With their caps lock buttons in overdrive and using moderate regard for punctuation, a fiery fleet of political keyboard warriors typed out their frustrations with cable news coverage of the presidential election in hundreds of new complaints to the Federal Communications Commission.
WFAA obtained 594 pages of complaints made by people alleging cable news networks, such as CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, "intentionally lied to the common citizen," created "public fear," and attempted to "manipulate the election" results while covering President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee-turned-President-elect Joe Biden.
The most complaints to the FCC came from viewers upset about cable networks projecting that Biden would win the election and then after, referred to the former VP as president-elect.
"Fox News is willingly disseminating false news that Joe Biden is president-elect. The media has no authority to make such a claim," wrote one viewer from Headland, Ala.
Historically, it has been the practice of media outlets to refer to the projected winner of the presidential election as "president-elect" even prior to the official electoral college vote in December.
President-elect Joe Biden's name appears in complaints 636 times, including if the viewer wrote his name in the subject line of his or her complaint.
President Trump's name appeared only 112 times, with the same subject line caveat.
The complaints, made between Nov. 1 and Nov. 12, hit a variety of topics in addition to the issue of "president-elect," including "fake news," a term Trump has used repeatedly to describe coverage that is critical of his administration.
A viewer from Wharton, Texas, wrote to the FCC calling out networks like Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and ABC, saying, "The false news being spread, and factual news being censored, will likely lead to widespread chaos and violence. They have moved from journalism to opinionism, and are no longer reporting unbiased truth."
A Puyallup, Wash., viewer made a similar complaint.
"Fox News is inciting misinformation and fanning the flames of madness," the viewer wrote.
While there has not been any evidence of "widespread chaos" or even "madness," some viewers took offense to networks airing coverage of large crowds rallying after election day.
"Quit zooming in on offensive signs," wrote one Fox News viewer in a complaint to the FCC.
The FCC also received complaints about President Trump's administration.
A complaint from Denmark, Wis., came from a viewer watching Fox News read, "[Press Secretary] Kayleigh Mcenany [sic] is advocating for the overthrow of the US Government and encouraging the public to follow."
Most of the complaints came from viewers in California and Florida, with more than 60 complaints coming from each state. More than 50 complaints came from Texas.
Viewers in Rhode Island apparently weren't bothered enough by the election coverage because no one from that state filed a formal complaint.
As penalty for their alleged wrongdoing, viewers demanded cable networks either retract their statements or be forced to lose their broadcast license.
"Ideally a cease and desist order and correction of these lies in an amount equal to or more than the amount of airtime given to the lie. If this order is refused, their license should be revoked," wrote one viewer from Sanford, Fla., who was upset about the term 'President-elect Biden."
However, cable channels don't have broadcast licenses.
Though the FCC regulates some technical aspects of cable news, it does not issue broadcast licenses to television networks.
On its website, the FCC describes its authority to investigate claims about broadcast journalism.
"The FCC's authority to respond to these complaints is narrow in scope, and the agency is prohibited by law from engaging in censorship or infringing on First Amendment rights of the press. Moreover, the FCC cannot interfere with a broadcaster's selection and presentation of news or commentary."
Even so, WFAA asked the FCC whether it would investigate any of the complaints about cable news coverage of the election.
In an email, the FCC said, "The Enforcement Bureau does not discuss any enforcement items or what they are or are not investigating until the full Commission has approved/reviewed."