Some things remained consistent: There was
time to criticize Democrats and non-Fox media.
The sister channel Fox Business Network last
weekend shelved a prime-time program
hosted by Trish Regan, days after she suggested
criticism directed at Trump for his coronavirus
response was “yet another attempt to impeach
the president.”
Tucker Carlson, the first of Fox News’ three
prime-time personalities, stood out last
week with his calls to Americans to treat
the coronavirus seriously. On Monday’s
show, Carlson said that protecting the jobs
of Americans should be the government’s
top priority.
Hannity, Trump’s top media ally and cable news’
most popular host, last week told his viewers
that while the coronavirus is a serious matter
that poses risks and challenges, it’s not “the end
of days. It’s not the end of the world.”
“I don’t like that we are scaring people
unnecessarily,” he said.
He has frequently drawn comparisons between
the new coronavirus and the seasonal death rate
for the common flu and to street violence.
“To put it in perspective, 26 people were shot
in Chicago alone over the weekend,” he said. “I
doubt you heard about it. You notice there’s no
widespread hysteria about violence in Chicago.”
At one point when Hannity introduced statistics
on how many people died of the flu, he was
scolded by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases. Fauci, a guest on the show, told
Hannity to make sure that people understand
that coronavirus is more lethal than the flu.