Fox News’ Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo Mislead Viewers on U.S. Oil Production Despite Historic Highs

  August 16, 2024    Buddieizreal

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Fox News’ Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo Mislead Viewers on U.S. Oil Production Despite Historic Highs

On the August 13 episode of The Ingraham Angle, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, along with Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo, presented misleading narratives regarding U.S. oil production and the fossil fuel industry's impact on the economy. They claimed that the Biden administration had "banned more drilling and exploration on federal lands," suggesting that this was negatively affecting job creation and the economy.

However, these claims are contradicted by the latest data. According to Politico, the United States is producing more oil than any country in history, with an abundance of natural gas driving down prices. Moreover, oil production on federal lands has seen a significant increase during the Biden administration, with an uptick of approximately 530,000 barrels per day since 2020, as reported by E&E News.

Politico also highlighted that U.S. oil production recently set a new record, averaging 13.4 million barrels per day. This represents a 5% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Interestingly, despite this surge in production, employment in the oil and gas extraction sector has dropped by nearly 20% since 2019. This decline isn't due to a lack of drilling or government restrictions, but rather the industry's increasing reliance on efficiency and automation. As Greg Upton, executive director of Louisiana State University's Center for Energy Studies, explained, "You just need fewer workers to produce more oil."

These facts not only challenge but dismantle the narrative pushed by Fox News. The reality is that record-breaking oil production and declining job numbers coexist due to technological advancements, not government policy. Ingraham’s and Bartiromo’s assertions fail to account for the rapidly changing dynamics of the energy workforce.

Furthermore, their narrow focus on expanding fossil fuel production ignores the urgent necessity of transitioning to renewable energy sources, a shift that is crucial for addressing the escalating climate crisis and could pave the way for new, sustainable job opportunities.