Mediaite’s Most Influential in News Media 2019
25. Nicolle Wallace
More than a decade after serving in one Republican administration, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace has become one of the fiercest critics of the one currently occupying the White House. While her network is home to many anti-Trump hosts, the Deadline: White House anchor stands out as an opponent of the president from the center-right. The only time Wallace seems to hold back is when she self-censors the curse words she’d like to lob at the president and his allies, from decrying Trump as “full of bleep” to, less successfully, calling Fox News host Laura Ingraham a “chickenshit” on-air. The format of her show — which features a roundtable similar to the one on Morning Joe’s set — has proved a winner too. Deadline: White House is one of the only shows on MSNBC that regularly beats out Fox News in the ratings. In just two years anchoring the 4 p.m. slot, this former Bushie has emerged as a star of the Lean Forward network. Who would have thought.
24. Brian Stelter
For better or worse, President Trump’s constant attacks on the media, as well as on the truth itself, have elevated the role of media criticism. His presidency has also elevated the importance of cable news. As the host of CNN’s Reliable Sources and CNN’s chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter is at the eye of that storm, providing analysis of broad trends in news coverage, calling out the failures of other cable news and broadcast networks, holding the Trump administration accountable, and occasionally dishing on his own network. These critiques have also made him a huge target for many on the right. Whatever one thinks of his point of view, he’s an absolutely indomitable media critic, breaking news on the beat with the frequency of his days as a New York Times reporter — while juggling daily appearances on CNN, a highly-influential newsletter and a Sunday show that’s consistently a must-watch for media news geeks like us at Mediaite.
23. Bret Baier
In the golden age of cable news fights, anchor and editor of Special Report Bret Baier has remained above the fray. And that’s quite a feat, considering he is the network’s chief political anchor. But Baier’s no-nonsense style and professional aloofness make him the standard of impartiality at the network. None of which has diminished his draw for news viewers or for major news-makers, with big names across the spectrum from President Trump to DNC Chair Tom Perez, from Ronan Farrow to Jon Stewart and more sitting down with Bret. After 20 years with the network, ten on Special Report, Baier inked a new multi-year deal early in 2019, and will co-anchor Fox’s 2020 election coverage, which will be a ratings bonanza. And he’s even doing Democratic candidate town halls. Bret Baier is everywhere, in other words, and remains, as Fox president Jay Wallace referred to him, the network’s “gold standard” for reporting.
22. Ari Melber
In the first few weeks of the impeachment inquiry, Congressional Democrats — taking their cue from Speaker Nancy Pelosi — used the term “quid pro quo” to frame President Trump’s conduct with Ukraine. But after a series of comprehensive, illuminating segments from Ari Melber explaining the merits of the term “bribery,” the majority party in the House changed its rhetoric. Suddenly, quid pro quo was out, and bribery was in — and the very popping MSNBC host proved utterly prescient. Melber has established himself as a serious player in a highly competitive 6:00 p.m. timeslot — as his nightly hour, The Beat, is one of only a handful of MSNBC shows to put up more than a token challenge to Fox News in the ratings. And Melber also scored in 2019 with his Sunday night impeachment specials: the Oct. 15 edition topped Fox News in the advertiser-coveted adults 25-54 demographic. Melber’s network recognizes what it has in the 39-year-old star, as he has figured prominently in MSNBC’s coverage of the impeachment proceedings.
21. Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, Juan Williams and Jesse Watters of The Five
Many cable news insiders privately mocked Roger Ailes when he proposed a novel concept to replace the popular Glenn Beck program: a talk show hosted by five up-and-comers who would chat about the news of the day like a televised Thanksgiving dinner? Good luck with that. Cut to seven years later, The Five has become a force of influence, particularly in the pro-Trump media world. There is no question that Greg Gutfeld is the show’s spirit animal, and he pairs co-hosting The Five with a highly-rated weekend show on Fox. Gutfeld has quietly become one of the most influential players behind the scenes at Fox News. There’s also Trump’s favorite Jesse Watters, the straight-laced ex-Bush administration staffer Dana Perino, and the liberal (and debate punching bag) Juan Williams. The fifth spot on the panel rotates, giving the show an always-fresh dynamic that keeps viewers guessing. And ratings? The Five draws higher numbers than prime time shows on rival networks and that is in part because the show is lively and often fun. Sure, too many episodes open with an A block of media criticism designed to tell viewers why they shouldn’t care about their lead story. That can be disorienting, but it’s also part of the special sauce. They have thrived positioning themselves as the outsiders, attracting a sizable audience in the process.
20. Jake Tapper
CNN has not yet announced its plans for 2020. But the smart money is on Jake Tapper getting the nod as the face of the network’s election coverage. Not only was The Lead anchor chosen to moderate CNN’s first Democratic presidential debate in July, but Tapper has been seated next to cable news fixture Wolf Blitzer for much of the network’s breaking news coverage in 2019 — including, most notably, the impeachment hearings. Beyond that, Tapper got more than his share of high-profile assignments (and scoops) this past year — from town hall moderating gigs to big-ticket exclusives with D.C.’s biggest newsmakers. Often during the past few months, Tapper’s show has been extended by an hour. It’s clear that the network wants his him on as much as possible — and why wouldn’t they? In 2016, Tapper was relegated to a side table during election night coverage. We can’t see that happening this time around, particularly given the impressive performance of his Sunday show State of the Union. Jake Tapper is now CNN’s signature politics star.
19. Pete Hegseth
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Pete Hegseth skyrocketed in influence over the course of 2019, parlaying his gig as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend into a side hustle as an informal but critical adviser to the President of the United States. While Hegseth argued on the air at Fox News for Trump to pardon several service members accused of war crimes, the host was also lobbying the president in private to do so, and in most cases it worked. For Hegseth, who has been considered for jobs in the White House and held his wedding at a Trump resort, the proximity to power is one he uses to great advantage. Trump ended up pardoning several soldiers involved in war crimes cases, all of whom were celebrated as heroes on the air at Fox & Friends. While President Trump’s decision was met with derision by many and contradicted advice from the Pentagon, the president shows no sign of regret, reportedly musing about bringing the soldiers on the campaign trail. Pardons are one of the greatest powers of the executive branch and now in many cases, it appears that power has been extended to this Fox & Friends Weekend co-host.
18. Alisyn Camerota and John Berman of New Day
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For political news junkies eager to start their day with a dose of serious news, there is CNN’s New Day. Co-anchors Alisyn Camerota and John Berman lead a three-hour reporting session packed with scoops from the network’s journalists and news-making conversations with the heaviest hitters in political media. Need a thorough defense of Trump? Camerota interviews Rick Santorum next. Want sharp legal analysis with a dose of humor? Jeffrey Toobin is coming up. Need fascinating but unexpected perspective on the news of the day? John Avlon’s recurring segment “Reality Check” is a hit. Meanwhile, New Day’s hosts have nailed that difficult balance of being well-informed enough to understand the serious time we find ourselves in, but also don’t take themselves so seriously that they can’t make a morning show fun. Unlike their cable news competitors, New Day is a serious morning news show, and it thrives under the leadership of veteran showrunner Izzy Povich. Yes, it is the third-rated cable news morning program, but watching New Day provides viewers a different value — not always being spoon fed opinions, but a sense of being better informed after watching. Not every show can say the same.
17. George Conway
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What is a Never Trump lawyer who doesn’t work in media doing on this list? Well, that lawyer also happens to be the husband of one of the president’s closest advisors, and he regularly critiques her boss in public, making headlines each and every time. George Conway, a prominent conservative lawyer in his own right, shot to national stardom in 2019. And as Trump officials are quick to remind you, it’s thanks to his marriage to Kellyanne Conway, senior White House adviser, a union he pairs with a ruthless and relentless Twitter assault on her boss. That the hubby of a senior White House official spends so much time delivering blistering take downs of the president has made the marriage of Kellyanne and George a national obsession, with reporters and pundits hanging on his (and their) every word. Conway had generally kept his criticism to his Twitter timeline until that stunning moment in November when he appeared on MSNBC for coverage of the impeachment hearings. In 2019, he has also taken his takedowns of Trump to the pages of The Atlantic and The Washington Post — must reads each and every time. Conway shows no sign of warming up to a president he has deemed racist and mentally unwell in the coming election year, so expect him to continue to speak out as an influential voice. But liberals beware, he may be your staunch ally now but in a post-Trump era he will likely return to his role as a top voice in the conservative legal world.
