Mediaite’s Most Influential in News Media 2019
16. Megyn Kelly and Shepard Smith
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Is is a rare thing to remain influential after leaving a daily news show. But that is the case with former NBC and Fox host Megyn Kelly and former Fox anchor Shepard Smith. Any time either one makes a public statement about issues in the news, they make news themselves. The media obsession with Megyn Kelly was only exacerbated this month, as she is portrayed on the big screen by Charlize Theron in Bombshell — a film about the women who stood up against Roger Ailes in which Kelly’s character is the lead. In addition to regular appearances on magazine covers, speculation about what Kelly will do next remains in full swing with a New York Times article just this past week stoking the latest round of predictions. Throughout her career, Kelly has been accused by conservatives and liberals alike of being in the tank for the other side, but it has never stopped her from scoring the big interviews, reporting the big news, or being part of the conversation. In 2019 she re-entered the fray, with exclusive interviews and reporting on her personal Instagram account that put her right back at the center of the news cycle. Shepard Smith also had a huge 2019, topped off by the shock announcement in October that he would leave Fox News. His show had become a national fixation thanks to his willingness to stand up for truth and facts on President Trump’s favorite network. Smith’s departure sparked a conversation about the news division at Fox, as well as rampant speculation about where Shep would go next. His every move after Fox continues to be influential, from appearances at events to comments on the media. It seems clear that both Megyn and Shep have big next chapters ahead. And like their every move now, when they are announced, you can bet they will be covered everywhere.
15. Tucker Carlson
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Tucker Carlson has attracted controversy and ratings in equal measure this year. The 8 p.m. Fox News host boasts 3 million viewers on an average night, with big numbers in the key demo as well. He regularly beats MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, and trades off the No. 1 slot with Sean Hannity. Granted, he’s also cemented a reputation as the most controversial host on Fox News, a distinction he somehow managed to swipe from Laura Ingraham. The selection of topics Carlson chooses to cover has earned plenty of outrage from critics and fellow members of the media, but what loyal viewers love about Carlson is that he just doesn’t care. In fact, he thrives on it. Happy to switch roles from MAGA diehard to conservative iconoclast in the same episode, Carlson’s formula has evolved from the days of battering overmatched liberals on live television. His ability to challenge the accepted ideas of modern conservatism (a viral segment backing the “economic patriotism” of Elizabeth Warren sparked a national conversation) keeps his show mightily relevant. And like his 9 p.m. colleague, much of Carlson’s influence derives from his direct line to the White House, which he reportedly uses to casually advise President Trump on topics that include war with Iran.
14. Don Lemon
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Already one of the leading voices of CNN, and one the president’s regular targets, the network made a huge statement about their 10 p.m. anchor in 2019 by selecting him to serve as one of the moderators for July’s Democratic presidential debate. That assignment was undoubtedly a success for Don Lemon — and a clear signal that he’s going to continue to be a critical player in CNN’s 2020 coverage. Lemon’s November one-on-one with Joe Biden was also a 2019 highlight for an anchor who has been a network star for years (don’t be fooled by his 30-something looks). While Lemon effortlessly transitioned from a straight newsman to more of an opinion host, he has demonstrated, time and again, his ability to stand up to any interview subject — no matter how powerful, or hostile, or evasive. And Lemon showed that he’s even willing to challenge his colleagues when necessary. His exchanges with friend and lead-in, Chris Cuomo, are always compelling. One stands out: Back in March, Cuomo conducted an interview with White House adviser Kellyanne Conway which Lemon called “beneath the dignity” of CNN. Agree or disagree, it was an authoritative statement from a man who has proved he has the clout to make them.
13. Chuck Todd
Meet the Press continued racking up ratings wins — in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo — against its Sunday show competitors in 2019. A possible reason why Chuck Todd continues to draw a big audience is that he might now be the most combative of the Sunday show hosts. That’s not to say his competitors don’t clash with their guests either, but consider Todd’s interviews this year with Senators Ron Johnson, John Kennedy, and Ted Cruz. Those showdowns, and others, drove news cycles, whether you like Todd’s style or not. Consider his showdown with John Kennedy over allegations of Ukrainian meddling in 2016, which became the focus of an entire news cycle during the impeachment inquiry. Meanwhile on MSNBC, MTP Daily continued to perform well for the network, with Todd delivering an at times amusing, but mostly informative broadcast well-suited for its hour. He often reminds viewers of the “this is not normal” mantra Trump critics have embraced since the president was sworn in, and on some days, when the news is just too much, his general bewilderment is spot on.
12. ABC’s David Muir, NBC’s Lester Holt, CBS’s Norah O’Donnell
Let’s face it: for all the attention we give to cable news, there is an even bigger audience tuning in to nightly network broadcasts helmed by ABC’s David Muir, NBC’s Lester Holt and CBS’s Norah O’Donnell. Think the few million viewers your favorite cable news host has is a lot? This trio regularly draws a combined nightly audience of more than 20 million. Whoever was predicting that the evening news shows would be dead by 2020 could not have been more off base. Muir and Holt have been competing for supremacy for two years now — with their battles often ending in split decisions depending on total viewers or the key demo. Just as important, both are well respected, well liked by staffers, and somehow have avoided being targeted by screaming partisans. O’Donnell, who took over CBS Evening News earlier this year, remains a distant third but as of late has seen her numbers rise as the show has undergone a revamp of sorts with a move to Washington DC. Cable news makes a lot more noise, but in terms of reach, the anchors of the network flagship news programs have cable beat by a ratings mile.
11. Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe
Want to know which show most of the people on this list wake up to? It’s Morning Joe, MSNBC’s long-running talk show hosted by colleagues turned couple Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. Sure, Morning Joe might not rival the ratings of Fox & Friends, nor the president’s daily attention (we hear Trump still hate-watches). But mediaites, Beltway insiders and even cable news rivals tune in to watch Joe, Mika and their top cast of reporters, correspondents and pundits analyze the news cycle every morning. Very often, the topics Morning Joe chooses to cover become the lede sentence of the political narrative of the day. In addition to the two hosts, it’s the broader cast of Morning Joe and the guest bookings that keeps this show exciting. From standout co-hosts like Willie Geist to a steady stream of lawmakers that beam in from the Capitol, there are few better ways to catch up on the news cycle than to tuck into a segment of Morning Joe. The show has a family feel to it and with that comes the guests who can feel more like the annoying, attention seeking uncles but hey, they tell great stories. The fact that very often Joe and Mika host the show remotely from a custom studio in their Florida home hasn’t detracted from the homespun feel and it still remains a gem of MSNBC, perhaps thanks to the political bonafides of Joe and Mika — who are now the belles of any media or political ball.
10. Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade
Imagine being the three people who the president of the United States meets with every morning. That would be influence. While this meeting isn’t in person, that’s effectively what the trio of Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhart, and Brian Kilmeade have with their viewer at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The president will regularly tweet while he’s watching — shouting out his favorite segments and quoting guests with whom he agrees. This running commentary emanating from the world’s most watched Twitter feed means that Fox & Friends, under this president, has the power to wake up and set the national agenda for the day — it’s that simple. More broadly, the political issues and culture war outrages moving the needle on the right get their first airing of the day here. A consistent ratings winner in 2019 as it has been for years, Fox’s flagship morning show has sees millions of viewers who tune in faithfully from 6 to 9 a.m. each morning. Leading Republicans made this show a regular stop in 2019, and Trump’s marathon calls, often coming at the height of the news cycle, regularly provided an hour of wild headlines.
9. Chris Cuomo
Chris Cuomo was a solid host of CNN’s New Day in the mornings. But the cable news pugilist is just a far better fit for Cuomo Prime Time — now CNN’s best rated show — in which the legally-minded anchor battles it out with Trump surrogates and Democratic lawmakers with equal vigor. Even when the clashes on his show get particularly heated, Cuomo clearly enjoys the fight and making the case. And it’s working for him. Throughout 2019 Cuomo has largely been CNN’s top news program in both total viewers and the demo despite facing off nightly against Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow — the toughest competition in the business. Cuomo has been pretty blunt in his criticism of the president, including recently calling out “#DirtyDonald” on the air. And, of course, let’s not overlook his repeated and wild battles with Rudy Giuliani this year. Cuomo’s September confrontation with the president’s lawyer might have been the single most talked about cable news interview of the year, thanks to the CNN host calling Giuliani out for flip-flopping over the course of a few seconds on whether he asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. Cuomo’s style of debate-by-combat may have its detractors, but you would be hard pressed to find a better venue than Cuomo Prime Time to see the political issues at the front of the news cycle hashed, and often bashed, out.
8. Andrew Napolitano
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With the law front and center in the news throughout the Trump administration, Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano has become one of the most regularly quoted legal voices in America. Why? Because he is talking straight and sober to an audience that sometimes looks for more politically motivated analysis. After all, when the generally conservative legal analyst declared on Fox that President Trump’s conduct with regard to Ukraine was “criminal and impeachable,” it sent shockwaves, including a coveted red link on the Drudge Report. Napolitano has gained a huge following in part by being of the very few analysts who is equally adept at appearing on both Fox’s news and opinion programming. Another testament to his versatility? The ongoing popularity of the longer-form Judge Napolitano’s Chambers segments — several of which went viral this past year for their declarative assessments of the current administration. Shepard Smith, a now-former colleague, memorably went to bat for the Fox News analyst after Tucker Carlson allowed a guest to trash Napolitano unchallenged. Smith understood what the audience has known for some time: Napolitano’s opinions are thoughtful and sound and most importantly, apolitical. While on impeachment he is often quoted by the left, on many other issues, they would hardly consider him a friend. In a divided world, that can be both wildly unpopular and in his case spectacularly influential.
7. Whoopi Goldberg, Abby Huntsman, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain of The View
New York Times Magazine in 2019 dubbed The View “the most important political TV show in America.” They make a strong case. The daytime ABC talk show has become a must for political newsmakers of the day, gabby Trump officials jettisoned from the White House, and a never ending cascade of 2020 Democratic candidates looking to kiss Joy Behar’s ring and avoid Meghan McCain’s ire. The show has gotten far more political in the Trump era, and ratings have shown that to be a winning formula. The highest rated episode of the year was a wild multi-segment showdown with Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, conservative firebrand Kimberly Guilfoyle. What’s more, its cast is arguably the strongest in years. Whoopi Goldberg is as commanding a presence as ever as the moderator, and Joy Behar’s return was the best decision the show ever made. Abby Huntsman has also flexed her news muscles with an Ivanka Trump interview for ABC that made headlines. Sunny Hostin lends a smart legal mind to an era where the law is very often the hot topic, and Meghan McCain can always be relied upon to hold her co-hosts, or a politician’s feet to the fire. Politics is a messy drama in 2019, and The View is one of the most exciting places to see it live.
6. Chris Wallace
The Fox News Sunday host has earned his spot on our list not just for what he does — consistently destroying bullshit with good old fashioned journalistic tools like preparation and tenacity — but for who he does it to and where he is doing it. Chris Wallace’s grillings, fricasseeings, and nailings of Trump administration officials and allies have become their own sub-genre of Mediaite content, and made his corner of Fox News into an unsafe space for the Audience of One to whom those officials are playing. His famously tough interviews with Trump allies have made him a target of the president, who dubbed him “nasty & obnoxious” in a recent tweet — a sure sign that Wallace delivered yet another news-making interview. Wallace is one of America’s most respected on-air journalists, commanding plaudits from even the fiercest critics of Fox News. When he’s not holding the powerful to account on Fox News Sunday, he’s delivering clear-eyed non-partisan analysis on his network’s other programs. In a recent speech, Wallace lamented that he is praised for being “fair,” asserting that was once the “bare minimum” expected of the job. Wallace is not just fair — he works only in facts, another quality under threat in the current era. “I believe President Trump is engaged in the most direct, sustained assault on freedom of the press in our history,” Wallace said in that same speech. Coming from inside the network President Trump and his supporters watch every day, his comments and questions become that much more influential.
