Fox News anchor Bret Baier is facing pressure as he prepares to interview Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for President, on the right-wing cable network. Fox has been described as an extension of Donald Trump’s campaign, with conservative pundits attacking Harris and promoting Trump without regard for facts. Baier, who aims to be “fair, balanced, and unafraid,” has shown awareness of the extreme feelings of Fox’s audience towards Harris.
During the 2020 election aftermath, Baier’s emails and comments suggested a lack of impartiality, as he expressed discomfort with Fox’s accurate projection that Arizona would be won by Joe Biden. Despite suggestions to revoke the call in favor of Trump, Baier acknowledged that Arizona was never going to be in Trump’s column. These revelations came to light as a result of a defamation lawsuit against Fox by Dominion Voting Systems.
Baier’s sympathetic coverage of Trump’s base’s claims of election fraud despite lacking evidence was noted by Fox’s top news official, Bill Sammon. Baier’s newscast, along with other Fox shows, focused extensively on these falsehoods even after acknowledging Biden’s victory. An audio recording of a Zoom meeting in November 2020 showed Baier suggesting that projections should consider the audience’s expectations and emotions.
As Baier prepares for his interview with Harris, skeptics on social media have expressed doubts and conspiracy theories about the upcoming event. Baier’s decision to air the interview unedited and uninterrupted aims to address concerns about media bias and institutional distrust prevalent among right-wing audiences in the Trump era. Despite reassurances from Baier about the interview’s integrity, some viewers remain skeptical.
In the current political climate, where Harris seeks to persuade viewers of Baier’s “Special Report,” distrust of news anchors and institutions shapes right-wing culture. Baier’s efforts to ensure the integrity of his interview with Harris, including addressing audience concerns and emphasizing the lack of preconditions, reflect his awareness of the need to navigate a divided media landscape. Fox News’s role as both a platform for conservative voices and a target of suspicion highlights the challenges faced by journalists in today’s polarized environment.
