How Trump Beat Fox News
Let’s travel back in time to around June 2015.
If you were anything like me your day started the same way mine did – coffee and Fox News. I work from home so I took my first sip of coffee with Fox & Friends and I’d start on my second cup with Martha MacCallum and Bill Hemmer in America’s Newsroom. I’d ease into my work day with Happening Now, Outnumbered, and the Real Story – and by 3 P.M. I’d turn the channel just as Sheppard Smith swooped in with his gigantic ego and “Starship Enterprise” studio. However, I’d saunter back to my favorite channel just in time to catch Your World, The Five, Special Report, On the Record, O’Reilly, The Kelly File, and finally, as my eyes got sleepy, I’d end my night with Sean Hannity.
This was my day – that was my routine.
I was a Fox News junkie.
And like most addicts, my drug was my best friend – and I defended my friend to the death. If anyone dare suggest that Fox News was “Faux News” or a partisan sideshow I’d battle them with the fury of a thousand suns, because as far as I was concerned Fox News was the best thing to happen to the news industry. We finally had a fair & balanced approach to the news – and like all devoted BFF’s, Fox News and I had a secret – we shared the same point of view.
I trusted Fox News.
Little did I know then that everything would eventually change and within a matter of 2 months, I’d be at war with my BFF because of a disgraceful “gotcha circus” at the first GOP debate – and even more farfetched, who could’ve imagined that 5 months later, on the day of the final debate before the Iowa primary, Fox News would issue a despicable press release regarding Donald Trump that would be the “final straw” and end our friendship for good?
I never thought I’d stop watching Fox News.
Like with most relationships, people evolve and you either grow together and thrive or you grow apart and disintegrate. Emotions shifted into high-gear when Trump landed on the political scene. For me, he signified a beacon of hope that my country might finally be free from the clutches of political correctness and he symbolized, through his own success, the spirit of a prosperous future for myself and my family.
Still, it was even more than that.
Donald Trump was never just a flashy “reality TV” persona to me and he wasn’t the punchline at the end of a joke.
No, it was so much more than that.
He is me.
Donald Trump is me because he said out loud the things I had been screaming at my TV for 8 years. He validated the anger I felt at my political party for deceiving me – and even more importantly, thanks to Trump I began to understand why they betrayed me. Donald Trump woke me up from a clueless slumber where I assumed that if you had an “R” in front of your name we were on the same team.
Boy, was I wrong.
So, when my BFF Fox News began attacking Trump with an endless array of snarky comments and a parade of nonstop negative commentary, they weren’t just attacking Trump – they were actually attacking me – and I defended myself, my point of view, my frustration, and my lifestyle by fighting back.
Hardcore.
I took to social media and I boldly pointed out every snarky comment and bias criticism spoken by my friend Fox News. From the rolling eyes of Dana Perino to the petty one-liners of Greg Gutfeld, every unfair jab at Trump was addressed – because those stupid facial expressions and juvenile zingers that were intended solely for Trump, struck the heart of millions of disenfranchised people who had been screwed sideways by an arrogant government and shunned by elitist pundits who whistled irrelevant tunes from gilded cages – both of these groups blissfully detached from the real-life struggles facing the very people they professed to support, understand, and speak on behalf of.
Breaking News: Real life is not the set of The Five or The Kelly File – real life is where Fox News viewers live, struggle, succeed, and fail, every day, over and over and over again.
So, by the winter of 2016 the bitter dispute with my BFF had snowballed, and on January 28, 2016, everything came full circle – the fighting was done, simply because there was nothing left to say and I had finally accepted the fact that my BFF and I had grown apart.
Their press release was out, the friendship was over, and Fox News was no longer welcome in my home.
In the end, Fox News lost me and other loyal viewers because they refused to truly understand the dynamic between their viewers and Donald Trump. For example, when confronted on their bias agenda, contributors like Brit Hume and Jonah Goldberg cast aside professionalism and engaged in petty name-calling of Trump supporters on Twitter, which only served to fuel the Fox News fire and fostered the “us versus them” atmosphere that still exists today between Fox News and a large majority of their viewers.
So, as the battle lines were drawn and Fox News suited up for war with Donald Trump, they made a familiar and fatal mistake……They underestimated their adversary, but moreover, they ignored the army of warriors standing behind him. Those pesky “Trumpkins” – uneducated loudmouths who behaved like a swarm of annoying houseflies.
Swat, swat, swat.
The more they swatted, the harder we fought. The more they swatted, the lower their ratings sank.
In the end, Donald Trump beat Fox News by connecting emotionally with millions of disenfranchised people who have been screaming at their TV’s for 8 long years.
Meanwhile, Fox News helped Trump win by brazenly disrespecting the feelings of those same people – people who were once loyal friends, by swatting at them like common houseflies, over and over, and over again, until they finally flew away.
Amy Moreno is a Published Author, Pug Lover, Game of Thrones Nerd & Recovered Fox News Addict. Follow her on Twitter here.
Well done Ms. Moreno, well done. Fox was my BFF too and we have since parted ways. Like you, I chose Trump over Fox.
JimmyB
Thank you, Jimmy!
So did I!! However Lou Dobbs is the Best!! Back to Hannity as well.
Wow! You read my mind! Don’t forget it started with Gretchen Carlson, weren’t we all fat little girls that lost weight? Gosh, lady, get a life! I’m even tuning in to MSNBC, cough, cough trying to break my habit!
Thank you…Same here in Iowa..I had FoxNews on all day in the background BECAUSE I trusted them..The night of the August debate I was shocked at Megyn Kelly’s ‘gotcha attack’ on Trump followed by Bret Baier’s attack at TRYING to embarrass Trump with the infamous Rep. ‘pledge’…
Since that day I have NEVER watch Megyn and seldom watch Fox except occas. for O’Reilly and sometimes even he gets turned off. BUT, I have no where else to go on the TV channels!! CNN, MSNBC,NBC, CBS etc etc have all turned against Trump and I have done enough research on the man to convince me TRUMP is the BEST choice for President….Certainly Hillary will be a drastic choice for Potus…Yikes!!!
So now I stick to internet except when I know Trump is on TV and then I’ll turn it on..by the way…RSBN.com is a great way to watch all the Trump rallies!
oops forgot to say Sean Hannity and Lou Dobbs (FoxNews Business) are still on my viewing list!)
Excellent.
You put the feelings and narrative ino words in a succinct compelling way. The point about Fox attacking Trump was the same as Fox attacking you sums up the entire campaign. Mr. Trump will win in a landslide this November, and it will be in part because MSM, the establishment and other powers that be are irrevocably out of touch with the voters. Ironic, that is the way they wanted it to be, but for some of them it will cost them everything in the end.
What a great find is you writing. More please.
@Ytbemer
Thank you so much for reading the article and then taking the time to post such a thoughtful and great response!
Well said sir I agree with you 100% I myself also quit watching fox for exactly the same reasons. Thank you for putting this out there for everyone to see
Scott,
Thank you! Although I have to say I am not a “Sir,” however, I have been called worse, so it’s all good! Ha! Thanks so much for reading!
Yes Fox was bad but they’ve finally come back around more so than any other MSM. Forget CNN, MSNBC who still is thwarting the people with their Trump underhanded commentaries. Fox is the only one reporting more often a more balanced view although not exactly without bias.
Sabine, Thank you for replying. I have not watched them since January – so I will have to take your word for it! Thank you for reading my article!
I wouldnt say Fox has come around. Some from Fox, like Hannity and perhaps Greta (and Lou Dobbs from Fox business) are firmly in Trump’s corner. Chris Wallace and Kelly are as awful as ever. They still undermine Trump every chance they get and will do so all the way to election.
I recommend checking out Lou Dobbs on Fox Business at 7 ET. He has been Trumper from the beginning and he is not ashamed to admit it.
OAN is good too.
BTW, where do you get your news these days?
Hi Kiki,
I have watched Dobbs recently – he R/T one of my articles on Paul Ryan, so I love him! Ha. I watch OAN, and read Drudge, some Breitbart, I do read some liberal rags strictly to get their point of view – I like DC Whispers and I enjoy some articles from Conservative Treehouse as well – and of course TRUTHFEED. It’s my favorite place for Trump-related news! 😉
I loe Lou! He’s fantastic calling out the nonsense!
You put into words everything I have been feeling. I didn’t think the day would ever come that I would not watch Fox, but it has. They showed their true colors and they’re not the same as mine. Trump 2016
Thank you for responding – and for reading my article. I am BLOWN away by the amount of people who have told me “I feel this same way.”
Yes, I too am sick of that Kelly brat who always is quick to remind us she has a degree in law, yet dresses like a tramp. I am still a junkie, but ready to pull the plug on Fox
I stopped watching fox years ago because they had moved so far left
You’re right. They did….I don’t know why I did not really SEE it sooner.
Spot on. Now, FOX has seen the light. Right.
It’s amazing what losing your audience can do to your reporting. But we all know they are the same inside the beltway, arrogant, snarky a$$holes they have always been.
Joe, I heard from Sabine who posted above that they’re better now – I have not watched since January….But my guess is what you’re saying here – the lower ratings and lost revenue have them singing a different tune. They need to get rid of 99% of those old, outdated National Review and Weekly Standard pundits. It’s like a neo-con globalist festival on Fox. Awful.
Like you, for me Fox TV was the go to place for news but I stopped months ago- who wants to see beloved Trump being bashed non-stop. Now I keep up with Trump news from Trump supporter’s tweets and links to articles. Last week, I traveled to Richmond and the TV in the hotel room defaulted to Fox when I turned it on. Haven’t watched O’Rielly in a few months. The moment he brought on Charles Krauthammer, I quickly switched channels. I now consider all these people as buffoons pretending to be pundits
Cassandra, it truly is amazing what distance can do. It gives you a much more clear perspective. If I see a video on Twitter of Krauthammer or Rove, I shudder at the bias nonsense and go on my way.
GREAT article. I just read MY story, written by you. I started not watching certain shows, and now I can’t watch any of Fox anymore, even if Mr. Trump is going to be on because I don’t want to give Fox a bump in their ratings. For a company that was supposed to be so savvy, they totally mis-read their market. Now, I get my news totally from the internet and don’t have to listen to the clueless pundits on any of the “news” channels. For the first time in years I have hope that our country can be GREAT once again. If we can only survive until January 20, 2017!
Thank you, Vicky! I am overwhelmed – in the best way possible – at the amount of people who tell me, “This is me. This is my story.” It may sound silly to some – but hardcore supporters of Fox News (like myself and most who relate to this article) had a very unique and strong connection to that channel. It was not just news – it was a friendship of sorts – in a strange and abstract way – because when that “friendship” ended it for me it was hard. I had been a devoted viewer for 20 years. And part of me still feels a little pang of hurt that they didn’t care enough about the “you and me’s” to stop the madness. They stood there and smiled and denied any bias. At some point, however, you have to look at the situation and ask yourself, “Can all of these people truly be wrong?” – If they ever get to that place and address what they did honesty, I may consider watching again. But until then, they’re not welcome in my home.
I agree with this very well-written article whole-heartedly. I am not only sick of FOX NEWS (though, admittedly, they have come around of late….nothing will do the quite like a dip in ratings), but CNN has become my current mortal enemy. They’ve become so blatantly anti-Trump that they are almost unwatchable. They stack their panels on AC/360 and Don Lemon’s show with 1 lone Trump supporter and 5 in the #NeverTrump side. I just pray Trump can continue to outwit these idiots
Justin, firstly, thank you for reading my article and enjoying it. I too was a late-comer to the “Fox News” jig and I tried CNN and MSNBC (Morning Joe) and both made me so sick that I now just watch Discovery ID all day long. All murder/all the time. That is easier to watch than our mainstream media.
I am glad that I am not the only one who could see through Fox news liberal narrative. I cannot stand any of them with the exception of Hannity and Greta. They canned Tantaros. I watch Fox business and Lou Dobbs, Lou is the man now. Also go to The Conservative Treehouse on the web. They have great stuff there, and is ahead of the curve of the networks.
Hi Pedro,
I like Lou Dobbs too and Greta, I always felt like she was fair and rationale.
Very good read. My hope and love for this country, God and the great folks here, lifted up every day since Donald J. Trump took his time in give back to the folks. Without Trump so many thing would still not be part of the everyday conversation. Millions of great caring, intelligent folks would also remain hidden. God Bless Today. Thanks again Amy our children have a future, The Monster Vote just ahead
Thanks, Larry! What a great positive reply! Appreciate it so much!
Great article.
Fox has not gotten any better. This Fox News Sunday panel was loaded with Trump haters. It’s a garbage fire, and don’t think for a second they aren’t cheering for a Hillary win.
I agree, Patrick. From what I have seen on Twitter (videos) and such, they all seem to be saying the same crap. When you have a panel of old, out-of-date Neocon Globalists, what else do you expect, right?
Once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. Don’t know why I never noticed the arrogance of Brit Hume or Jonah Goldberg or Greg Gutfeld or Dana Perino before, but it’s so obvious to me now! It isn’t that they don’t like Trump – it’s that they so arrogantly disparage and insult those of us who DO like him. Now that he’s accomplished what they all smugly promised he could never do, they are desperately trying to justify their nasty remarks made earlier, and yet still get in their little insults towards Trump and his supporters. I now only watch Fox & Friends, O’Reilly, and Hannity. And I cannot stomach Shepard Smith or Megyn Kelly!
Toby, OMG…Right? I see it now and think “Were they always this way and I was just clueless??” It’s shocking to me. There’s a very elitist arrogance that comes with the Fox News snark and the “knowing looks” etc. Brit Hume for example – lost ALL OF MY RESPECT after I saw his Twitter feed. I mean, here he is on Special Report discussing Trump’s “nasty tone” and you read this clowns Twitter feed and he’s name calling and sharing really awful and disparaging memes and tweets. It’s like, “Hey Brit? Hypocrite much?”
The arrogance of D.C./New York politicians & talking-heads is real.
And it’s disgusting.
And we can do something about it.
Vote Trump.
Great comment!
My goodness,that was my life right down to temporarily switching channels when Smith came on.
I have been for Trump since he announced and I can not understand why Fox would stomp on their own audience.
Thank you for your this article that puts into words what a lot of us are feeling.
Angie, THANK YOU for reading and replying. It means a lot to know that we’re not alone – a lot of us feel the same way and have experienced the same things.
Great article tho sean hannity is great and lou dobbs and a few others so i have come back for those shows. Cnn off for good.
I have heard a lot of good about Hannity in these comments. I am tempted to maybe give him another shot sometime. Thank you, Nancy!
Totally awesome, this is my story, too. And I cancelled cable, don’t miss it with so much on the web.
Yes. It was the same way with me. I had been a regular fox news viewer. Before i’d anticipate programs like ‘The Five’ where you get to see greg gutless actively flirting with dana perino. wasn’t a big deal then. i didn’t care about their flirting or their personal lives. But after their debacle with Trump, fox news is banned in my house. At one point fox news was even in my list of favorite channels so it would be easier to switch to that channel. Well, since then I removed it from my favorites list. Right now, I just watch something else in the morning. What’s the use of this blasted network flashing each and every part of the problems within our country, society and government, ranting and raving about them, when they themselves are part of that problem and do not really exist to be a part of the solution. So fox news is banned. In the mornings, I just watch re-runs of Transformers, Transformers Prime and Rescuebots, otherwise at any other time, I’d watch some random sci-fi/action movie being shown in one of the networks, American Dad, Family Guy, or documentaries like Forensic Files or Ancient Aliens. I avoid fox news like the plague, although every now and then I’d take a sneak peek only to see julie roginsky’s big lipped ugly communist mug parroting the lines “the electorate is now diverse” whenever she “analyzes” why Trump can’t win. I mean, diverse??? Does she mean more and more treacherous muslim migrants or illegal aliens coming in? What a dumb witch. So all in all, fox news, cnn, msnbc are in my banned list. I avoid them like the plague.
DITTO,DITTO,DITTO
Thank you, Amy, for putting into words EXACTLY how I feel! I was also a die-hard Fox New junkie and was stunned at Dana Perino, Megyn Kelly, etc., in their bias reporting and comments on what I thought was a mostly fair news organization.
I only watch Lou Dobbs, Stuart Varney, Judge Jeanine and Sean Hannity, who are pro Trump and understand why we, as Americans, are so upset with these so-called Republican pundits. Otherwise, my TV is no longer on for any of the so-called “news” channel!
It is ME… Awesome Amy Moreno excellent read. I would leave my tv on all night to help with the ratings Lol silly I know!
Thank you, Amy. I also no longer watch Faux except Han Greta Fox and Friends. Can’t stand the rest. Love their demo declines.
It is sooo ME. I would even leave my tv on all night to give them ratings Lol I know silly! Awesome read, thank you!
Love my Trump
I stopped watching Fox News in 2011 during the 2012 presidential campaign because Fox News attacked Ron Paul harder than liberals.
Check out YouTube sometime to see how the GOP attacked Ron Paul.
No, you are not alone Amy! I stumbled on truth feed just today…just now!!!! Yeah!!!,,,so glad I’m not alone! And, yes, why is Fox turning around and stomping on the very people in their main audience?
Thank you all and I will be following you Amy and Truthfeed!!!
Yes, I I have also enjoyed OAN. Give me more of fair and balanced!
Well Amy, not once has anyone been able to express the feeling I have been having the last few months! Bravo for a job well done. It seems a lot of other Fox viewers feel the same. I myself are not a true hard core fan again, but I find myself returning somewhat to a couple of the the late night shows that are promoting Trump again. If nothing else, it’s showed people that it’s ok to trust a little again. I also believe that this has knocked FOX off the pedestal they were way up on at once time. Thanks for explaining it in a naural way that people can understand!
Wow! You just wrote my story too! I was a FoxNews Junkie and had to find my own way and it has not been easy. The One American News has come to my aid but it’s still not the same. I loved seeing their ratings drop because I was assured that I was not alone in my feeling towards them. I feel that they have gone off the deep end and will never return to their former glory. Thanks for a great article.
Hi Amy. Thanks for the read. Excellent description of how we Trump supporters feel.
I only watch Fox when Trump is the main topic or he is being interviewed. And this last couple of days there has been a lot of Trump on Fox. Bill O’Reilly had “The Trump Phenomenon”. Greta had “The Trump Family”. Sean had “Trump vs. Hillary”. Repeats of Megyn’s Special with Trump, etc. It was like Fox went 7/24 Trump, and all mostly positive.
Judge Jeanine Pirro and Lou Dobbs on Fox Business are the best. I agree with you on Shepard Smith, can’t watch.
Thanks again.
Enjoyable article and summed up exactly what I have been feeling as well. I miss FOX the same as I did when I mourned the ending of All My Children. Silly, I know, to be a news junkie And soap fan at the same time! But Fox let us down and I now will occasionally turn on Greta or Hannity but not much else !
Word by word is exactly how I feel. This became part of my everyday life listen to Trump take punches from everyone including FOX. I lost respect for FOX one of the only people that stood by him believed in him and understood exactly how we all feel is Hannity and Judge Judie Jeannie
Thank you for sharing
Amy,
Great article and it resonates deeply with me as well. I only watch Fox interviews with Trump on YouTube anymore. I gave Megyn another chance but it took no time at all for her narcissism to poke through and reveal she needed Trump to boost her ratings and use that episode to promote her book at the end.
I too love Judge Janine, Hannity, Dobbs and Greta.. all mentioned get a lot of flack from the insanely self centered arrogant never trump stragglers.
In closing.. thank you for taking the time to write this, it’s encouraging to see more people opening their eyes and admitting they were once fooled, there’s no shame in that if you learn a lesson and turn away from your folly.
Much respect
~Renee’
Superb article. Yes Amy, you put into beautiful words exactly how I feel about FoxNews. I began watching when they started back in 1996. At that time, I lived on the Left coast. What a welcome relief it was from the inane left-wing prattle dished out every day on every channel. You can imagine the kind of loyalty that can inspire. Now that loyalty is gone. They have betrayed us and I am not coming back.
They pack their commentariat with neo-con globalists – the very same people who have ruined this country: Will, Krauthammer, Lowrey, Goldberg, etc. Gradually the neo-cons infiltrated the Republican party and real conservative values were mostly abandoned. I am old enough to know that open borders, endless wars and unfair globalist trade deals are NOT conservative values. Ironically, Trump is more conservative than his neo-con accusers.
It appears that the Media’s ability to influence the public has reached a limit. Much to my glee, Fox’s continuous snark on Trump plus the zillions of negative ads against him have had virtually no effect. I think this tactic has boosted his popularity because people recognize this ploy and detest it.
You could certainly use FoxNews as an analogy for our country – we haven’t changed, our country has.
Thanks for your website – I love it !!
I stopped watching CNN because of all the anti-Trump rhetoric, and like someone else said, they would have 5 anti-Trump panelists against 1 Trump supporter all the time almost every day! Especially around an election day or a debate day. Although in the end as Trump became the glorious winner, I couldn’t help but gloat, albeit alone in my living room. But it just got old day in and day out with CNN! God forbid they have a negative story on Hillary! And why is that??? Kindof fishy to me! Bah bye! I can’t stand FOX either! For everything already stated and then some! I do like Bill O’Reilly tho, and Hannity.
Kathy, I see these 5:1 numbers as well and it’s extremely unfair. But have you also noticed the guts, strength, verbal clarity of every single Trump spokesman or surrogate? More females than males, they are tough as nails, well spoken, educated, deliver with clarity and tone that is concise and cutting. In short, it often takes 5 on 1 numbers to make it fair, HaHa!!
Amy, this reminds me of when SCOTUS Justice Stewart tried to define (pornographic) obscenity….”But I know it when I see it.” He is me, you are US. In a few short weeks, Fox News pulled the mask off revealing it’s in the fish tank of neo-con globalists who want Trump and Americans who want their country back to sit down, shut up and leave them to feather and plump their own nests! Will, Hume, Goldberg, Lowry, Perino, Gutfeld, crybaby Kristol, and poor Dr. Krauthammer who says he just can’t bring himself to pull the voting lever for anyone. Well big boo hoo! Trump has very cleverly set the table with some clear rules: You’re with us or you’re against us, and always welcome to join us after you come to your senses later. Everyone else is an opponent, clearly can’t be trusted and now we know why! All that said, I have seen very fair treatment by O’Reilly, “take no prisoners” Hannity, Varney, and from Day One Lou Dobbs and Judge Jeanine who has been personal friends with Trump for decades, openly saying so and supporting him. What is happening to National Review, Weekly Standard and the rest of global elitists in full out panic who write and talk a good game but don’t lift a finger because they might break a nail on their manicured typing hands. Hey guys: Where have you been while our country is being sold out, President Obama’s agenda fully funded and now someone comes along to try to unravel the mess by BOTH parties only to be attacked from your ivory towers? Guess what? You gotta break some eggs to make an omelet so wash some dishes or get the Hell out of the kitchen!
Yes, you are like a baby Trump; saying about fox news what needs to be said. Fox was the elite’s vanguard control the conservative voices, until Donald Trump came in and started bull dozing all the china. Thanks for articulating the feelings of most fox news viewers. These viewers would completely boycott fox if there was a viable alternative.
They called Donald Trump a fraud, when the real frauds are fox news and elites in the republican party. The only saving grace is Sean Hannity and Judge Janine. The other are slick back-stabbers who ar friendly, but are constantly trying to make Trump fall on his sword. See Hannity and the Judge are big names who can’t be silenced, looked at what they did to the young and extremely articulate Andrea Tantaros?
They had to silence her, because she was college educated, a woman, she is young and she is a proud easily identifiable Latina; everything they wanted portray as being unreachable by Trump and she was a SUPER advocate for Donald Trump. But because she is not a big name in the media, they censored and shut her down and none of fox news has spoke up for her…
[…] Trump vs Fox the real reality series — Exhibit A. […]