Mediaite’s Most Influential in News Media 2025

35. Bill O’Reilly 

At the ripe age of 76, O’Reilly continues to speak up and out with the same bombast and confidence that made him the king of cable at Fox News. And in terms of influence today, O’Reilly has figured out how to navigate independent media, becoming one of the most successful and influential figures in the country. He hosts two shows – one in the morning, one in the evening – as well as making frequent appearances on other shows, including on NewsNation, where he has become a regular guest, and Piers Morgan: Uncensored. His shows are also aired on hundreds of radio stations.

What makes O’Reilly’s analysis particularly interesting, and influential, is that while he is a staunch conservative, he doesn’t do MAGA talking points and will frequently call out the president and his administration — like when he gave Trump an unflattering “D” grade on his handling of the Russia-Ukraine war, and when he blasted Pete Hegseth’s draconian crackdown on Pentagon press.

But unlike most who dare to ever breathe a word of criticism about Trump, O’Reilly still has the president’s ear. In July, O’Reilly revealed that he advised Trump “man-to-man, eye-to-eye” not to release all of the Epstein files and to stop talking about the late sex offender altogether.

Yet it’s not just his news analysis that makes him so influential. In September, O’Reilly published his most recent book, Confronting Evil, which went to number one on the New York Times best seller list. That is his staggering 20th New York Times No. 1 best seller — which is the record for the most books to hit the top spot of any single nonfiction author.

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34. Rachel Maddow

Despite only hosting a show once a week, Rachel Maddow likely remains the most important liberal media voice in America. Her influence is only down a bit this year based on volume of shows. MS NOW deploys Maddow the way networks once relied on Cronkite: as the voice of record when stakes are highest. Her anchoring of election nights, State of the Union coverage, and breaking political moments underscores her continued centrality to progressive audiences seeking context and critiques. She agreed to return to her daily show for the first 100 days of the Trump administration giving a boost to the network at a critical time.

One could also argue that with her signature program now only airing once a week, it has paradoxically amplified its impact. Each appearance feels curated and consequential, carrying the weight of interpretation rather than the urgency of daily reaction. In an era of overproduction, scarcity creates authority.

What distinguishes Maddow is her discipline. While competitors chase viral moments and manufactured outrage, she patiently sticks to context and conclusions earned through argument rather than assertion. Her advocacy remains unambiguous without becoming overwrought, a balance few others attempt, much less achieve—one that reinforces her credibility across an increasingly fractured media landscape. And the proof is in the pudding, MS NOW struggled to find a host who can salvage much of her massive audience the four nights she isn’t there. They want to see Maddow. Period. That is the very definition of influence.

Her new podcast, Burn Order, also launched this year and surged into Apple’s Top 5, proving she can command new formats and audiences as well.

Rachel Maddow remains essential to MS NOW but also to the broader liberal media ecosystem. She is their reluctant leader and recently they have been left clamoring for more.

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33. Debra OConnell

Debra OConnell, whose role expanded last year to oversee the business strategies of — not just ABC News and its local stations — but all of Disney’s networks from Europe to Latin America, truly has one of the biggest jobs in all of news media, and media more broadly. OConnell oversees a wide range of TV offerings for Disney, but for our purposes, the crown jewel of her vast portfolio is obviously ABC News. The network boasts one of the most-watched shows in all of television (not just news) in ABC’s World News Tonight, as well as consistent A.M. stalwart Good Morning America.

Almin Karamehmedovic, the current president of ABC News, reports to OConnell — and the two have had to navigate choppy waters with the new administration. Disney first settled a lawsuit with the President for comments made by George Stephanopoulos and then found itself at the center of another political firestorm this fall — after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel sparked controversy with remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassin.

But agree or disagree with their decisions, OConnell and Disney weathered those storms, and being able to move forward and thrive when the administration places a target on your back is, in and of itself, a major feat. Furthermore, OConnell has been able to maintain the complete support and respect of both the higher-ups at Disney and the newsroom at ABC. In this news environment, that is nothing short of a herculean achievement. No question, OConnell is one of the biggest, and most influential, players in the biz.

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32. Laura Ingraham

Laura Ingraham ends 2025 as the most-watched female host in cable news, finishing well ahead of the likes of MS NOW’s Rachel Maddow and Jen Psaki, CNN’s Dana Bash and Abby Phillip, and even her own high-profile Fox News colleagues Martha MacCallum and Maria Bartiromo. At this point, The Ingraham Angle is a mainstay in Fox’s evening lineup, and consistently hovers around the entire industry’s Top 5 shows; it finished in 4th place in November while averaging 2.53 million viewers, but 6th in October while averaging 2.55 million.

Ingraham’s unique footing in the business and MAGA-before-MAGA-existed cred, affords her opportunities and influence most could only dream of. She enjoys incredible access to the Trump administration, tallying up interviews with Pete Hegseth, JD Vance (twice), and the big man himself over the course of the last year. And she’s one of only a few figures in all of the Fourth Estate who can fire a brushback pitch by the president’s ear – as she has on the economy, immigration, and even his redecoration of the White House – without suffering repercussions. Indeed, her November interview with Trump drew bipartisan praise for the tough, precise, and intelligent questions she peppered him with. During year one of his second go-round, Ingraham proved that she plans on using her goodwill with Trump for far more than just access.

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31. Jon Stewart

2025 is the first time Jon Stewart hosted The Daily Show while Donald Trump sat in the Oval Office. And while he’s only in the pilot’s seat once a week these days, his commentaries are regularly shared far and wide.

Stewart made what was supposed to be a temporary stop back at the Comedy Central show that made him famous after leaving it behind in 2015 – following 17 years of exasperated, yet insightful, political satire and comedy. But the show has continued by popular demand, and Stewart pulls double duty — not only having boosted the Daily Show’s ratings with his blockbuster return, but also by helming a popular podcast, The Weekly Show on Apple TV+. Stewart’s podcast boasts some 677,000 followers, and growing, on YouTube, while regularly landing among the top 10 comedy shows and within the top 50 podcasts in the U.S. The Weekly Show centers on long-form interviews and his sit-downs with top media figures and the likes of AOC and Pete Buttigieg which landed over 2 million.

And as ever, Stewart has not shied away from controversy. He joined his former Comedy Central colleague Stephen Colbert in taking swipes at their parent company, Paramount, after it was bought by David Ellison, sparking worries of a pro-Trump turn. But don’t mistake Stewart for a doctrinaire progressive, he has angered liberals with anti-woke takes on everything from his criticism of DEI to defending Joe Rogan for platforming “Nazi-curious guests.” While Colbert’s show is set to end — a decision Stewart had no qualms blasting on his parent company’s air — Stewart renewed his contract through 2026 and is certain to continue being a thorn in the side of Trump, the MAGA movement, maybe some liberals, but almost certainly his corporate overlords for years to come.

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30. Ari Melber

Ari Melber, a licensed attorney, brings a lawyer’s touch to his often high profile interviews, pressing guests, sometimes with differing points of view, as though they were being cross-examined on a witness stand. And it’s really working on cable and beyond making him a rare cable news star who has a major social media presence beyond the increasingly less relevant X.

Melber’s show, The Beat, not only crushes CNN in its timeslot but remains competitive with Fox News and has cultivated both a younger audience than most of his rivals and maybe more importantly, a massive following on YouTube.

Melber has seen some 1.8 billion views on YouTube and when added together with major views on Instagram and TikTok, Melber has racked up well over 7 billion views across social media. Mainstream media organizations could learn a thing or two about building social media bonds by examining and emulating what Melber and his team have accomplished.

What makes Melber more viral than most of his cable news peers — in a medium where older viewers are so prevalent? There are a lot of possible explanations but his love of rap and hip hop certainly doesn’t hurt. Sometimes to the chagrin of his cranky older viewers, he regularly ends episodes with surprise guests like 50 Cent. Melber’s clips rolling out his 50 Cent interview gained some 110 million views across social media. Melber has effectively created what would be considered a major independent media presence but within the MS NOW umbrella

Melber is also a key player during marquee special coverage events, like election and debate nights offering legal analysis and more. With his signature splash of culture and appeal to younger viewers, Melber is an asset MS NOW is certain to keep deploying in 2026 as it looks to redefine itself and build an ever bigger audience and brand.

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29. Andrew Ross Sorkin

Andrew Ross Sorkin is the guy everyone in business wants to know. But he is also the guy more than the business community watches to figure out what the heck is happening in the hazy space between the markets and the political class. In the chaos of 2025, he’s been the translator even the most seasoned business heads needed.

Whether he’s covering the AI market bubble or Trump’s tariff rollercoaster, Sorkin’s calm, technical decoding is a major reason that CNBC’s Squawk Box is the morning show CEOs plan their day around.

It’s easy to forget that he operates on multiple altitudes at once. He’s also the founder and editor at large for DealBook, The New York Times’ early-morning launchpad for policy narratives for which he hosts agenda-setting conferences. He is able to draw the biggest names in the world each year at his Dealbook summit. This year’s lineup was truly eclectic, ranging from the president of Taiwan, to Erika Kirk, to Gavin Newsom — and even viral sensation Mr. Beast.

Sorkin entered 2025 already carrying one of the heaviest résumés in U.S. media, having started at the Times when he was just 18 years old, but somehow managed to add another landmark achievement to the pile. On Oct. 14, after eight years — yes, eight years — of research and archival excavation, he published 1929: The Inside Story of the Greatest Crash in History – And How It Shattered a Nation. A now-best selling book that reads as much like an eerie warning or parable than a lesson about the distant past.

Andrew Ross Sorkin is — simply put — one of the must-knows, must-haves and must-listen tos in media. If that isn’t influence, we don’t know what it is.

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28. Piers Morgan

In a political media landscape which has increasingly featured independent broadcasters, Piers Morgan has become one of the biggest — with a massive subscriber base on YouTube in excess of 4 million viewers. He’s done it in large part by setting up, and often participating in, some truly epic brawls. Piers Morgan: Uncensored is a favorite of social media clippers who can count on the show for fireworks just about every day. The longtime host has proven himself more than capable of wrangling guests and keeping his show on track — many times when people are literally yelling at each other through their screens.

Piers Morgan: Uncensored continues bringing in strong numbers, and this year, Morgan announced that a weekly version was being brought to the U.K.’s Channel 5, giving him another massive platform to expand the show’s footprint.

While Morgan may not chart as well domestically as Tucker Carlson or Megyn Kelly, his fanbase is arguably more wide and maybe less conspiratorial with popularity on both sides of the Atlantic and maybe even both sides of the political aisle. He also welcomes a roster of guests as good as almost anyone in the business, as well some of the most controversial like Nick Fuentes, Candace Owens, and Taylor Lorenz. But when guests who might be banned from many other programs appear on his show, they better be prepared to answer the tough questions and to even be mocked by the host.

This year kicked off with Morgan taking control of his own show through his Wake Up Productions after a four-year deal with NewsCorp. It was a big bet on himself, and it paid off spectacularly. It was announced in February that his show reached one billion views, a number he reached in less than three years. Morgan has gained approximately 500,000 subscribers on YouTube since then. Those numbers speak for themselves.

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27. The View (Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro)

The View is not billed as a political show and yet it continued to be a must see political show in 2025 despite an election that didn’t go the way much of their audience wanted. Co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, and Alyssa Farah Griffin took a little time out to not enjoy the election outcome, but soon crafted a game plan for how to handle Trump 2.0 — and it quickly proved to be a winner. New daily episodes regularly clock in anywhere from 2.2 to 2.5 million P2+ viewers — putting it well inside the Top 50 shows in all of television.

When it comes to daytime chat shows that combine Hot Topics on third-rail issues with hot celebrity chats, The View is pretty much the only game in town. The mix of celebrity interviews, grillings (some hotter than others) of major political figures, and unscripted moments make for really good, controversial and shareable content.

A key to their success in 2025 was Griffin’s on-the-fly shift from strident Trump critic to a more practical role deciphering Trump’s appeal. That subtle, but crucial pivot has helped the show recapture some of the magic of the Meghan McCain days — without the constant vitriol amongst the panelists which was a staple of that era.

The show’s influence can be seen vividly in the attention they attracted when scheduling issues delayed their response to the Jimmy Kimmel suspension. Many were clamoring for that take — just as they clamor for so many others from this eclectic panel on a day-in, day-out basis. The reality is that love them or hate them, each and every one of the co-hosts is a star in her own right and that wattage makes this show even more influential.

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26. Jon Karl

As the 2024 campaign unfolded, Jonathan Karl was already quietly mapping the contours of Trump 2.0 — a version of power often driven less by ideology than by vengeance for a story he’d soon be dragged into himself.

“We’ll probably go after people like you,” Trump snapped at Karl during a tense Oval Office exchange in September over Trump’s proposed post-Charlie Kirk assassination “hate-speech” crackdown.

The president has not yet followed through on that threat, but he couldn’t have offered better promotion for Karl’s latest tome — Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America — which dropped in October and promptly hit the best seller list. It’s the fourth book on the Trump presidencies from ABC’s chief Washington correspondent, and all four have been New York Times best sellers.

On top of cementing his status as a prolific author, Karl made news in 2025 with a series of contentious yet illuminating interviews as co-host of ABC’s This Week. His confrontation with Vice President JD Vance after the strikes on Iran, and a sitdown with Bernie Sanders in which the Vermont senator very nearly walked out were among the highlights.

Karl’s gift has always been clarity under pressure – no histrionics, no retreat, just sharp questions and a proximity to power. In 2025, if Trump turned retribution into strategy, Jonathan Karl stood where the blast landed and reported what he saw, reliably calm, precise, and unafraid.

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NEXT PAGE: See who made the cut for our #25-16 selections!

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