The first Republican debate is in ten days. Next week, on August 23rd, Fox News will host the debate that will be held in Milwaukee. The Intelligencer section of New York Magazine has a quick snapshot of the 13 candidates, which ones have qualified via the polling and donor requirements.

The article also tells us which ones have vaguely agreed to the loyalty pledge.

Polling aside, the debate rule that’s drawn the most controversy is one that any candidate could meet, in theory: a “loyalty pledge” to support the eventual party nominee. While there’s been widespread grumbling and equivocation, only one candidate has flatly rejected the pledge: former Texas congressman Will Hurd, who is running on a staunch anti-Trump message. Hurd was a long shot to qualify in any event, but he’s the only candidate we know definitely won’t be in Milwaukee unless either he or the RNC has a change of heart. – Intelligencer

Besides Hurd, another total anti-Trumper Chris Christy has met the donor and polling requirements which shocks me for some reason, but he hasn’t come right out and committed to the loyalty pledge. Because you know, Trump. However, the Intelligencer predicts Christie will eventually sign the pledge if only to be able to show his ass and total hate for Trump on the debate stage. “Show his ass and total hate for Trump” are my words, not the Intelligencers.

Everyone else seems to be okay with the loyalty pledge (and I’m not sure how I feel about this pledge), but I guess the bigger question is, will Trump show up? He doesn’t have to. He’s got a big enough lead. Plus, he may be a little busy with all of his indictments. But man, my spidey senses tell me he won’t be able to pass it up. And he is a candidate that meets the requirements, I think he should be there.

Be sure to stay with the Victory Girls as we all cover this primary. As there will be fast-moving, late-breaking, and new spins to cover, we will each bring our own voice to stories throughout this race. This will be an exciting few months, and there will be much to cover and write about. I am excited!

I found the article below a little irritating from Newsweek below. And now, keep in mind that I do not work in the media, so this may be normal, but having Newsweek bring it up right now regarding this Fox News-hosted debate raises my eyebrows. It looks like they had the same kind of policy back in 2016, so this may be nothing out of the ordinary.

Fox News Debates or GOP Debates

So, again, Fox News did this back in 2016, and I understand media outlets wanting to protect their content but the way this article reads, and what some others on X are saying, that this is a GOP debate and not a Fox News debate. In other words, this is a Republican debate, and Fox News is simply the host. I don’t know how this differs from any other news outlet’s coverage of past debates in the history of the United States.

As well as limiting the amount of content in the week following the debate, it says other media outlets must provide “an appropriate, unobstructed, on-screen credit… in the upper left or right hand corner of the screen during the entire debate excerpt” and that the clip “must be introduced with an audio credit: ‘In a debate on the Fox News Channel.'”

The advisory stipulates that footage “must be taped directly from Fox News’ telecast or obtained directly” from the network. Use on TV and radio is limited to news broadcasts and online outlets must embed Fox News’ in-house video player. – Newsweek

Wow! It’s like that?

Fox News has issued a notice stating that they will consider LEGAL ACTION against other networks if they exceed a total of 3 minutes of clips from the upcoming Republican debate within a 7-day timeframe per show. The limit is set at 3 minutes per show for… pic.twitter.com/XCNAPlzwOC

— Wayne DuPree  (@WayneDupreeShow) August 11, 2023

And here is more from Newsweek.

“These are REPUBLICAN debates, not FOX News debates,” wrote Larry O’Connor, a talk show host and frequent guest on the network. He called on Republican chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to “fix this right now, if she wants talk radio and conservative news outlets to spend any time informing the public about the GOP candidates for president.”

“This is insane,” Ron Filipkowski, a former federal prosecutor, commented. “Fox is now threatening to sue all other networks if they air more than a total of 3 minutes of clips from the upcoming Republican debate during a 7-day time period on a show. 3 minutes total per show for an entire week.”

In the U.S., copyright law protects content owners from their work being reproduced without permission, though some networks allow for clips of their shows to be used by other outlets to promote their channel or the story.

There are exceptions, and the Copyright Act allows for copyrighted material to be reused without the owner’s permission in certain settings, including the reporting of news.

So, well, which is it? Or is this anything new? And maybe some people are just getting their feathers ruffled for nothing?

A lot of questions that need some answers. And I also wonder, did Fox News send this legal notice to YouTube as well?

Feature Image: Mike Mozart/American Flag/Flickr/Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)