“Smartmatic wasn’t even used in the contested states. The company, now a major global player with over 300 employees, pulled out of the United States in 2007 after a controversy over its founders’ Venezuelan roots, and its only involvement this November was with a contract to help Los Angeles County run its election. In an era of brazen political lies, Mr. Mugica has emerged as an unlikely figure with the power to put the genie back in the bottle. Last week, his lawyer sent scathing letters to the Fox News Channel, Newsmax and OAN demanding that they immediately, forcefully clear his company’s name — and that they retain documents for a planned defamation lawsuit.” The NYT’s Ben Smith on the lawsuit that is scaring the crap out of Fox News and other monstrous organizations posing as news outlets. Like social networks who won’t shut off fake news and hate speech, this is their achilles heel: Money. The ‘Red Slime’ Lawsuit That Could Sink Right-Wing Media.

+ Lou Dobbs airs stunning fact-check of his own election conspiracies after company threatens legal action. (When faced with a lawsuit, suddenly the network that gives zero Fox has a tail between its legs.)

+ Fox News Summed Up: Rupert gets vaccine as Tucker Carlson highlights bad vaccine reaction.