Veteran cable news host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lou-dobbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lou Dobbs</a> died on Wednesday, according to several reports. He was 78 years old.
A statement was posted to his official X account on Thursday afternoon: &#8220;It&#8217;s with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of &#8216;the great Lou Dobbs.&#8217; Lou was a fighter till the very end — fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family, and the country. Lou&#8217;s legacy will forever live on as a patriot and a great American. We ask for your prayers for Lou&#8217;s wonderful wife Debi, children, and grandchildren.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/0Lr29t1twO">pic.twitter.com/0Lr29t1twO</a>
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouDobbs/status/1814037403465625995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
Former President Donald Trump was among the first to announce Dobbs&#8217; passing, offering his condolences to the family in a post shared on Truth Social: &#8220;The Great Lou Dobbs has just passed away. A friend, and truly incredible Journalist, Reporter, and Talent.&#8221;
&#8220;He understood the World, and what was &#8216;happening,&#8217; better than others. Lou was unique in so many ways, and loved our Country. Our warmest condolences to his wonderful wife, Debi, and family. He will be greatly missed!&#8221; Trump continued.
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A number of Dobbs&#8217; former colleagues shared Trump&#8217;s post along with their own comments, remembering him as &#8220;thoughtful,&#8221; &#8220;smart,&#8221; and always a &#8220;patriot.&#8221;
&#8220;Oh my goodness, Lou Dobbs was the greatest. And I was just on his show. I am so sorry for the Dobbs family! Will pray for the repose of his soul,&#8221; Jeff Clark posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Oh my goodness, Lou Dobbs was the greatest.
And I was just on his show.
I am so sorry for the Dobbs family!
Will pray for the repose of his soul. <a href="https://t.co/df3Pri1AHJ">https://t.co/df3Pri1AHJ</a>
— Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffClarkUS/status/1814027283750879328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
Trish Regan shared a photo of herself with Dobbs from the 2016 Republican National Convention, adding, &#8220;I just heard that Lou Dobbs has passed. Lou was a thoughtful business journalist who challenged the traditional economic theories of the elites. He &amp; I anchored the 2016 RNC together—&amp; I was struck by his enthusiasm for his job which was infectious.He loved America. RIP Lou.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I just heard that Lou Dobbs has passed.Lou was a thoughtful business journalist who challenged the traditional economic theories of the elites.He &amp; I anchored the 2016 RNC together—&amp; I was struck by his enthusiasm for his job which was infectious.He loved America. RIP Lou. 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/KGtlXCuc4Z">pic.twitter.com/KGtlXCuc4Z</a>
— Trish Regan (@trish_regan) <a href="https://twitter.com/trish_regan/status/1814034460528254997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
Former Fox News host Bill O&#8217;Reilly added, &#8220;@LouDobbs has passed. 78 years old. Smart guy, always enjoyed speaking with him. Much sympathy extended to his family.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/LouDobbs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LouDobbs</a> has passed. 78 years old. Smart guy, always enjoyed speaking with him. Much sympathy extended to his family.
— Bill O&#8217;Reilly (@BillOReilly) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillOReilly/status/1814031865562427689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Very sad news. Lou Dobbs was an exceptionally kind, generous, gracious, wonderful man in an industry that rewards none of those qualities. Yet he remained as kind as ever to the end. What a patriot,&#8221; The Federalist&#8217;s Sean Davis said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Very sad news. Lou Dobbs was an exceptionally kind, generous, gracious, wonderful man in an industry that rewards none of those qualities. Yet he remained as kind as ever to the end. What a patriot. <a href="https://t.co/hVGAhUjyfx">pic.twitter.com/hVGAhUjyfx</a>
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) <a href="https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/1814028638674944341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
Dr. Robert Jeffress also shared his thoughts, saying, &#8220;My good friend and @FoxBusiness host, @LouDobbs, just passed away. What a great and godly man! The highlight of my week was my Friday night segments with this courageous journalist. I was honored to pray with Lou earlier today before the Lord took him to heaven.  Praying for his wife Debi and all of Lou’s family.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My good friend and <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxBusiness?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxBusiness</a> host, <a href="https://twitter.com/LouDobbs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LouDobbs</a>, just passed away. What a great and godly man! The highlight of my week was my Friday night segments with this courageous journalist.
I was honored to pray with Lou earlier today before the Lord took him to heaven. Praying for… <a href="https://t.co/jqxjuCJ1Tj">pic.twitter.com/jqxjuCJ1Tj</a>
— Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) <a href="https://twitter.com/robertjeffress/status/1814030866370412614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
Dobbs spent more than four decades on cable news, joining CNN as a host in 1980, and then hosting the popular &#8220;Lou Dobbs Tonight&#8221; on Fox Business Channel from 2011 to 2021.

CPAC 2024 in Maryland

Veteran Cable News Host Lou Dobbs Dead At 78

Donald Trump

Fox Business Channel

Lou Dobbs

Media

U.S.

Fox News Network settled a defamation lawsuit filed against the legacy media outlet and former Fox Business host Lou Dobbs by a Venezuelan businessman over a broadcast and related social media activity involving him and voting software companies during the 2020 presidential election.
Majed Khalil sued the Fox Corporation, Fox News Network LLC, Lou Dobbs, and attorney Sidney Powell in a complaint filed in New York federal court in 2021.
Law and Crime <a href="https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/fox-settles-defamation-lawsuit-from-venezuelan-businessman-tying-him-dominion-election-claim/">observed</a> the complaint, which alleged the defendants accused Khalil and three others of working with Dominion and Smartmatic to &#8220;rig or fix the results&#8221; of the election in favor of President Joe Biden during a December 10, 2020, broadcast and related Twitter posts.
“Here, Defendants repeatedly maintained their claims about Khalil long after Powell’s election fraud theories were challenged,” his 26-page opinion and order states. “Numerous reports that declared the falsity of the claims against Dominion and Smartmatic and rejected Powell as an accurate source of information gave Defendants reasons to doubt Powell’s veracity and the accuracy of her reports. While the complaint does not allege that the Khalil himself informed Defendants of the falsity of the claims against him, both Smartmatic and Dominion did so. Falsity of the claims against both companies would necessitate falsity of the claims against Plaintiff. Several government agencies stated that there was no evidence of fraud in the election, and even then-President Trump supporters rejected Powell’s accusations.”
Fox attorney K. Winn Allen wrote in a Saturday letter to Stanton co-signed by Khalil attorney Sigmund S. Wissner-Gross reported by Law and Crime that the parties anticipate filing a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice early next week.
&#8220;The parties are pleased to jointly inform the Court that they have reached a confidential agreement to resolve this matter,&#8221; Allen said.
The claims against Powell were dismissed, while a judge last fall denied the news outlet and Dobbs&#8217; attempts on First Amendment grounds, claiming that they engaged in fair and neutral reporting.
&#8220;The 2020 Election is a cyber Pearl Harbor: The leftwing establishment have aligned their forces to overthrow the United States government,&#8221; Dobbs wrote in a December 10 post on Twitter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The 2020 Election is a cyber Pearl Harbor:
The leftwing establishment have aligned their forces to overthrow the United States government <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MAGA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmericaFirst?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmericaFirst</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dobbs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dobbs</a> <a href="https://t.co/v1hOAPMqGY">pic.twitter.com/v1hOAPMqGY</a>
&mdash; Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouDobbs/status/1337154346795012098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fox canceled Dobbs&#8217; show in February 2021.
Fox also faces a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems over similar claims surrounding the 2020 presidential election.
Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis denied granting summary judgment to Fox News in its attempt to get the voting software company&#8217;s lawsuit tossed on Friday, which now goes to trial in April.
&#8220;The evidence developed in this civil proceeding demonstrates that is CRYSTAL clear that none of the Statements relating to Dominion about the 2020 election are true,&#8221; Davis wrote in his ruling reported by <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/judge-refuses-dismiss-dominion-lawsuit-fox-news-rcna76422">NBC</a>.
Network officials argued that the opinions were protected under the Constitution, but Davis disagreed, saying such statements were either fact or mixed opinion.
Fox News argued that the challenged comments were opinions and protected. Still, Davis disagreed, saying the statements &#8220;were capable of being proven true and, in fact, the evidence that would prove the statements was discussed many times but never presented.&#8221;
&#8220;We are gratified by the Court&#8217;s thorough ruling soundly rejecting all of Fox&#8217;s arguments and defenses, and finding as a matter of law that their statements about Dominion are false,&#8221; a spokesperson for Dominion said in a statement to NBC. &#8220;We look forward to going to trial.&#8221;
A Fox News spokesperson told NBC in a satement that the case involves the First Amendment protections of the media&#8217;s absolute right to cover the news.
&#8220;FOX will continue to fiercely advocate for the rights of free speech and a free press as we move into the next phase of these proceedings,&#8221; the spokesperson said.

New York City Architecture And Monuments

Fox News, Lou Dobbs Reach Settlement In Defamation Lawsuit

2020 Election

Biden Administration

Fox News

Trump Administration

Fox News has canceled “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” with Friday night being host Lou Dobbs’ final broadcast, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Lou Dobbs, who was the highest-rated host on the Fox Business Network, “remains under contract at Fox News but he will in all likelihood not appear on the company&#8217;s networks again.”
His show, “Lou Dobbs Tonight” aired daily at 5 p.m. ET, and re-aired at 7 p.m. on Fox Business, which became the top-rated “news program on business television,” featuring a “breakdown of the day’s top stories and how they impact the economy,” according to the Fox Business website.
“Prior to joining FBN, Dobbs served as a chief economic correspondent, managing editor and executive vice president for CNN, hosting various programs, including ‘Moneyline,’ which premiered in 1980 and was later renamed Lou Dobbs Tonight,” his profile shows.
Dobbs, 75, joined Fox Business Network in November of 2010. According to the Los Angeles Times, “Lou Dobbs Tonight” will “be called ‘Fox Business Tonight,’ with rotating substitute hosts Jackie DeAngelis and David Asman,” starting next week.
This announcement comes one day after Smartmatic — a voting software company — filed a <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-02-04/voting-software-smartmatic-sues-fox-news-anchors-27-billion-election">$2.7 billion defamation suit</a> against Fox News and three of its hosts, one of whom was Lou Dobbs. According to the Los Angeles Times report, however, “people familiar with discussions say the decision to end Dobbs’ program was under consideration before the legal issues with Smartmatic arose.”
“As we said in October, Fox News Media regularly considers programming changes and plans have been in place to launch new formats as appropriate post-election, including on Fox Business,” a Fox News representative said. “This is part of those planned changes. A new 5 p.m. program will be announced in the near future.”
On the subject of the suit, a Fox News Media Spokesperson added, “FOX News Media is committed to providing the full context of every story with in-depth reporting and clear opinion. We are proud of our 2020 election coverage and will vigorously defend this meritless lawsuit in court.”
This news comes after a series of other announcements regarding Fox News and Fox Business Network programming, including a number of program and host changes, as well as a shake-up of the Fox News daytime lineup. This also comes during a turbulent time for the conservative network, as Fox News’ ratings fell below that of CNN and MSNBC for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fox-news-ratings-crash-trailing-cnn-and-msnbc-for-the-first-time-since-2000">first time since 2000</a>.
Lou Dobbs “graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics,” and “worked in government and banking prior to working in journalism.” He was named “TV’s Premier Business News Anchorman” by The Wall Street Journal and was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award.
Editor’s Note: This article has been expanded after publication to include additional information.

Fox News Suddenly Cancels ‘Lou Dobbs Tonight,’ Fox Business’ Highest Rated Show

Readers Pass

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) dismissed recent attacks on him from Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on Sunday and affirmed his faith in the people of South Carolina to understand why he must be reelected.
“I don’t really worry much about Mr. Dobbs,&#8221; Graham told reporters regarding comments Dobbs made urging South Carolinians to vote against their senior senator, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/522668-graham-says-he-doesnt-worry-about-getting-slammed-by-lou-dobbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hill</a>.
Maintaining that Dobbs &#8220;has a right to his own opinion,&#8221; Graham said that &#8220;people at home get the big picture,&#8221; adding, “I think people in South Carolina understand why it’s important for me to get reelected.&#8221;
Dobbs hit at Graham on Friday for allegedly not doing enough to investigate allegations of corruption in the Obama administration as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. &#8220;I’m sad to say I missed it,&#8221; Graham said of Dobbs&#8217; broadside. &#8220;I think Chuck Schumer is of the same opinion.&#8221;
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-has-betrayed-the-american-people-lou-dobbs-urges-south-carolina-not-to-vote-for-lindsey-graham" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Daily Wire reported</a>:
<blockquote>Fox Business host Lou Dobbs blasted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Friday as someone who has failed to address the most important issues facing the country, and urged South Carolinians to toss him out on Election Day.
“Well, just to be clear, I don’t know why anyone in the great state of South Carolina would ever vote for Lindsey Graham,” Dobbs said. “It’s just outrageous. This is the guy who keeps saying, ‘Stay tuned.’ He said he was going to get to the bottom of Obamagate with the Judiciary Committee, which has been a year-and-a-half—actually longer—of absolute inert, inert response to these pressing issues of our day.”
[&#8230;]
Dobbs went on to accuse Graham of betraying the president and the nation, saying, “Graham has betrayed President Trump at almost every turn. He has betrayed the American people and his oath of office. He’s done absolutely nothing to investigate Obamagate, except to tell everyone, ‘Stay tuned.’ Time and time again: ‘Stay tuned.&#8217;”
“Senator Graham needs to be tuned out in South Carolina,” Dobbs added.</blockquote>
Graham has been facing a tight, contentious Senate race against his Democratic opponent Jaime Harrison, who has out-raised the incumbent senator considerably. Out-of-state liberal groups have also attempted to influence the race by propping up a third-party candidate who dropped out.
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liberal-groups-propping-up-third-party-candidate-who-already-dropped-out-in-south-carolina-senate-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Daily Wire reported</a>:
<blockquote>Democrats are returning to an old, underhanded method in order to try and siphon votes away from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in South Carolina.
Liberal groups from outside the state are spending money on mailers for a third-party candidate who already dropped out of the senate race, the Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/2020-election/liberal-groups-spend-big-to-boost-third-party-conservative/">reported</a>.
“A political action committee founded by national Democratic operatives to help Harrison’s campaign—Lindsey Must Go PAC—recently <a href="https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202010149285888104">spent</a> more than $133,000 on mailers highlighting former Constitution Party candidate Bill Bledsoe, who has dropped out of the race and thrown his support behind Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. The mailers say Bledsoe is ‘the only true conservative on the ballot,’” the outlet reported.
Bledsoe dropped out of the race weeks ago.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-has-betrayed-the-american-people-lou-dobbs-urges-south-carolina-not-to-vote-for-lindsey-graham" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘He Has Betrayed The American People’: Lou Dobbs Urges South Carolina Not To Vote For Lindsey Graham</a>

Lou Dobbs and Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Graham Responds To Lou Dobbs Urging South Carolinians To Vote Against Him

Lindsey Graham

South Carolina

Fox Business host Lou Dobbs blasted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Friday as someone who has failed to address the most important issues facing the country, and urged South Carolinians to toss him out on Election Day.
&#8220;Well, just to be clear, I don&#8217;t know why anyone in the great state of South Carolina would ever vote for Lindsey Graham,&#8221; Dobbs said. &#8220;It&#8217;s just outrageous. This is the guy who keeps saying, &#8216;Stay tuned.&#8217; He said he was going to get to the bottom of Obamagate with the Judiciary Committee, which has been a year-and-a-half—actually longer—of absolute inert, inert response to these pressing issues of our day.&#8221;
&#8220;And this is what, by the way, Donald Trump said of Senator Lindsey Graham back in 2016, while he was campaigning for the presidency in South Carolina,&#8221; Dobbs continued. &#8220;I believe the president&#8217;s words about the senator then apply today.&#8221;
Dobbs then referenced a quote from President Donald Trump while he was still a candidate competing against Graham in the South Carolina Republican primary:
<blockquote>I think Lindsey Graham is a disgrace, and I think you have one of the worst representatives of any representative in the United States. I don&#8217;t think he could run for dog catcher in this state and win again. I really don&#8217;t. Other than that, I think he&#8217;s wonderful. He&#8217;s one of the dumbest human beings I&#8217;ve ever seen &#8230; The guy is a nut job.</blockquote>
Dobbs went on to accuse Graham of betraying the president and the nation, saying, &#8220;Graham has betrayed President Trump at almost every turn. He has betrayed the American people and his oath of office. He&#8217;s done absolutely nothing to investigate Obamagate, except to tell everyone, &#8216;Stay tuned.&#8217; Time and time again: &#8216;Stay tuned.'&#8221;
&#8220;Senator Graham needs to be tuned out in South Carolina,&#8221; Dobbs added.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Lou Dobbs is telling South Carolina residents not to vote for Lindsey Graham <a href="https://t.co/vQ67BZZN6P">pic.twitter.com/vQ67BZZN6P</a>
&mdash; Jason S. Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1319749236251070466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Senate race between Graham and his opponent, Democrat Jaime Harrison, has been close and contentious, with out-of-state liberal groups attempting to influence it.
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liberal-groups-propping-up-third-party-candidate-who-already-dropped-out-in-south-carolina-senate-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Daily Wire reported</a>:
<blockquote>Democrats are returning to an old, underhanded method in order to try and siphon votes away from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in South Carolina.
Liberal groups from outside the state are spending money on mailers for a third-party candidate who already dropped out of the senate race, the Washington Free Beacon <a href="https://freebeacon.com/2020-election/liberal-groups-spend-big-to-boost-third-party-conservative/">reported</a>.
“A political action committee founded by national Democratic operatives to help Harrison’s campaign—Lindsey Must Go PAC—recently <a href="https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202010149285888104">spent</a> more than $133,000 on mailers highlighting former Constitution Party candidate Bill Bledsoe, who has dropped out of the race and thrown his support behind Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. The mailers say Bledsoe is ‘the only true conservative on the ballot,’” the outlet reported.
Bledsoe dropped out of the race weeks ago.
Graham’s opponent, Democrat Jaime Harrison, used the same tactic earlier this week when his campaign launched ads supporting Bledsoe.
“The ads call Bledsoe ‘the only Senate candidate who stood with President Trump on day one’ and note that he ‘opposes all abortions’ and ‘believes that any gun-control law infringes upon the Second Amendment.’ The ads also link to a <a href="https://www.scvoterguide.com/">website</a> paid for by the South Carolina Democratic Party, which calls Bledsoe ‘pro-Trump,’ ‘pro-gun,’ and ‘anti-abortion,’” the Free Beacon reported.
Bledsoe dropped out of the race on October 1 after his campaign failed to raise even $1.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-i-now-have-a-different-view-on-confirming-justices-after-kavanaugh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lindsey Graham: ‘I Now Have A Different View’ On Confirming Justices After Kavanaugh</a>

Lou Dobbs Lindsey Graham

‘He Has Betrayed The American People’: Lou Dobbs Urges South Carolina Not To Vote For Lindsey Graham

On Thursday, Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs castigated Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) for his recent op-ed in which he severely <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romney-the-president-shapes-the-public-character-of-the-nation-trumps-character-falls-short/2019/01/01/37a3c8c2-0d1a-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html?utm_term=.643b3795de19">criticizes</a> President Trump.
&#8220;And so, he just attacked the president &#8211; attacked his character, his personality, did everything but talk about policy,&#8221; Dobbs said. &#8220;Perhaps he should try winning for a change, and work to support the president, period.&#8221;
After introducing his two segment guests, Dobbs went on to call Romney a &#8220;mealy-mouthed weasel,&#8221; and a &#8220;snake.&#8221; He went on to use even more harsh language, calling Romney a &#8220;traitor,&#8221; as well as &#8220;treasonous.&#8221;
<blockquote>
We have Romney, who is basically saying to all of the great Americans in Utah, &#8220;Go to hell, please! You were a bunch of suckers! I accepted the Trump endorsement. And now I&#8217;m telling Trump what I really think of him.&#8221; What an ignorant &#8230; his character?! He&#8217;s talking about character? He&#8217;s a traitor. He is treasonous, and betrayed the people of Utah!
</blockquote>
<div class="embed video fluid-video"><iframe loading="lazy" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SVCKEFEqbl0?start=805" width="720"></iframe></div>
While the definition of &#8220;treason&#8221; and &#8220;treasonous&#8221; have certainly expanded over the years &#8211; synonyms being treachery, disloyalty, and betrayal &#8211; in the context of the Constitution, &#8220;treason&#8221; has an incredibly narrow definition.
According to Article III, Section 3 of the United States <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiii">Constitution</a>:
<blockquote>
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.
</blockquote>
There is debate as to what &#8220;aid and comfort&#8221; means. In the 1945 Supreme Court case, <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/325/1">Cramer v United States</a>, Justice Jackson wrote the following in the majority opinion:
<blockquote>
&#8220;Aid and comfort&#8221; was defined by Lord Reading in the Casement trial comprehensively, as it should be, and yet probably with as much precision as the nature of the matter will permit: &#8220;an act which strengthens or tends to strengthen the enemies of the King in the conduct of a war against the King, that is in law the giving of aid and comfort&#8221; and &#8220;an act which weakens or tends to weaken the power of the King and of the country to resist or to attack the enemies of the King and the country is giving of aid and comfort.&#8221;
Lord Reading explained it, as we think one must, in terms of an &#8220;act.&#8221; It is not easy, if indeed possible, to think of a way in which &#8220;aid and comfort&#8221; and be &#8220;given&#8221; to an enemy except by some kind of action. Its very nature partakes of a deed or physical activity as opposed to a mental operation.
Thus the crime of treason consists of two elements: adherence to the enemy; and rendering him aid and comfort. A citizen intellectually or emotionally may favor the enemy and harbor sympathies or convictions disloyal to this country&#8217;s policy or interest, but so long as he commits no act of aid and comfort to the enemy, there is no treason.
On the other hand, a citizen may take actions, which do aid and comfort the enemy&#8212;making a speech critical of the government or opposing its measures, profiteering, striking in defense plants or essential work, and the hundred other things which impair our cohesion and diminish our strength but if there is no adherence to the enemy in this, if there is no intent to betray, there is no treason.
</blockquote>
It&#8217;s widely understood that the term &#8220;treasonous&#8221; has variant definitions, and while it may seem silly to examine a cable news host&#8217;s language this closely, it can be instructive.
Treason is a serious crime, and the increasing casual usage of the word to describe individuals who criticize a political figure seems unwise as it dilutes the necessary severity of the word and the actual criminal offense as described in the United States Constitution.

Lou Dobbs Calls Mitt Romney ‘Treasonous’

Mitt Romney

After Lou Dobbs of Fox News decided to malign presidential candidate Evan McMullin, who is threatening to win the state of Utah, by referring to him as a tool of the &#8220;Mormon Mafia,&#8217; the hashtag #Mormon Mafia trended on Twitter, with hilarious results.
Here is what triggered the avalanche of responses:
<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Look Deeper, He&#8217;s nothing but a Globalist, Romney and Mormon Mafia Tool <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAGA?src=hash">#MAGA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmericaFirst?src=hash">#AmericaFirst</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrumpPence16?src=hash">#TrumpPence16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrumpTrain?src=hash">#TrumpTrain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dobbs?src=hash">#Dobbs</a> <a href="https://t.co/WfjYzck2jt">https://t.co/WfjYzck2jt</a>
&#8212; Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouDobbs/status/790024160160411648">October 23, 2016</a></blockquote>
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And here we go:
<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
When the FBI knock at their door they flush all their coke in the toilet <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a> <a href="https://t.co/pOH51S0kB4">pic.twitter.com/pOH51S0kB4</a>
&#8212; Donald Dump (@realdonalddump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realdonalddump/status/791516128933650432">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
You&#8217;re gonna sleep with the fishes.
The only spare bedroom we have left has an aquarium in it. Hope that&#8217;s not a problem.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Eric Spencer (@JustEric) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustEric/status/791499171278778368">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a> will sometimes leave the gun, but they will always leave you the cannoli.
&#8212; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/791622635754967040">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
A man who doesn&#8217;t spend time with his family can never be a real man. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/791628888245796864">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&#8220;I know you drank the coffee, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart.&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/791633494745026560">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a> The Sopranos <a href="https://t.co/TtUaihBEvQ">pic.twitter.com/TtUaihBEvQ</a>
&#8212; David Burge (@iowahawkblog) <a href="https://twitter.com/iowahawkblog/status/791640150472142848">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Nice car you got there in the driveway. 
Would be a shame if someone&#8230;. 
washed it and waxed for you&#8230; 
If you get my meaning.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; ¡El Sooopèrr! &#1606; (@SooperMexican) <a href="https://twitter.com/SooperMexican/status/791507114908721152">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mormonmafia?src=hash">#mormonmafia</a> will shoot you and then frame your friends 
. 
. 
. 
.
Into the perfect scrapbook
&#8212; Sarah (@sarahrstevenson) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahrstevenson/status/791501083747028992">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&#8220;I&#8217;m gonna make him a Jello salad he can&#8217;t refuse.&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) <a href="https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/791656602331779072">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&#8220;Never take sides against the Tabernacle Choir again.&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayCaruso/status/791628514902630400">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a> a group so secretive and exclusive, they send 60,000 missionaries out around the world to tell you all about it.
&#8212; Soy Juan Miller (@EveryTrumpFan) <a href="https://twitter.com/EveryTrumpFan/status/791484817909047296">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&#8220;We&#8217;re gonna send some people, we&#8217;re gonna send a couple of our people, and help clear the driveway.&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Bigly Shoe (@TheOneSoleShoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOneSoleShoe/status/791484678955896833">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&#8220;Gosh darn it, you messed with the wrong fellows this time, you nincompoop!&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Sunny (Mat) (@sunnyright) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunnyright/status/791482976827834368">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Two top consiglieri in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/utpol?src=hash">#utpol</a> <a href="https://t.co/eTXLfJqnol">pic.twitter.com/eTXLfJqnol</a>
&#8212; Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenWinslow/status/791481863046955008">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&#8220;Never take sides against the family in Scrabble again.&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MormonMafia?src=hash">#MormonMafia</a>
&#8212; Bigly Shoe (@TheOneSoleShoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOneSoleShoe/status/791479298431397888">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
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