Overview
- Tens of thousands of pages of exhibits from Smartmatic’s $2.7bn defamation suit were unsealed, including texts and emails among Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and other Fox figures.
- A judge denied Fox’s request to delay proceedings after Smartmatic’s indictment in the Philippines, keeping the case on track for summary-judgment arguments next month.
- In an October 1, 2020 message, Lachlan Murdoch told Hannity that Trump would not return on air if he used appearances to attack Fox.
- Internal communications show debate over possibly reversing Fox’s Arizona call if Biden’s margin dipped below 1%, alongside concerns about collapsing ratings and viewer anger.
- The materials include Carlson calling Trump a “total piece of s***,” Hannity criticizing Carlson’s on-air challenge to Sidney Powell, and Rupert Murdoch acknowledging a post-election “pivot” away from Trump and linking his fraud claims to January 6.