Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new social media strategy — mimicking President Donald Trump’s online style with memes, nicknames, and trolling — has drawn sharply different reactions across the political media spectrum. Left-leaning networks like MSNBC praised the approach as “effective” and “provocative,” while right-leaning Fox News dismissed it as “embarrassing” and “childish.”
Viewpoint omission
Beneath the commentary lies a deeper issue: how networks frame stories by limiting which perspectives audiences hear.
On MSNBC, panels featured only Democratic or left-leaning guests who applauded Newsom’s strategy. On Fox, guests were exclusively conservative voices who derided it. Both networks left out opposing viewpoints, an example of bias by omission.
CNN often features a conservative commentator like Scott Jennings on some of its panels, and Fox’s show “The Five” includes a Democrat like Jessica Tarlov on its panel. These examples are the exception, not the rule, in a cable news landscape where panels frequently exclude opposing perspectives or give them limited time.
Cherry-picking what voices to platform and when
Beyond who gets invited to panels, networks also engage in bias by slant — spotlighting certain figures only when their opinions align with the outlet’s agenda.
Podcaster Charlamagne tha God has been featured on MSNBC when his criticism of Republicans or praise for Democrats echoed the network’s framing. Fox, meanwhile, has showcased his skepticism of then-President Joe Biden when it matched conservative talking points.
The same selective highlighting happened with Steve Bannon and Joe Scarborough. Left-leaning Politico prominently quoted Bannon praising Newsom’s social media strategy — despite generally dismissing him as a MAGA figure. On the flip side, conservative outlets leaned on Scarborough’s critique of Newsom, with one personality saying “even liberal Joe agrees with me” as validation.
These editorial choices reflect how networks opportunistically use familiar figures, elevating their voices only when useful for reinforcing their narratives.
Newsom’s strategy shows results
Polling suggests Newsom’s new social media approach is resonating. CNN analyst Harry Enten highlighted new data showing Newsom’s standing among Democrats has surged.
In 2023, only 35% of Democrats wanted him to run for president. Today, 75% say they are excited for a potential run, and prefer him over former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“My goodness gracious! A rising tide of support for Gavin Newsom,” Enten said of the 40-point climb in enthusiasm.
Since the beginning of August, Newsom’s press office’s X account has gained more than 350,000 followers and earned more than 225 million impressions on posts, according to Newsom’s office.
This measurable boost suggests that Newsom’s trolling tactics are doing more than generating headlines — they may be shaping voter enthusiasm.
How bias shapes news consumption
Whether audiences find Newsom’s social media style bold or embarrassing, the coverage of it illustrates how media bias works, according to AllSides, a media watchdog organization.
- Viewpoint omission: excluding voices that don’t fit the network’s politics.
- Media slant: giving a platform to commentary from figures like Charlamagne, Bannon or Scarborough when it amplifies a preferred narrative, while otherwise ignoring them.
For viewers, that means news is often filtered through a single perspective. Panels may feature multiple “experts,” but if all represent the same side, genuine debate is absent.
As partisan media decides which voices matter and which don’t, audiences risk mistaking selective commentary for the full story. What we’re left with is a polarized media landscape, where changing the channel can flip the storyline, but it rarely gives you true viewpoint diversity.
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Author: Ally Heath
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