Jan 28, 2020

"Should be on Fake News CNN": Trump attacks Fox News' Chris Wallace

Rashaan Ayesh

President Trump. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

President Trump slammed Fox News on Tuesday, attacking the network for inviting Democrats as guests and singling out anchor Chris Wallace.

"So, what the hell has happened to @FoxNews. Only I know! Chris Wallace and others should be on Fake News CNN or MSDNC. How’s Shep Smith doing? Watch, this will be the beginning of the end for Fox, just like the other two which are dying in the ratings. Social Media is great!"

The big picture: 34 Senate Democrats have made a total of 186 unique TV appearances since last Tuesday — the first substantive day of the Senate impeachment trial, according to data collected by a Senate Democratic aide and given to Axios' Alayna Treene.

  • Nine Democratic senators have been on Fox News.

Between the lines: Trump has previously hinted at breaking away from Fox News, but he is unlikely to do so given the channel remains the biggest and most influential conservative-leaning cable news network. His tweets are aimed at pressuring Fox to give him more favorable coverage.

Go deeper: "Fox isn't working for us anymore": Trump turns against his favorite cable news channel

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect data provided to Axios.

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Jacob Knutson

Trump's acquittal brings Fox News its best ratings since his election and inauguration

Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The week of President Trump's impeachment acquittal was Fox News' fifth most-watched week and its highest since the weeks surrounding the 2016 election and the president's inauguration, AP reports.

Why it matters: Fox News averaged 4.27 million viewers in prime time last week. The basic cable network was bested only by major networks ABC, which televised the Academy Awards, and CBS.

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Sara Fischer

Echo chambers are getting worse

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Over the past five years, Americans have become increasingly polarized in their media consumption diets based on their political affiliation, according to new data from Pew Research Center.

The big picture: It's not just news that polarizes us — it's our culture, too. Other studies out over the past year that suggest that the trend extends beyond news and information to entertainment and leisure.

Go deeperArrowJan 28, 2020
Sara Fischer

Trump's State of the Union gets lowest ratings since he took office

President Trump delivers the State of the Union address flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Roughly 37.2 million people tuned in to watch President Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday, according to Nielsen — the fewest number of people that have tuned into the yearly address so far during his presidency.

Why it matters: The event happened amid an already chaotic news cycle surrounding the president's impeachment trial and the Iowa causes. Axios has reported that generally, viewers are beginning to tune out of lots of political storylines, due mostly to saturation.

Go deeperArrowFeb 6, 2020 - Politics & Policy