On October 30, Newsmax, a conservative cable network, broadcast a fifteen-second video clip that appeared to show a woman arguing with a supermarket cashier and threatening to leave without paying for groceries, claiming her food stamps had been cut. The clip, however, was entirely fabricated using artificial intelligence, raising fresh concerns about the spread of deepfake content in news media.
The same video had previously been presented as genuine by Fox News in an article that criticized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to nearly one in eight Americans monthly. The program has been a frequent target of conservative criticism, and the ongoing government shutdown has intensified pressure on its funding.
Newsmax aired the clip during a segment titled “The Cost of Free Stuff,” hosted by anchor Carl Higbie. In the segment, Higbie criticized SNAP beneficiaries, suggesting that some recipients might be in their situation due to their own decisions. He also made remarks about the weight of SNAP recipients, and the on-screen chyron read: “We Are Only Nation Where Poor People Are Obese.”
Higbie further speculated about the AI-generated woman’s life, suggesting she might also be on government healthcare subsidies. However, the woman was not real, and the clip was likely generated using OpenAI’s Sora 2 video app, which was released the previous month and can produce realistic footage of people in various scenarios. The fifteen-second length matches the maximum duration for standard Sora users.
Newsmax has not issued a public correction, and the clip remains on its social media pages. The error was flagged by Ryan McBeth, a Newsmax commentator and intelligence analyst, who said he provided evidence of the clip’s AI origins to Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy. McBeth claimed Ruddy responded by saying the network would issue a correction, though this could not be independently verified.
Rising AI Misinformation in Media
This incident highlights the growing challenge of AI-generated content in journalism. The right has increasingly used AI to create political imagery, including mockery of opponents and glorification of leaders. Racist influencers have also circulated AI-faked videos, such as Black individuals claiming they would sell food stamps for cash.
As AI tools become more accessible, the potential for misuse in media grows. The Newsmax case underscores the need for news organizations to verify content before broadcast, especially when it involves politically sensitive topics. Without such safeguards, the public’s trust in media could further erode.
