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The 2004 presidential race would be the first fully Fox News election -- a contest that was framed by Fox, and fought on its terms. But the fight over Fox News was about more than just partisan politics. It also launched covert ops against reporters and let loose a secret army of online trolls. And when a Fox producer made serious allegations against Bill O'Reilly, the network showed just how far it would go to defend its biggest star -- no matter the cost.
To read our full reporting on the most recent legal actions between Bill O'Reilly and Andrea Mackris, and learn more about how a non-disclosure agreement from two decades ago has kept Mackris silent, go to slate.com/foxnda.
Want more from Slow Burn? Join Slate Plus to unlock full access to all seasons, including members-only bonus episodes from The Rise of Fox News. You'll also enjoy ad-free listening to all of your favorite Slate podcasts. Visit slate.com/slowburnplus to get access wherever you listen.
Season 10 of Slow Burn was written and reported by Josh Levin. It was executive produced by 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 Slate's executive producer of narrative podcasts.
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.
Moore, David W. How to Steal an Election: The Inside Story of How George Bush's Brother and FOX Network Miscalled the 2000 Election and Changed the Course of History, Nation Books, 2006.
Sherman, Gabriel. The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News-and Divided a Country, Random House, 2014.
Smith, Chris. The Daily Show (The Book): An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests, Grand Central Publishing, 2016.
Stelter, Brian. Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth, Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2020.
Swett, Scott and Tim Ziegler. To Set the Record Straight: How Swift Boat Veterans, Pows and the New Media Defeated John Kerry, New American Media Publishing, LLC, 2008.
Articles
Bauder, David. "CNN lets Tucker Carlson go; 'Crossfire' likely to end as stand-alone show," Associated Press, Jan. 5, 2005.
Bisset, Victoria. "Old rivals Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart reunite to spar on 'The Daily Show,' " Washington Post, July 17, 2024.
Gardner, Eriq. "Bill O'Reilly's Accusers Say Harassment Settlement Was Unethical and Required Lying," the Hollywood Reporter, April 4, 2018.
Hagan, Joe. "Hannity: A Fox in the Crowd," New York Observer, Aug. 16, 2004.
Holden, Jeremy. "Fox News' E.D. Hill teased discussion of Obama dap: 'A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab?', " Media Matters, June 6, 2008.
Kifner, John. "For Kerry, Bonds Forged With Wartime Crews Hold Strong in Presidential Campaign," New York Times, Feb. 24, 2004.
Koppelman, Alex. "Fox News calls Michelle Obama 'Obama's baby mama,' " Salon, June 12, 2008.
Kranish, Michael. "Kerry's Commanders Speak Out Against Him, Staff Says Assault Is Tied To Gop," Boston Globe, May 5, 2004.
Kull, Steven, Clay Ramsay, and Evan Lewis. "Misperceptions, the Media, and the Iraq War," Political Science Quarterly, Winter 2003-2004.
"MoveOn.org Launches Online Fox Watch Group to Track Fox News's Partisan Bias," MoveOn.org, Nov. 21, 2003.
Raasch, Chuck. "Kerry's service record divides Vietnam veterans," Gannett News Service, May 4, 2004.
Raasch, Chuck. "Vietnam vets call Kerry unfit to lead," Chicago Sun-Times, May 5, 2004.
Sheffield, Matthew. "Roger Ailes' fake news empire: Former Fox News head presided over a panoply of phony 'sock puppet' blogs," Salon, April 18, 2017.
Steel, Emily and Michael S. Schmidt. "Bill O'Reilly Settled New Harassment Claim, Then Fox Renewed His Contract," New York Times, Oct. 21, 2017.
Steel, Emily and Michael S. Schmidt. "Bill O'Reilly Thrives at Fox News, Even as Harassment Settlements Add Up," New York Times, April 1, 2017.
"Bill O'Reilly Accuser Andrea Mackris: I Want People to 'Understand the Terror' of Forced NDAs," Daily Beast, July 19, 2021.