Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino

Fox News Hosts Exposed (Again); Bari Weiss’ Both-Sides Pitch; Vanity Fair’s Olivia Nuzzi Disaster

Nov 28, 2025
Bari Weiss proposes a controversial vision to reshape acceptable debate, sparking a critique of 'both-sides-ism' in today’s polarized climate. New insights from the Smartmatic lawsuit reveal Fox News prioritized ratings over the truth during the 2020 election, with insiders' private criticisms of Trump surfacing. Meanwhile, Olivia Nuzzi's scandal concerning a nude portrait raises eyebrows at Vanity Fair. On a lighter note, Donald Trump pushes for a new 'Rush Hour' film, highlighting the curious ties between Hollywood and politics.
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INSIGHT

Limits Of Both-Sides Framing

  • Both-sides framing fails when one side routinely distorts facts and defends a liar.
  • Oliver Darcy argues CBS-style 'center-left vs center-right' debate risks normalizing bad-faith defenders of Trump.
ADVICE

Prioritize Analysis Over Filler Panels

  • Prioritize smart, clear-eyed analysis over symmetrical talking-head panels.
  • Avoid platforming pundits whose primary role is to defend a politician at all costs.
INSIGHT

Fox's On-Air/Off-Air Disconnect

  • New Smartmatic discovery messages show Fox hosts privately disparaged Trump while airing pro-Trump narratives.
  • Jon Passantino and Oliver Darcy say that mismatch reveals Fox prioritized ratings over truth in 2020.
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