The Best People with Nicolle Wallace Oliver Darcy on the Effects of a Steady Fox News Diet
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Jan 19, 2026 
Oliver Darcy, a veteran media reporter and founder of the Status newsletter, dives into the effects of corporate media's capitulation to Donald Trump. He discusses the unhealthy state of America’s information environment and critiques Fox News for its propaganda role. Amid the bleakness, Darcy finds hope in grassroots protests and the rise of independent journalism, emphasizing that audiences crave honest, straightforward coverage. Citing competition among MAGA media, he highlights how sensationalism thrives, urging a return to accountability in the media.
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Covering Your Own Company Was Awkward
- Oliver Darcy described covering his own employer, CNN, as awkward but necessary for accountability journalism.
- He left in 2024 to launch Status so he could report on networks without conflicts of interest.
Corporate Capitulation To Power
- Media and tech companies are overtly bending the knee to Donald Trump and power for business reasons.
- Oliver Darcy warns this capitulation normalizes propaganda and weakens accountability in journalism.
Self-Censorship Masks Propaganda
- Newsrooms often self-censor and soften language about MAGA media, treating propaganda like regular news.
- Darcy argues this failure to reckon with the media environment helped birth and sustain Trumpism.