May 2024 Right-Wing Media Report

May Summary:

During the May tracking period, there were 3,121 negative immigration mentions across right-wing media outlets (-9% from April) to an estimated audience of 12,877,181,403 people (-31% from April) worth an estimated $306,124,775 in publicity (-26% from April). 

By comparison, there were 6,896 negative immigration mentions across right-wing media outlets in May 2023, which is a decrease of 55% (3,121) year-over-year. The audience for the negative mentions was smaller by 24% from 17,015,783,522 people in 2023 to an estimated 12,877,181,403 people in May 2024. Although the audience for anti-immigrant rhetoric remains high, the decrease is likely due to election fatigue which is typical at this point in the election cycle. The publicity value also saw a decrease (-36%) from an estimated $477,320,364 in 2023 to $306,124,775 in May 2024. 

Several stories featured narratives that link immigrants with crime, including news stories about Lanken Riley 

• OAN 
• Fox News 
• Washington Examiner

Other stories that featured prominently in May linked immigrants and election fraud.

• Texas AG Paxton to Newsmax: Biden Wants Illegals Voting (Newsmax)
• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants children to vote on city’s budget(Washington Examiner)
• Ben Shapiro podcast

Some outlets tried to spin Donald Trump’s conviction as a politically motivated move by Democrats who are weak on border and immigration issues.

• Trump Political Conviction Further Weakens Biden as Democrats Panic (Newsmax)
• Five key moments from Trump’s freewheeling response to historic conviction (Washington Examiner)
• Alex Soros Has Advice for Dems About Trump’s Conviction Just to Make It Clear This Is ALL Political (Twitchy)
• Sham Convictions of Trump Aren’t Going to Change THIS for Biden Heading to November (Twitchy)
• ‘I’ll Lose Friends For This”: Ultra-Wealthy Former Dem Donor Cuts Massive Check To Trump After Conviction (The Daily Caller)
• Weaponization of Justice was Successful (Hannity Community)