Bret Baier On Trump’s Love-Hate Relationship with Fox News

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

Politics, Obama, News, Wnyc, Washington, Barack, President, Lizza, Wickenden

4.2 • 3.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 June 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

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Summary

The relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump is not just close; it can be profoundly influential. Trump frequently responds to segments in real time online—even to complain about a poll he doesn’t like. He has tapped the network for nearly two dozen roles within his Administration—including the current Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host. The network is also seen as having an outsized impact on his relationship with his base, and even on his agenda. Most recently, it’s been reported that Fox News’ coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict played a role in Trump’s decision to enter that fight. And while the network’s right-wing commentators—from Sean Hannity to Laura Ingraham to Mark Levin—tend to grab the most headlines and stand as the ideological coloring of the network, “Special Report,” Fox’s 6 P.M. broadcast, anchored by Bret Baier, is essential to the conservative-media complex. Baier draws more than three million viewers a night, at times surpassing legacy brands like “CBS Evening News,” despite being available in half as many homes. Baier insists on his impartiality, but his network’s reputation as an outlet for the right and its connection to President Trump himself can make his job representing the news arm of the network more challenging. And, when it comes to Trump and his relationship to the media, Baier tells David Remnick, “I think it is this cat-and-mouse game. You know, for all of the things he says about the media . . . he’s reaching out and doing interviews with the same people he says are nasty.”

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Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the political scene.
0:07.0	I'm David Remnick.
0:08.3	Early each week, we bring you a conversation from our episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour.
0:15.7	This is The New Yorker Radio Hour, a co-production of WNYC Studios and The New Yorker.
0:24.1	Welcome to The New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick.
0:28.3	The relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump is not just close. It can be profoundly influential.
0:36.4	Trump frequently responds to segments in real-time online,
0:40.9	even if only to complain about a poll that he doesn't like.
0:44.8	He's tapped the network for nearly two dozen roles within his administration,
0:49.4	including the current Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth,
0:52.7	who is a former weekend host. The network is seen as
0:56.5	having an outsized impact on his relationship with his base and even his agenda. And most
1:02.9	recently, it's been reported that Fox News's coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict influenced Trump's
1:08.6	decision to enter that fight. America First is not sitting in a beach chair and using words. It's decision to enter that fight.
1:14.3	America First is not sitting in a beach chair and using words.
1:17.9	It's taking decisive action when we can take out foredough the one swoop of an airplane.
1:20.2	And while the network's right-wing commentators from Sean Hannity to Laura Ingram to
1:24.5	Mark Levine tend to grab the most headlines and stand as the ideological coloring of the network.
1:31.1	Special Report, its 6 p.m. broadcast that's anchored by Brett Baer, is essential to the conservative media complex.
1:39.6	Brett Baer draws over 3 million viewers a night, at times surpassing legacy brands like CBS Evening News,
1:47.0	despite being available in half as many homes. Now, Bear insists on his impartiality.
1:54.2	But his network's reputation as an outlet for the right and its connection to President Trump himself
	...

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