Fox's Shep Smith fact-checks Trump's Amazon claims: 'None of that was true'

[jpak]

http://thehill.com/homenews/media/381542-foxs-shep-smith-fact-checks-trumps-amazon-claims-none-of-that-was-true

Fox News host Shephard Smith on Tuesday fact-checked President Trump's claim that the U.S. Postal Service was losing large amounts of money because Amazon was delivering packages at low cost.

"The Post Office is losing billions of dollars, and the taxpayers are paying for that money because it delivers packages for Amazon at a very below cost," Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

<snip>

"The Postal Service's own numbers show it makes money by delivering packages for Amazon and other companies. As for taxpayers, the post office's own website points out, and I quote, 'the Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses.' None," Smith said.

"And a reference to that $1.47 the president came up with there? A Citigroup study last year showed on average that the Postal Service was charging a $1.46 below market rates for package delivery, but our researchers point out if that discount exists, it's not just for Amazon, it's a bulk rate discount," he continued.

<more>

[Midnight Writer]

1. Thank you, Shep. I was waiting for somebody to point out the Postal Service gets ZERO tax dollars.

In fact, it pays billions each year into government in addition to losing billions through mandated discounts (revenue forgone).

[Cha]

2. Does PUBlic Enemy #1

ever tell the truth or gives FACTS?

Thanks, Shep.. how do you keep your job at FAKE NEWS CENTRAL?

[True Blue American]

4. Shep keeps

Fox halfway legit. I love his show.

[PatSeg]

9. Yesterday Trump

also said the U.S. funds 80% of NATO, when it is actually 22%. Apparently he just picks random numbers out of the air and he wasn't even close. His number on Germany was off too.

I was wondering the same thing about Shep and Fox. How does he get away with telling the truth on Fox?

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Or, "It" Heard 20%. . .

. . .and assumed it meant that's what everybody else pays. Then in that tiny mind, calculated the 80% delta all by itself and felt so proud that the number just needed to be shouted.

[PatSeg]

12. He creates his own truth

He is always performing and he writes his own scripts. It doesn't matter what he says because his base, as well as right-wing media will repeat it until even he believes it.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. Sadly, Yes

You are correct. The stupid burns.

[True Blue American]

3. A Family Member

Retired from the PostOffice. He said they did not get on the package Delivery fast enough.

They are now catching up and actually making money off of it.

[Kurt V.]

5. I don't know how Shep keeps his job but good for him.

[JCanete]

6. okay...but come on....there is actually a point here, and I'm sorry Donny made it, because it

was only accidentally right. When they make up this bullshit excuse and say that everybody benefits form a bulk discount, that doesn't change the fact that Amazon must benefit from it significantly more. I mean come on...

and since they are taking such a huge business share, that very well may affect overall post office profits, even if looking at amazon shipments in a vacuum looks like a net positive. That doesn't mean that I'm claiming any of this, but these sorts of explanations suck ass. They come across as propaganda of the opposite kind.

[kaotikross]

7. that's true..

however I'm sure that bulk discount or not, the money Amazon brings to USPS is much appreciated. Could it be more? Sure. Is it still billions as is? Of course it is. USPS would be crazy to turn it down and if they did, they'd deserve to fail. Fed Ex, DHL, and UPS would be on that business with a similar deal quicker than Trump and Moore on a 15 year old girls pool party.
I order and sell a lot online and I continually get and ship things via the "flat rate $5" box from USPS, probably one of the most brilliant marketing masterstrokes ever. I'm sure there are times I could hem and haw at the counter checking prices and save $1.90 here or 40 cents there, but I don't bother, time is too precious and from what I see the only people who do are the ones shipping from Overseas (mostly China)- not that I blame them, if you're shipping something that you got a dollar for it'd be stupid to send it for $5.

[hlthe2b]

8. It is so damned contrived that Fox wil not air Smith or even Wallace in prime time.

None of Fox's viewers (apparently) watch during the day.


If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it....

[oberliner]

11. He should go on Fox & Friends

[PatSeg]

13. Oh yes

That would drive Trump insane.

[oberliner]

14. Trump is literally right now live tweeting the Fox & Friends stories

It would be great to get the closest thing Fox has to an actual journalist on that show and see how Trump reacts.

[Exotica]

17. This!!

[oasis]

16. Shep's treading water in a cesspool of propaganda. I hope he writes

a book about his experiences at Fox before he goes completely bonkers.

[TheBlackAdder]

18. "Below market rates." Doesn't that factor in the profit motive deliveries of FedEx and UPS too?