How Fox News viewership increases belief in the anti-immigrant great replacement theory
Adam Eichen, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, UMass Amherst
New peer-reviewed data shows Fox News viewership directly drives belief in the Great Replacement conspiracy — a textbook case of media agenda-setting fueling radicalization at scale.
Agenda-Setting TheoryMedia Effects TheoryMoral PanicSocial Identity Theory
Theory Briefing
- A March 2026 poll found 36% of Americans believe immigrants are eroding white political and economic power — far beyond fringe extremism.
- Tracking 500+ white Americans over time, researchers found Fox News viewership independently increases Great Replacement belief even after controlling for partisanship and race attitudes.
- The theory is linked to real-world political violence, making media amplification not just an opinion issue but a public safety one.