Fox News has elevated pro-Trump personalities Jesse Watters and Jeannine Pirro to coveted daily time-slots.
SO WHAT
Expect your Fox News viewing to get significantly more MAGA.
WHAT HAPPENED
The network announced Wednesday that Pirro will become a permanent co-host on “The Five,” Fox News’ highly rated weekday talk show.
On Monday, Fox News announced Watters – who shares Pirro’s penchant for provocative commentary and also serves as a co-host on “The Five” – would anchor a new prime-time show at 7 p.m.
- “Jesse’s versatility and hosting acumen has grown exponentially over the last five years, and he has developed a deep connection to the audience through two hit shows The Five and Watters’ World,” Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media, said in a statement.
- “Jesse Watters Primetime” will debut Jan. 24.
- Pirro will start her new role the same day.
FOX GOES FULL MAGA
Fox News, after briefly losing viewers with its coverage of Trump’s 2020 loss, shifted its prime-time programming toward “MAGA”-friendly opinion and away from straight news — surging ahead of the competition in the ratings.
- Several journalists left the network’s news side in recent years, starting with longtime anchor Shepherd Smith in 2018, who had feuded with star opinion host Tucker Carlson.
- Fox fired veteran politics editor Chris Stirewalt in January after he helped project Trump’s loss in Arizona, infuriating allies and supporters of the former president.
- In May, liberal pundit Juan Williams was removed from his spot on “The Five” talk show, and Democratic analyst Donna Brazile departed for ABC News.