[ThenAsNow]

This isn't "you like vanilla, I like chocolate, to each their own." Grandparent post states a view on the tangible harm caused by this media empire. Using the flavor analogy, it's more like vanilla vs. lead ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead(II)_acetate ). In that framing, it makes sense to hope lead-based choices go away.

[up2isomorphism]

Who defines what is lead and what is vanilla?

The only right way to show something is wrong or toxic is to let people see it.

[jfengel]

Media influences elections. The entire point of an election is that whoever wins gets to decide for everybody.

It does not matter which one is lead and which one is vanilla. If 51% of the people vote for what turns out to be lead, it's bad for everybody, not just them.

Elections are supposed to rely on most people's ability to figure out falsehood from reality for themselves. That's a fragile premise, especially when a lot of money is put into creating a substantial propaganda campaign.

In general, we don't have any system for dealing with falsehoods. We just let everybody talk and hope that the people figure it out.

In this specific case, however, we have a jury to decide. When the falsehoods can be shown to be deliberate, reckless, and damaging, they can be penalized for it. The bar is very high, and it's up to a jury to decide.

If somehow this destroys Fox News, it won't be the government making the decision. They will have committed an infringement of the law, and are suffering the consequences. The damage being compensated is to the company, not the nation.