Jury to hear Fox News and 2020 election case on Monday

The $1.6 billion lawsuit filed against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems will begin on Monday in Delaware. The case will ask whether Fox News defamed the voting machine company by airing stories alleging that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against then-President Donald Trump, despite many at the network privately doubting the false claims being pushed by Trump and his allies. The trial has larger implications for press freedom and conservative media's reputation. It will also highlight the flow of misinformation that helped spark the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and fuel Trump's hopes to regain power in 2024. During the trial, Fox News stars Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity and founder Rupert Murdoch are expected to testify. The case will test whether Dominion can prove that Fox acted with "actual malice" by putting something on the air knowing that it knew was false or acting with a "reckless disregard" for whether it was true. The jury will also determine whether a powerful figure like Murdoch had the influence to keep the accusations off the air. The case is being closely watched by another voting-technology company with a separate but similar case against Fox News. Many experts are surprised that Fox and Dominion have not reached an out-of-court settlement, though they can at any time. There's presumably a wide financial gulf. The trial has had no apparent effect on Fox News' viewership, as it remains the top-rated cable network.