This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/13/fox-news-impeachment-hearing-trump

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fox News covers impeachment hearing by defending Trump and gaslighting viewers Fox News covers impeachment hearing by defending Trump and gaslighting viewers
(about 16 hours later)
As first public hearing begins, president’s favorite network seeks to exonerate him with onscreen banners and Muppet adsAs first public hearing begins, president’s favorite network seeks to exonerate him with onscreen banners and Muppet ads
Explosive new testimony on the Trump-Ukraine scandal emerged from the first public impeachment hearing on Wednesday.Explosive new testimony on the Trump-Ukraine scandal emerged from the first public impeachment hearing on Wednesday.
That posed a problem for Fox News – Donald Trump’s favorite TV channel and a fervent defender of the president. The network responded accordingly, deploying a heady mix of discrediting commentary and, at points, audience gaslighting as it sought to exonerate Trump from the start.That posed a problem for Fox News – Donald Trump’s favorite TV channel and a fervent defender of the president. The network responded accordingly, deploying a heady mix of discrediting commentary and, at points, audience gaslighting as it sought to exonerate Trump from the start.
When Bill Taylor began his testimony, Fox News threw up some text on screen, nominally giving background information on the acting US ambassador to Ukraine.When Bill Taylor began his testimony, Fox News threw up some text on screen, nominally giving background information on the acting US ambassador to Ukraine.
The source of Fox News’ information on him: Donald Trump.The source of Fox News’ information on him: Donald Trump.
“President Trump dismissed Taylor as a ‘never Trumper’,” Fox News reminded its viewers. It added: “White House called Taylor’s closed-door testimony ‘triple hearsay’.”“President Trump dismissed Taylor as a ‘never Trumper’,” Fox News reminded its viewers. It added: “White House called Taylor’s closed-door testimony ‘triple hearsay’.”
If it seems unusual to use the subject of the impeachment hearing as the oracle on that hearing’s witnesses, well, welcome to Fox News.If it seems unusual to use the subject of the impeachment hearing as the oracle on that hearing’s witnesses, well, welcome to Fox News.
Introducing Adam Schiff, the Democratic chair of the House intelligence committee and the master of ceremonies on Wednesday, Fox News again provided some handy information for its viewers. The source, again, was Trump, who has accused Schiff of treason.Introducing Adam Schiff, the Democratic chair of the House intelligence committee and the master of ceremonies on Wednesday, Fox News again provided some handy information for its viewers. The source, again, was Trump, who has accused Schiff of treason.
When Taylor testified – for the first time – that one of his staffers had overheard Trump asking about “the investigations” in Ukraine, Fox News switched tack. As other news outlets hastily rewrote news stories and splashed up headlines, Fox was busy assuring its viewers that, well, there was simply nothing to see here.When Taylor testified – for the first time – that one of his staffers had overheard Trump asking about “the investigations” in Ukraine, Fox News switched tack. As other news outlets hastily rewrote news stories and splashed up headlines, Fox was busy assuring its viewers that, well, there was simply nothing to see here.
After Taylor and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state, wrapped up their opening statements, it was time for the hearing proper to begin.After Taylor and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state, wrapped up their opening statements, it was time for the hearing proper to begin.
Adam Schiff cleared his throat and began questioning the men at the center of the first public impeachment hearing in a generation.Adam Schiff cleared his throat and began questioning the men at the center of the first public impeachment hearing in a generation.
As the world watched with bated breath, Fox News used this moment to cut to an ad break, a Muppets-themed advertisment dancing across the screen as other news channels showed Schiff officially kicking off the inquiry. As the world watched with bated breath, Fox News used this moment to cut to an ad break, a Muppets-themed advertisement dancing across the screen as other news channels showed Schiff officially kicking off the inquiry.
With the hearing more or less confirming reports already out there about the Trump-Ukraine scandal, Fox News was more or less reduced to these production and editing tactics in its bid to please the incumbent in the White House.With the hearing more or less confirming reports already out there about the Trump-Ukraine scandal, Fox News was more or less reduced to these production and editing tactics in its bid to please the incumbent in the White House.
When the network cut back to the studio, its hosts couldn’t muster much of a response. Bret Baier reckoned, spuriously, that Republican committee member Jim Jordan had “really hit home” with his questioning. Chris Wallace, among the less partisan Fox News hosts, conceded Taylor “had been an effective witness”. When the network cut back to the studio, its hosts couldn’t muster much of a response. Bret Baier reckoned, spuriously, that the Republican committee member Jim Jordan had “really hit home” with his questioning. Chris Wallace, among the less partisan Fox News hosts, conceded Taylor “had been an effective witness”.
It fell to Dana Perino, White House press secretary under George W Bush turned professional Fox News guest, to recycle a talking point from the Robert Mueller Trump-Russia investigation: that all this was expensive.It fell to Dana Perino, White House press secretary under George W Bush turned professional Fox News guest, to recycle a talking point from the Robert Mueller Trump-Russia investigation: that all this was expensive.
A “ticker” should be erected in Times Square, Perino said, showing “how much this is costing the American people”. She was going through the outrage motions, but her heart wasn’t really in it.A “ticker” should be erected in Times Square, Perino said, showing “how much this is costing the American people”. She was going through the outrage motions, but her heart wasn’t really in it.
So by Fox News’ standards, this coverage was relatively sober.So by Fox News’ standards, this coverage was relatively sober.
Of course, the channel will really bare its teeth tonight, when the professionally outraged Tucker Carlson and the Trump bootshiner Sean Hannity take to the air.Of course, the channel will really bare its teeth tonight, when the professionally outraged Tucker Carlson and the Trump bootshiner Sean Hannity take to the air.