#1- Bias in Cable Television News

Hannity 

While Fox News has earned a reputation for being heavily skewed toward the Republican Party, which is earned. Countless hours of Fox programming over the years have been tailored in order to appeal to the Republican base.

That kind of message that Fox News brings does not show through from its Newsman Shep Smith. That message is delivered through the political commentators.

Sean Hannity

Bill O'Reilly 

Now with the O'Reilly having been canned in 2017 after mounting sexual assault allegations, Sean Hannity is the last of the old guard.

I watched the January 19, 2018 episode of the show and it begins with Hannity running down the topics that will talked about on the show. The first was the FISA memo, where Hannity alleges that it shows that the Obama administration "spied" on the Trump campaign. This is where the hashtag #releasethememo gained popularity. During this time he plays up that only Republicans have been to look at the memo.

Hannity then moves on to the Government Shutdown that would happen the next day. He lays all of the blame at the feet of the Democrats which is strange seeing as how the Republicans hold the House, Senate, and the White House.

Then, the "Trump" economy which Hannity frames as so much better than the "failure" of the Obama economy. The economy that had to respond to the the Great Recession.

Hannity comes back to the FISA memo in order to talk about Robert Mueller investigation and how he thinks all of the members of the council should be disbanded and some prosecuted. Their is a recurring theme of Hannity always advocating in the Presidents best interests. Funnily enough soon after this segment ends Hannity reads one of Trump's tweets on air.

As I said before Hannity has always been part of the Fox News group like O'Reilly who are loyal to the Republicans above all else, but it seems that since Hannity got Trump's ear he is much more devoted to pleasing the President.


Sean Hannity claims to be a journalist here.
Sean Hannity claims just to be a talk show host here.
Bret Baier distances himself from Hannity's show here.