--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people are making up stories about…" description: "\"When people are making up stories about Bob Mueller on Fox News and those get traction in congressional committees and in the White House, at a certain..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/richard-painter-14038_congressional-commit_when-people-are-making-up-stories-about_3108523.jpg" --- # When people are making up stories about Bob Mueller on Fox… ![“When people are making up stories about Bob Mueller on Fox News and those get traction in congressional committees and in the White House, at a certain point, I've got to say no.” quote by Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/richard-painter-14038_congressional-commit_when-people-are-making-up-stories-about_3108523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/richard-painter-14038_congressional-commit_when-people-are-making-up-stories-about_3108523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/richard-painter-14038_congressional-commit_when-people-are-making-up-stories-about_3108523.jpg) > “When people are making up stories about Bob Mueller on Fox News and those get traction in congressional committees and in the White House, at a certain point, I've got to say no.” [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses frustration that false narratives about Bob Mueller on Fox News are gaining traction in political institutions, prompting him to reject them. **In simple terms:** False media narratives are influencing politics. Key Takeaway Challenge misinformation in political discourse. Themes media politics truth misinformation accountability Mood critical skeptical Type statement concern. When to use this quote - news reporting - legislative oversight - public opinion Key Concepts information theory political communication media ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions guard against media‑driven misinformation? - What role should journalists play in truth‑checking? A Different Perspective Media influence can distort democratic processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congressional committees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressional-committees/) [Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fox/) [Fox news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fox-news/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [I like to watch the Fox News Network. I like 'Nightline.' I like to watch 'The Sopranos,' of course. That is one of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-estrada/i-like-to-watch-the-fox-news-network-i-like-nightline-i-like-to-watch/) [Erik Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-estrada/) > [Prior to working for Fox, I worked for ABC and NBC, spent a lot of time at CNN, and almost ended up at CBS.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/prior-to-working-for-fox-i-worked-for-abc-and-nbc-spent-a-lot-of-time/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [I happen to think that the Latino audience is an essentially traditional audience and will go to Fox News for traditional American values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/i-happen-to-think-that-the-latino-audience-is-an-essentially/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [A white nationalist would claim that flying the confederate flag on a state building is an expression of cultural history, rather than racial sentiment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/a-white-nationalist-would-claim-that-flying-the-confederate-flag-on-a/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [I feel like some of the news we watch on TV is conspiracy theories. What if Fox News is a conspiracy theory? What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naughty-boy/i-feel-like-some-of-the-news-we-watch-on-tv-is-conspiracy-theories/) [Naughty Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naughty-boy/) > [I'm afraid of my mother's paranoia. The more she watches Fox News, the more afraid she gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adsit/i-m-afraid-of-my-mother-s-paranoia-the-more-she-watches-fox-news-the/) [Scott Adsit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adsit/) > [I am the host of 'The Next Revolution' on Fox News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/i-am-the-host-of-the-next-revolution-on-fox-news/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [As a media consultant to Republican presidents, Ailes proved a deft manipulator of racial fear. But it was in building Fox News that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/as-a-media-consultant-to-republican-presidents-ailes-proved-a-deft/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [Shepard Smith has frequently been the lone voice of reason on Fox News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/shepard-smith-has-frequently-been-the-lone-voice-of-reason-on-fox-news/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [You think that the CNN hosts can aggressively challenge government officials? I don't think so. It doesn't look that way at all. And of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/you-think-that-the-cnn-hosts-can-aggressively-challenge-government/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [Because I have an opinion, I have become public enemy number one to the Fox News Channel and the right wing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/because-i-have-an-opinion-i-have-become-public-enemy-number-one-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The leaders of Fox News will never say this out loud, but they believe that their media empire is bigger than President Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/the-leaders-of-fox-news-will-never-say-this-out-loud-but-they-believe/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [There are a lot of folks at Fox News who bring a certain level of sophistication to their understanding of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shuster/there-are-a-lot-of-folks-at-fox-news-who-bring-a-certain-level-of/) [David Shuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shuster/) > [From breaking down the latest headlines on 'FOX News @ Night' to explaining the complexities of the law, I have had the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-bream/from-breaking-down-the-latest-headlines-on-fox-news-night-to/) [Shannon Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-bream/) > [If you only watched Fox News, you might think hydroxychloroquine is to coronavirus what Tylenol is to a headache, or that gathering in large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-keilar/if-you-only-watched-fox-news-you-might-think-hydroxychloroquine-is-to/) [Brianna Keilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-keilar/) ## More by Richard Painter > [Russia may very well be front and center again in 2020 as they were in 2016 regarding interference in America's presidential election. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/russia-may-very-well-be-front-and-center-again-in-2020-as-they-were/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [People knew Trump had strange relationships with the Russians even before he was elected. Consequently, there is every reason to investigate whether Donald Trump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/people-knew-trump-had-strange-relationships-with-the-russians-even/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I am not going to apologize for my service to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-am-not-going-to-apologize-for-my-service-to-the-country/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Donald Trump wants to ignore the rule of law. He ignores the Constitution. He ignores the subpoenas. The Republicans in the House and Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/donald-trump-wants-to-ignore-the-rule-of-law-he-ignores-the/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I go on all the channels, mostly CNN and MSNBC. I have gone on Fox every couple of months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-go-on-all-the-channels-mostly-cnn-and-msnbc-i-have-gone-on-fox/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Here is where you get into the danger zone, when the government official starts talking about U.S. government business and then also talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/here-is-where-you-get-into-the-danger-zone-when-the-government/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I think President Trump could pardon anyone he wanted and have it be an effective pardon. I think there would be a big price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-president-trump-could-pardon-anyone-he-wanted-and-have-it-be/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I have to say that every white-collar criminal defense lawyer knows when the chief financial officer turns state's evidence, everyone in the executive suite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-have-to-say-that-every-white-collar-criminal-defense-lawyer-knows/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [We have two political parties in this country; we cannot have one of them be abandoned to complete nutcases. We've got to have two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/we-have-two-political-parties-in-this-country-we-cannot-have-one-of/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [And imagine where we'd be today if President Franklin Roosevelt had owned apartment buildings in Frankfurt and Berlin. You know, some of us might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/and-imagine-where-we-d-be-today-if-president-franklin-roosevelt-had/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I think most Minnesotans are in a grey zone politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-most-minnesotans-are-in-a-grey-zone-politically/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The course I teach, Professional Responsibility, was brought into law-school curriculums and required by most states for admission to the bar beginning in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-course-i-teach-professional-responsibility-was-brought-into-law/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The real problem with the Republican Party is that for decades it has shifted constantly to the right politically. Consequently, the Republican Party is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-real-problem-with-the-republican-party-is-that-for-decades-it-has/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Do not overlook that Donald Trump is an inherently unstable person. He's never been able to have stable businesses or stable marriages. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/do-not-overlook-that-donald-trump-is-an-inherently-unstable-person-he/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Republicans insist that if you're going to run for political office, you have to be loyal to President Trump. This is wrong. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/republicans-insist-that-if-you-re-going-to-run-for-political-office/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) [Explore all 48 Richard Painter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) ## More Congressional committees quotes > [First of all, let it be remembered that I speak as an ex-Communist and one who has not testified before Congressional Committees, nor written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/first-of-all-let-it-be-remembered-that-i-speak-as-an-ex-communist-and/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [ What does it say about the college coed Susan Fluke \[sic\] who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-does-it-say-about-the-college-coed-susan-fluke-sic-who-goes/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [What does it say about the college co-ed Sandra Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-does-it-say-about-the-college-co-ed-sandra-fluke-who-goes-before/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [They cannot count on the press and they cannot count on Congressional committees to bring the problems of the scientific community to their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-lang/they-cannot-count-on-the-press-and-they-cannot-count-on-congressional/) [Serge Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-lang/) > [An optimist is somebody who thinks our various political and social systems, schools and churches, support groups and Boy Scout troops, jury trials and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/an-optimist-is-somebody-who-thinks-our-various-political-and-social/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [ Well, as soon as \[Donald Trump\] travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease-fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/well-as-soon-as-donald-trump-travels-to-112-countries-and-negotiates/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congress-in-session-is-congress-on-public-exhibition-whilst-congress/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Air Force had put out a secret order for its pilots to capture UFOs. For the last six months we have been working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keyhoe/the-air-force-had-put-out-a-secret-order-for-its-pilots-to-capture/) Donald Keyhoe > [Because of our Congressional committee system, our government is closer to a gerontocracy than a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frankel/because-of-our-congressional-committee-system-our-government-is/) [Charles Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frankel/) > [He had somehow, with all his modesty, the rare faculty of controlling his superiors as well as his subordinates. He outfaced Stanton, captivated the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/he-had-somehow-with-all-his-modesty-the-rare-faculty-of-controlling/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [Gary Condit is on the Congressional committee for Homeland Security. They make the guy responsible for Homeland Security who is the guy no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/gary-condit-is-on-the-congressional-committee-for-homeland-security/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) [Browse all 12 Congressional committees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressional-committees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When people are making up stories about Bob Mueller on Fox News and those get traction in congressional committees and in the White House, at a certain point, I've got to say no.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Painter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/when-people-are-making-up-stories-about-bob-mueller-on-fox-news-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congressional committees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/when-people-are-making-up-stories-about-bob-mueller-on-fox-news-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/richard-painter-14038_congressional-commit_when-people-are-making-up-stories-about_3108523.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/richard-painter-14038_congressional-commit_when-people-are-making-up-stories-about_3108523.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/richard-painter-14038_congressional-commit_when-people-are-making-up-stories-about_3108523.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When people are making up stories about Bob Mueller on Fox News and those get traction in congressional…” — Richard Painter", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Painter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When people are making up stories...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/when-people-are-making-up-stories-about-bob-mueller-on-fox-news-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/when-people-are-making-up-stories-about-bob-mueller-on-fox-news-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```