Fox News is reeling from one of the most expensive legal blunders in television history, and it’s all thanks to its biggest star: Sean Hannity. Recently, Fox agreed to pay an astonishing $787 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit rooted in claims of election fraud. The price tag for the network’s decision to amplify unfounded conspiracies has left media observers stunned—and the controversy may only be just beginning.

In the explosive aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Fox News personalities, led prominently by Sean Hannity, relentlessly promoted allegations that Dominion’s voting machines were part of a sinister plot to steal the election from Donald Trump. However, as internal communications later exposed, these claims were entirely baseless—and Fox executives and hosts knew it all along.

Court documents and private messages released during the Dominion lawsuit painted a shocking picture. Hannity himself, under oath, made the bombshell admission that he never truly believed the claims he so fervently advocated on-air. His words, broadcast nightly to millions, stoked doubts and anger among Fox News viewers, amplifying divisions that continue to echo through American politics today.

Dominion’s lawsuit did more than just expose Hannity’s duplicity; it unveiled the inner workings of a network driven by ratings and audience loyalty rather than truth. Emails and texts between high-profile Fox hosts revealed widespread skepticism about the claims they perpetuated. The network’s own anchors privately derided the very narratives they passionately sold to viewers night after night.

Faced with overwhelming evidence and devastating testimonies, Fox News chose to avoid further humiliation by settling out of court. The staggering $787 million payout, while historic, seemed barely to dent the network’s financial facade. In fact, Fox News treated the settlement less like an admission of wrongdoing and more like a costly but necessary business decision.

Remarkably, despite his central role in fueling the debacle, Sean Hannity emerged virtually unscathed. He paid no personal price for his misleading rhetoric—no fine, no reprimand, and certainly no job loss. Instead, Fox quietly pivoted, parting ways with Tucker Carlson, seemingly as a strategic distraction, while allowing Hannity to remain firmly entrenched in primetime.

But if Fox News hoped that the Dominion settlement would mark the end of its legal troubles, reality has other plans. Smartmatic, another voting technology company targeted by Fox’s unfounded claims, has filed an even more staggering $2.7 billion lawsuit. Should Smartmatic succeed in court—or achieve another massive settlement—Fox News could face genuine financial jeopardy.

The deeper issue, however, extends far beyond legal penalties and financial settlements. At the heart of this controversy lies Fox News’ willingness to prioritize sensationalism and ratings over responsible journalism. Hannity, emblematic of this approach, continues broadcasting with virtually no interruption, signaling that Fox remains committed to its provocative formula despite costly consequences.

Viewers and advertisers now confront a pivotal question: Is Fox News capable of change, or has the network irreparably committed itself to an agenda that risks not just its own stability but the broader health of American democracy?

As the Smartmatic case looms, the network faces a reckoning. Hannity’s on-air bravado and behind-the-scenes cynicism have already cost Fox dearly—but the true price, in terms of trust and credibility, may prove incalculable. Until Fox genuinely addresses these issues, the legal nightmares and financial disasters sparked by one man’s words could become the network’s new normal.