroting how wonderful this drug works....according to you anyway?