Fox News Faces Backlash After Episodes Of Blatant Bias And Dishonesty

For some time, conservatives have turned almost exclusively to Fox News, as it is historically the only major news broadcasting network that has consistently been rated as right-leaning. But Fox News has faced growing backlash after increasing bias and dishonesty.

This election has shown Fox viewers a new and overtly biased side of the network, and they aren’t happy about it. The conservative uproar increased following the first presidential debate, moderated by Fox News’s Chris Wallace. Many conservative viewers were frustrated by Wallace frequently interrupting President Trump and failing to press Joe Biden on difficult questions. Following the debate, President Trump tweeted about debating both Wallace and Biden.

“I guess I’m debating you, not him, but that’s okay. I’m not surprised.”@realDonaldTrump criticizes Chris Wallace during the debate. pic.twitter.com/M2PpmscZ51

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 30, 2020

pic.twitter.com/HUSFkHqsyC

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2020

Although Chris Wallace drew backlash, Fox News host Tucker Carlson set records for viewership (with Sean Hannity in a very close second), and for good reason. The witty and honest Tucker Carlson seems to be one of the only Fox News hosts willing to say it like it is, and even calls out the media industry for their obvious shortcomings, as has longtime host Sean Hannity.

Tucker Carlson calling out the entire news industry during Fox News’ 2020 election coverage is a bold move. But somebody had to do it. pic.twitter.com/2XbZegFawl

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) November 4, 2020

Sean Hannity calls Fox’s Arizona call “premature” and I’d love to know if Fox has now officially retracted their call if that’s what the face of the network is saying pic.twitter.com/Y9XMcU3s0l

— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) November 6, 2020

People like to see the media held accountable. Conservatives especially. Because one of the most frustrating aspects of the mainstream media conglomerate is the pretense of objectivity. And people are starting to see through that pretense.

On the evening of the election, conservatives nationwide were outraged when Fox News called the state of Arizona for Biden (which is still considered too close to call), adding to the perceived momentum and contributing to the media’s preemptive proclamation that Joe Biden is the president-elect.

Then, in an incredibly benign teaser for his show, Bret Baier saw how disgruntled viewers really were. In the Tweet which he has since deleted, Baier said,

By all accounts, a fairly innocuous and uncontroversial Tweet. However, the responses were overwhelmingly negative:

Here are a few examples of what was going on in Baier’s replies…

Uh…no way! @newsmax @SchmittNYC ALL THE WAY!

No thanks

Nope.

That’s a big negative

nope – done with Fox!

BOYCOTT FOX NEWS! WATCH OAN, NEWSMAX

You have lost this loyal viewer! Trying to influence an outcome that is clearly not legitimate!

How about no! Done with Fox!!

I’d rather get another vasectomy without anesthesia sir

Done with fox! You sold out on us! Good luck!

Sorry Bret. Fox has jumped the shark. We won’t forget.

Interestingly, the extremely popular Tucker Carlson also saw a change in his Twitter comments when he likewise teased his show:

Our first response to all the news you heard this weekend. Don’t miss the show tonight at 8pm ET on #FoxNews

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 9, 2020

But instead of the outright refusals to watch like those that flooded Baier’s comments, Carlson’s comments were full of pleas for him to move to another network so people could still watch his show:

We made Fox what it is…… and they betrayed us.

We need a Tucker News Network.

— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) November 7, 2020

It doesn’t end there. During a Trump campaign press conference given by Kayleigh McEnany, Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto cut away from the campaign spokeswoman saying,

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, I just think we have to be very clear. She’s charging the other side is welcoming fraud and welcoming illegal voting, unless she has more details to back that up, I can’t in good countenance continue showing you this. I want to make sure that maybe they do have something back that up. But That is an explosive charge to make at the other side is effectively rigging and cheating. If she does bring proof of that we will take you back. So far, she started saying right at the outset welcoming fraud, welcoming illegal voting, not so fast.” [sic]

But the Spokeswoman had some important information to share with the American people that presumably half of the population was interested in hearing:

“There is only one party in America trying to keep observers out of the count room, that party my friends is the Democrat party. You don’t take these positions because you want an honest election. You don’t oppose an audit of the vote because you want an accurate count. You don’t oppose our effort at sunlight at transparency because you have nothing to hide. You take these positions because you are a welcoming fraud and you are welcoming illegal voting. [sic]”

Considering the ongoing investigations regarding potential election irregularities and fraud, it seems like it would be in the best interest of the American people to hear directly from the campaign spokeswoman regarding the investigative efforts. But Cavuto made a unilateral decision not to allow the public to hear what she had to say, simply because he didn’t agree with it.

But wait, there’s more.

Sandra Smith, co-anchor of Fox’s America’s Newsroom, was caught on a hot mic showing viewers what she really thinks about a guest discussing the fact that Joe Biden has not yet been officially certified as the president-elect.

Sandra Smith, off-air, reacts to her colleague Trace Gallagher indulging a nutjob who denies the outcome of the election even after Fox News had called it for Joe Biden: pic.twitter.com/gZ4nrnVHab

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 9, 2020

Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer based in D.C., was arguing on behalf of President Trump’s lawsuits regarding election results and said,

“Remember, just because CNN or even Fox News says who’s president doesn’t make them president…So I think everybody wants to know this was done properly and legally and that we can trust the results. And I think we have to look at every one of these concerns.”

Sandra Smith, apparently muted to the on-air guest, looks up in obvious disgust and says to the studio staff,

“What?! What is happening? Like Trace…We’ve called it.”

Because apparently Sandra Smith fully believes that it is the job of the media to declare the results of elections.

But Fox News’s loss of viewership is a gain for up-and-coming conservative news networks like Newsmax and OANN, which have seen a sharp increase in web traffic and viewership, along with conservative commentary companies such as The Daily Wire and PragerU.

.@FoxNews weekend afternoons is the worst! Getting into @CNN and MSDNC territory. Watch @OANN & @newsmax instead. Much better!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2020

As Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” It appears that Fox News has shown viewers who they are now.