"those fools should know this is bs so I'm not responsible" Is actually something you would absolutely argue in a US defamation trial. Defamation damages need

"those fools should know this is bs so I'm not responsible" Is actually something you would absolutely argue in a US defamation trial. Defamation damages need to stem from people actually believing the falsehood. If the bad press from a false statement leads to someone, say, losing their job, those are damages, but the plaintiff would need to prove it was because their employer believed the lie.