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This documentary explores the impact that the right-wing media has had upon American politics and culture with one particular family being showcased in detail. In essence, due to certain restraints being removed from radio and television broadcasting, a newly energized brand of conservative populism was unleashed-first on talk radio, and then on television with Fox News. To that effect, the more heated dialogue resulted in more anger among the viewers which in turn caused even more heated dialogue and thereby even more anger. This divisiveness was then used by the Republican Party to secure gains in the elections at both the local, state and national level which has resulted in policy initiatives intended to benefit that particular party to the exclusion of everybody else. Now rather than revealing any more I will just say that the main points brought out in this documentary are factually correct--as is the damage brought upon this nation because of the resulting bitterness, anger and hatred. Unfortunately, although this film reveals several problems the right-wing media has created, what it fails to do is to provide an answer to any of them. Along with that, there were times when the overall theme seemed to lose focus as it drifted from one family dynamic to another. Likewise, I also thought that the childish tone on the part of the narrator was completely unnecessary as well. In any case, while certainly not a top-level documentary, this film does a good job of bringing to light a definite problem here in America and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

I fell under the spell of conservative talk radio when I was out of college and working as a delivery driver. I was bitter and angry that the 4-year liberal arts degree I worked hard to obtain was seemingly worthless. As academia had failed to deliver success, I was eager to find and alternate worldview: looking for something to believe in, or, a purpose. Neil boortz, Michael savage, and bill o'reilly were my guides on this fruitless journey. Their rhetoric was effective because they (1) created an enemy: either enemies to prosperity (lazy welfare dependents, illegal immigrants), or enemies to security (radical Muslims): basically, people I could feel superior to. (2) "real listeners" calling in to share their victimization from political correct "social engineering" (3) the hosts' unwavering confidence and focused message, which is amplified by talking over those people who call in with alternate viewpoints. According to this documentary, these tactics are commonly employed by right-wing talk shows and foxnews (great collage of fox news "journalists" shouting over their guests to prevent them from expressing their ideas). How did I manage to give this up? A combination of things: my parents always had fox news on in the house and I grew annoyed at the lack of critical thinking and one-sidedness. I found that my media choices were putting me in a category of people who deferred to their tribal mentality than think critically. I began to see these media hosts more as propagandists than informed critics (Michael Savage's assertion that Obama attended an "Islamic Madrassas" in Indonesia--a country I had some personal knowledge of--was laughable). This documentary was enjoyable as it helped me understand how my political identity went on a certain path for a brief time

Firstly, this movie was excellent in terms of getting Americans to start thinking about the media, ideas, rhetoric and emotional tone we are steeped in on a daily basis. I have been more and more disappointed in the media since the mid-80's, but especially since the 90's forward.

This documentary tells us why, and surprise, it is almost the same as everything else in this country and the world that have gone sour ... the political prioritizing of having every facet of our society taking over by money, corporations and billionaires. This movie does a good job of covering that in a broad sense. I always thought it really hit home when they struck down the "Fairness Doctrine" which I think we desperately need in the media if we are to foster a culture where people can think for themselves ... because otherwise what goes freedom or speech mean if all we can do is parrot someone else's words?

The weaker part of this documentary, and the reason I could not award it a 10/10 is the story of the family and the Dad who turned into a right- winger. We don't really get any clear sequence of events leading to the documentarian's father and what he was like, what drove him, what changed him and what ultimately changed him back.

By the time he is interviewed it is clear he has some kind of dementia, and pieces of his conversation are being cherry picked to back the narrative of his "brainwashing". I have had relatives too that have this same problem. The turning of one's thoughts into right wing anger is very depressing when you like someone and all they can do is to push their ideas that they get from radio or FOX News without any critical thinking at all.

I didn't feel it was very nice or respectful to turn one's father into a puppet for the making of a documentary, particularly if there is no real proof or theory as to how he got to where he was. They speculated it was the long drives to work listening to the captive audience of drivers alone in their cars. But many jobs themselves have pressures for people to either buy into right wing rhetoric, or to remain silent about criticizing those who criticize. For me there were many reasons not to appreciate the story of the father.

I also was a bit disappointed to hear certain left wing websites recommended as the cure for these right wing sites. The whole problem is that only people who agree with each other are on specific sites, so many of the Left wing sites are just as bad as right wing sites ... they just do not have as many and as much money. But the intolerable part of both sides is that it is impossible for anyone who does not want to argue and name-call to participate in these forums ... which we should be able to do, and our form of government really demands.

I don't know there are any answers here, but there are some suggestions and a lot of thought provoking information, which is great. We need more of this kind of documentary. I recommend this documentary and that all Americans begin to understand how their country has been evolved around them to cut most of them out from knowing what is going on and what they should do about it.

10/10

A fantastic and accurate representation of how it feels to be a family member of someone who has become brainwashed and a worse human-being due to right-wing propaganda. The personal story hit home for me, while the facts presented are undeniable. The other people in the comments that voted it 1/10 are clearly still brainwashed, despite this fantastic documentary showing very clearly what is actually happening to them - which poses the question of: did they even watch it? I doubt it.

The personal story of filmmaker Jen Senko's dad is a cautionary tale many of us can relate to. And it's directly related - we learn - to the disinformation coming from the Right Wing media that has driven so much political acrimony in this country. In fact, the fanatical political divisions in the US are the same ones that divide families on a personal level. By following the thread of American politics and how it relates to the rise of the Right Wing media, Senko builds a solid case. We learn how and why all of this came about.

There have been other films that examined the subject of the Right Wing Media and its negative effects on democracy, but they tend to be dry treatises.

This should be required viewing for anyone who cares about a free and informative media in this country. An important film. And an entertaining one!

Starting around 2005 (IIRC) there was a spate of documentaries talking about the toxic influence of right-wing media in America. Outfoxed-a fullthroated attack on Fox News-is the earliest one I can recall seeing. I have watched several of the films. The information and history presented is largely the same. This one doesn't add anything new or novel to the explanation of the problem. It's only saving grace is the personal story of a daughter trying to reach her father.

This story forms the framing device and emotional core of the film and it is the easiest the best part of it but there are long sections of explanatory material. It would have been nice to seen some of the father's rightwing rants and the like. But the messier family scenes are only described. The film is curiously distanced from criticizing the father all that much. The notion that he-or others-elected to be "brainwashed" never comes up. I am sure some rightwing blowhards are actually deluded. But a lot them at in fact trolls-who delight in bad faith and know they are spewing nonsense.

I feel like this film would have been better had the director been a friend of the family.

As she did in THE VANISHING CITY, Jen has delivered another great feature documentary film that is timely, smart, cogent, and incredibly thoughtful. THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD is an important film that all Americans should see so they can understand the intentional manipulation of their minds by the free market ideologues who bought media outlets right and left to masquerade their so-called cause as patriotic, intentionally playing on the patriotism of well intentioned folks like Jen's father. FOX NEWS was never conceived as a real news organization dedicated to informing the public. Instead FOX NEWS was born out of an abundance of cynicism, and as nothing more than a shill machine for those bent on seeking monolithic political power and the insane profits, their real aim, that result. All of this at the expense of the rest of us.

Using her dad as an example, Filmmaker Jen Senko, who wondered how her Democrat father had become a Fox News fan, exposes the tricks behind the right-wing media. In discovering what happened to him, Senko reveals the bigger picture of what's happening behind-the-scenes to influence our national discourse.

I was attracted to this documentary because I've had discussions with my own parents and friends who think Fox New is a News Station. People have become fearful and quote Fox News like it's journalism.

I can't believe their slogans: 'fair and balanced' and 'we report you decide' because to suggest that these slogans are behind FOX News is ridiculous. Yea Jen!

This film should be required viewing for all U.S. voters for they will understand just how insidious, wide ranging and effective the right wing media machine (e.g., Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, conservative talk radio etc.)has been on the cultural landscape for the past 20 years.

Beyond the expected debunking of what we know is a sham -- Fox New's "Fair and Balanced" misreporting and Limbaugh's outlandish comments -- Ms. Senko's film takes us beyond the dictated talking points of Fox President's Roger Ailes to something much deeper and chilling.

The skill of these propagandists and their toxic effect on ordinary citizens (as seen through the lens of her own father) is an eye opener. The ending was especially moving. See it for yourself.

It reminded me of Michael Moore's films but in some ways even better! Because it is the personal experience of the director's father and family. Who are quite likable. Very true to life. It is after all a documentary. I loved the ending which I won't give away. But was thoroughly impressed by the history leading up to changes in journalism and the experts on the film. David Brock was instrumental in this piece by being evidence of the information stated. Jeff Cohen and Noam Chomsky? How can you go wrong there among many more experts. Also love the cartoon spots which made it fun. Go see this movie. You won't be sorry!

I rated this movie 9 rather than 10 because it's got a few imperfections but non of those blemishes effect the core story in the least. Jen interviews some amazing philosophers and some of the people who actually manipulated our culture to show us why we are where we are right now.

Jen shares with us a story involving her own family; her mother and siblings observed changes in her fathers behavior and she explores the causes of those changes. This isn't a minor thing, this gets to the heart of some very important social issues we're seeing around us right now; xenophobia, fear, patriotism and personal conflict. She gives us insight into some of the drivers behind these emotions and why they might be pushing our culture in a specific direction (that some of do not like at all).

The best part? She leaves us with hope and that's worth quite a lot.

If you need an example of leftist propaganda this film works perfectly.

Point of fact, the Left has dominated academia, media, and the entertainment industry for decades. These also happen to be the greatest shapers of political opinions for the masse. If you want to brainwash a populace you need to be dominant in those three fields.

It is then richly ironic that this film is accusing Fox of brainwashing when the film itself is attempting to do the same thing. It was created to distort and mislead, the two things lefties accuse Fox of doing. They are right in that Fox does this, but then Fox is merely a response to a decades long assault upon the American people by the Left from the aforementioned quarters.

There is a war for your mind. Both Ledt and Right are going all out to win your heart and mind through manipulative and deceitful practices. This film is an example of that.

If you are s simpleton or a leftist fanatic you will love this film. If, however, you are a person capable of critical thought you should pass on this tripe and watch an episode of Garfield and Friends. That would be a more productive use of your time then watching this bilge.

This was released three years ago, but it is more relevant in 2018 than ever before. Great history and explanation of why our country is so divided and what gave rise to a President that can spew lies and hate and it makes no difference to his supporters. It seems that half of our country is now brainwashed.

It is quite apparent that those who gave this movie low marks are among the brainwashed. How do we deprogram a nation???

I came across this on Amazon Prime. I thought that this documentary was informative, thoughtful and compassionate whilst exploring the creation of the fierce and angry media machine that supports the right wing political machine. It shows the triumph of capital over humanitarian values through the lens of the writer/director's personal family struggle; it shows the toll on her family and others simply and clearly.

I think someone called the machine's proponents "faeces-chuckers" at one point - this elicited a childish giggle from me but it was also a beautifully illustrative example as their stuff sticks, even when patently nonsense or false.

I kept hearing about how strange Fox news is but, as I am in the UK, I was unaware just how uninformative their 'news' actually is. It was really eye-opening (eye-popping even) learning how the process of 'brainwashing' works and its payoffs. It was fascinating and has deepened my understanding of how people become so heartless and why they think that this is a good thing.

Bringing what I watched up to date, it is a bit scary thinking that Fox News want to bring this extreme brand of disinformation to the UK - as if the Express and the Mail aren't bad enough already.

I am also appalled to think that President Trump insists in his tweets that Fox is his main form of 'news'; this does not bode well for the either the US or us in the rest of the world.

I'm baffled that this was even done. The fact that ANYONE, even the most staunch liberal, would say that conservatives in the media and conservatives who are "power-brokers" would need to "brainwash" anyone in America is troubling and almost surreal. It's not even an idea worth investigating, but Jen Senko did it anyway. I saw it on my Xfinity "On Demand" list of documentaries and thought it was a comedy when I pushed "start". If you can watch this, I'd invite you to do so. After you watch it, see if you can find a place to watch the MSNBC election night 2016 coverage with Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow. After watching the two video productions think about them and see if you can see where the concept of the US media having a "liberal bias" and see if you find it comical that Ms. Senko spent the money and took the time to make this "documentary". The MSNBC coverage, that was meant to be a coronation of Hillary Clinton, shows in the most tangible and in your face way that "liberal bias" is not only in existence, but it's alive and VERY WELL.

Also, think about this... when looking for documentaries LIKE THIS, there aren't any and that is for a reason. Because the entire concept is laughable.

Let's all "Make America Great Again".

Demonstrates how the right wing media machine has twisted and perverted the minds of those who watch.

A must see! If you like most have family members, friends, significant others that have went off the conservative deep end now you will know why.

It's not from a major production company and it's independent, so you have to consider this.

This documentary is about something that is extremely relevant and important these days. Rise of the right-wing media and its effect.

Jen Senko tries to describe her journey with his dad about this phenomenal.

This toxic issue is there, so alive and dangerous. I lived it and I know how right-wing media can brainwash someone so easily and turn someone ordinary into a fanatic, bitter, hateful machine as my dad is now and caused us to be separated forever and my mum and him got divorced. So I know what I'm talking about.

The Brainwashing of My Dad is well-made, well-narrated and edited.

Lots of moments are striking and thought-provocative.

8.3/10.

This hits close to home. I have a Uncle who used to epitomize what a good Christian, father and gentle human being. So gentle and highly intelligent. I wanted him to be my father.

That all changed when he began listening to right wing radio and Fox News. He turned into this mean, judgemental sad image of a human being. He had to inject his opinions every chance he had and in a hateful way. It was so depressing, I hoped it was a phase. It wasn't. His hateful comments on my social media posts were too much. I sent him an email basically asking him what happened to the man I used to take comfort being around? He merely responded with right wing hatefulness and couldn't even acknowledge what I was asking.

Anyway, if you deal with friends or family that suddenly took this hateful path, this documentary is for you. It made me sad but also feel I wasn't alone.

For any who think this 'exposes' Fox news. Have you considered that some other news stations are brainwashing as well? Just cause you may lean that way and chose to believe this is a one sided 'indoctrination' is naive . This was interesting. And one sided. And pablum to reinforce a one-sided perspective. Well done propaganda.

How can everyone in 2022 still believe in a party who want to send America back in the Middle Ages, want to ruin your vote and have the perfect plan for destroy your country? You gotta vote Blue everywhere, because is a honest party and doesn't want to brainwash America, like the Grand Qanon Party does. This documentary is truly revelant right now, and it will tell you who are really are the Republikklan's and their handlers at Faux News.

America has being destroyed by the Cult of Trump. If we want to rebuild better the USA we gotta Vote Democrat, this year is the year we're going to send'em home!

"There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there Telling me I got to beware Paranoia strikes deep Into your life, it will creep It starts when you're always afraid" - Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth 1967

The presentation may be a tad melodramatic but it does touch a nerve.

There is a quick dissing of the John Burch society.

We get an interview with author Claire Conner "Wrapped in the Flag." We get an interview with David Brock "The Hunting of the President." And the book "The Republican Noise Machine." We get an interview with Gabriel Sherman "The Loudest Voice in the Room." We get an interview with Thom Hartmann. #1 Progressive Radio Talk Show Host.

We get an interview with Jeff Cohen, Associate Professor of Journalism, Ithaca College.

We get some nifty sound/video bites from Noam Chomsky author, OCCUPY reflections on Class War, Rebellion, and the Repression." We get commentary from George Lakoff author," Don't think of an elephant! The Essential Guide for Progressives" We get commentary from Thomas Medvetz, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of California, San Diego.

Next is Rick Perlstein Author, "The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan." Next Steve Rendall Co-Author, "The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error." Next Edward S. Herman Professor Emeritus of Finance, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Eric Boehlert Senior Fellow, Media Matters for America.

Dr. Kathleen Tylor Neuroscientist, Department of Psychology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford - Autor "Brainwashing." Next John Montgomery, Ph. D. Adjunct Professor, Psychology Department, SUNY, New Paltz We can go on and on. Just see why I might have missed it.

From the interviews and subsequent short film clips, this presentation starts to sway from the original title "The Brainwashing of My Dad" to a pure left versus right thing. Eventually, the presentation regains focus on right-wing talk radio.

By the end of the presentation, we are all happy.