August 2023 Right-Wing Media Report

August Summary:

During the August tracking period, there were 3,551 negative immigration mentions across right-wing media outlets to an estimated audience of over 8,669,133,812 people worth an estimated $228,543,237 in publicity. There were 76,737 mentions on Twitter to an audience of 923,535,460 people.

The majority of overall negative immigration mentions in August centered around the economy and the burden that right-wing sites claim immigrants put on taxpayers. Migrants in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois were the topic of many articles this month, with a focus especially on Eric Adams and his approach to providing housing to recent arrivals. In light of the first 2024 Republican Presidential Debate near the end of the month, conversations regarding candidates’ stances on immigration contributed to the spikes in negative immigration rhetoric seen throughout the month.  

• The largest spike of August occurred on the 8th, with right-wing sites circulating a story about a suspected cartel gunman crossing into the United States. They used the incident to criticize the Biden Administration’s handling of the border and reinforce the threat they claim migrants pose to the US. Several articles discussed migrants in Massachusetts and Governor Healey imposing a state of emergency due to the state’s struggle to provide adequate shelter for arriving migrants.
• The second largest spike was on the 21st, with articles discussing the upcoming GOP debate and the candidates’ stances on immigration. Multiple sites promoted Trump’s supposed plan for curbing immigration and highlighted the policies he claims he would reinstate. There were also articles relating to migrants in New York, with an emphasis on the claim that migrants are putting an economic strain on New Yorkers.
• Another large spike occurred on the 30th, with articles framing immigration as the cause of economic hardship and pinning people’s financial struggles on migrants. There were articles focusing on Eric Adams’ handling of migrants in New York, along with several articles discussing Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’s claim that Staten Island should secede from New York due to the “migrant crisis.” 

Smaller spikes occurred throughout the month as right-wing media continued to run stories about migrants in big cities and featured the talking points of 2024 Republican Presidential candidates:

• On the 1st, right-wing sites pushed media related to the border and housing migrants. A Fox News article suggested a “migrant influx” at the border and highlighted the number of migrants they claim were apprehended in recent days. Other articles focused on migrants in New York and Illinois, underscoring the money they claim migrants take from taxpayers.
• There was a spike on the 13th, several sites focused on housing migrants in New York. Articles by One American News and Washington Examiner suggest cities are building taxpayer-funded shelters and frame migrants as taking over community spaces.
• Another spike occurred on the 18th with a podcast on the Charlie Kirk Show containing anti-immigrant rhetoric reaching an audience of over 9.4 million listeners. Various right-wing sites also highlighted crimes they claim migrants are committing in New York, further pushing the narrative that immigrants pose a threat.
• The 27th saw an increase in mentions with several articles focused on Trump, Nikki Haley, and other Republican presidential candidates regarding immigration after the GOP debate. In New York City, there was a protest outside of Gracie Mansion, where a crowd protested Eric Adams’ response to migrants arriving in New York. Right-wing sites used this as an opportunity to frame migrants as overtaking communities and taking away resources from New Yorkers.