From Salon · Amanda Marcotte · · 1m 20s
Fox News loses grip on culture wars
Fox News' culture war strategy fails as Trump criticizes its GOP coverage tilt.
In brief
Fox News' culture war strategy fails as Trump criticizes its GOP coverage tilt. Fox News' culture war tactics are failing as Trump criticizes its disproportionate focus on Democratic candidates during the 2026 midterms. Originally reported by Salon.
Fox News gaffe
Reporter Lucas Tomlinson covered Sen. Darline Graham's South Carolina rally but misidentified a white man as a Trump superfan.
“There’s nothing like seeing a cult right up front, man”
Trump criticizes Fox
Trump claims Fox News spends too much time covering Republican opponents instead of GOP candidates.
“FoxNews is spending far too much time putting on the OPPONENTS of Republican Party Candidates”
Coverage disparity
Media Matters reports Fox News mentions Democratic candidates three times more often than Republican candidates this cycle.
“the network has mentioned the names of Democratic candidates at over three times the rate of Republicans”
Uninspiring GOP field
Vivek Ramaswamy and Ken Paxton are so repulsive that even lifelong Republicans can't pretend to like them.
“so repulsive that even lifelong Republicans can't pretend to like them”
Stronger Democratic candidates
Democratic candidates like Sen. Jon Ossoff and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed are making more compelling TV.
“the most compelling television”
Fox's culture war strategy
Fox News tries to distract voters from serious issues with culture war hysteria.
“distract voters from serious issues like inflation, the war with Iran or the metastasizing deportation crisis”
Jesse Watters' complaint
Jesse Watters boycotts Fox's WNBA segment after criticizing its focus on trans players.
“I don’t want to push this story anymore! I want to leave this story alone! I am no longer talking about the WNBA”
Fox's WNBA strategy
Fox uses WNBA to stoke conservative fears about female athletes.
“pretending they want to 'clean up' the sport”
Watters' 'fear porn' comment
Watters argues Republicans need more 'fear porn' to win elections.
“Republicans need more 'fear porn' if they want to win”
Fox's dilemma
Fox faces dilemma between losing ad dollars and radical viewers to pursue extreme tactics.
“it doesn’t do to be coy any longer, that only the hard-core stuff will move the base”
What matters most
Fox News' culture war tactics are failing as Trump criticizes its disproportionate focus on Democratic candidates during the 2026 midterms.
