Fox News was the only news network not to carry the first day of the Jan. 6 committee hearings as its hosts repeatedly trashed the two-hour hearing without providing their audience any of the content.
The committee detailed a lengthy case against former President Donald Trump's role, using clips of depositions from former Attorney General Bill Barr, former White House adviser Ivanka Trump, and other former officials to show Trump was well aware his fraud claims were false even as he continued to stoke his supporters ahead of the deadly Capitol riot. The committee also played new video of the violence that took place inside the Capitol and questioned Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards and documentarian Nick Quested, who was embedded with the Proud Boys, about what went on.
Fox News viewers were the only news watchers who didn't see the hearing Thursday night.
One of these channels is not like the others. pic.twitter.com/73AQpiPiWX
— The Recount (@therecount) June 10, 2022
At one point, as the committee showed damning footage of the violence in the Capitol, Fox News cut away from its side graphic showing the hearing to a panned-out shot of the hearing room.
Here’s the video of Fox News cutting away from the January 6th hearings when actual footage of the attack was shown. https://t.co/zxHEJNX8V4
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) June 10, 2022
Host Tucker Carlson bragged that his network was the only one not to air the hearings — which were even carried live by far-right Newsmax.
"This is the only hour on an American news channel that will not be carrying their propaganda live," Carlson said. "They are lying and we are not going to help them do it. What we will do instead is try to tell you the truth."
Fox News is the only channel not showing the live Jan 6 hearings:
— Kat Abu (@abughazalehkat) June 10, 2022
"This is the only hour on an American news channel that will not be carrying their propaganda live. They are lying and we are not going to help them do it. What we will do instead is try to tell you the truth." pic.twitter.com/uT8TKZYJ81
Media Matters' Matt Gertz reported that Carlson did not go to commercial break once during the hearing he did not show.
"Fox is desperate to keep its viewers from switching to another channel and seeing the hearing in real time," Gertz tweeted, adding that "they want to push his propaganda so much that they are leaving money on the table to do it."
Fellow host Sean Hannity also did not air any of the hearing, describing it as the "dullest, the most boring — there's absolutely nothing new — multi-hour Democratic fundraiser masquerading as a Jan. 6 hearing."
After the hearing wrapped up, Hannity declared that the "one person that looks good is Donald Trump."
Sean Hannity says tonight is "the dullest, the most boring, there's absolutely nothing new, multi-hour Democratic fund-raiser masquerading as a January 6 hearing."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 10, 2022
His viewers have yet to hear a word of what Liz Cheney said. pic.twitter.com/v1zrgxfN7c
Though Hannity did not air the hearing, he did make an appearance. Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice-chair of the committee, read Hannity's text to former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
"No more crazy people" and "no more stolen election talk ... Many people will quit," Hannity warned the White House spokeswoman. McEnany texted back: "Love that. Thank you. That is the playbook."
‘No more stolen election talk’ — Here’s a text exchange between Fox News’ Sean Hannity and former Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on the day after the Jan 6 insurrection pic.twitter.com/5b39xd1XeM
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 10, 2022
Longtime former news anchor Dan Rather trashed the network for not airing the hearing on Twitter: "Maybe the new slogan for Fox News should be: 'For those who can't handle the truth.'"
Here is the video Tucker Carlson does not want you to watch:
The January 6th committee debuted shocking new footage of the Capitol insurrection.
— The Recount (@therecount) June 10, 2022
Take 10 minutes and watch. pic.twitter.com/P3Zl9XPxLM
Read more:
Ivanka tells Jan. 6 committee she trusted Bill Barr over her dad on "bullsh*t" fraud claims
Jared Kushner: Trump White House counsel's threat to quit over Jan. 6 was "just whining"
To indict Donald Trump, prosecutors will need to prove intent. Well, here it comes
