30 years is a long time in television, and even longer in the ever-shifting world of political media. Fox News Sunday marks that milestone this weekend. It’s celebrating an anniversary that stretches back to April 28, 1996 — before Fox News Channel even existed. Shannon Bream, who’s helmed the program since 2022, sat down to reflect on the show’s history, its evolution, and where she hopes to take it next.
“The fact that Fox News Sunday started before Fox News Channel existed is a really interesting nugget,” Bream said. “Our founders wanted to get on the map with our network show. So Tony Snow kicked off Fox News Sunday several months before we finally launched the channel.”
Snow anchored the program from 1996 to 2003, building its early identity before moving on to other pursuits — including a stint as White House Press Secretary. Chris Wallace then carried the torch from 2003 through 2021, staying nearly two decades before his departure. Bream stepped in as full-time host of the show in 2022, bringing her Supreme Court expertise and a lighter touch to the franchise.
“I didn’t get a chance to know Tony very well because he passed away too young. We didn’t really cross paths at Fox,” she said. “It’s been fun for me to hear stories from people who worked with him. We still have folks who worked on the initial Fox News Sunday who are at Fox, which is a treasure trove of information and stories. To hear the way Tony tackled the show versus the way Chris tackled the show. He came in, and we did a fun interview looking at his 18 years on the show. Everybody has contributed in different ways. There have been exciting moments. It’s been a lot of fun to see that 30 years has gone so quickly.”
A Different Kind of Sunday Show
Bream’s vision for Fox News Sunday has pushed the program beyond its traditional political roundtable format. Single-theme shows — and traveling to different parts of the country — have become a hallmark of her tenure.
“We’ve tried to do interesting single-themed shows, which have taken us all over the country and given us a chance to do deep dives,” she explained. “Like sitting down with Sam Altman in California to do an hour on AI, going to the Heartland to visit a multi-generational family farm to talk about how policies in DC, tariffs, and regulations affect their farm. We’ve done deep dives on crime and education. Those single-theme shows have been a lot of fun and hopefully informative for our viewers. We try to take a more hands-on look at how policy driven out of DC affects Americans across all kinds of backgrounds.”
The shift wasn’t accidental. Bream says the longer format gave her something she couldn’t get elsewhere.
“I think longer-form interviews than I was getting to do on other shows at Fox,” she said. “When this opportunity came along, I thought we get more time to dig in. To try to get people off their talking points when we can. And to get people from opposing parties to come on together and have important conversations.”
Booking guests remains both the reward and the grind. Balance is a priority — and earning trust with guests who haven’t appeared on the program before takes deliberate effort.
“For a lot of people, if they don’t know you well and don’t have a history with you, it takes relationship-building to get them to come on,” Bream said. “Our goal is to have a very balanced show, and we’re committed to that every week. Whether it’s Governor Pritzker, Governor Hochul, or Tim Walz when he was a vice presidential nominee, we want people across the political spectrum to come on as guests. We haven’t had one say they wouldn’t come back.”
What’s Next for Fox News Sunday
The 30th anniversary doesn’t feel like a stopping point to Bream — it feels like a launching pad. America’s 250th anniversary is already driving programming decisions, and her wish list of guests keeps growing.
“I’ve had several of the Supreme Court justices. But for me there’s a kind of wish list. I want every single one of them at some point,” she said. “I also cover the court, so that’s my first love: the legal side of what we do in DC. To get all of them to sit down at some point, one by one or in combination, would be a real achievement for us.”
Her ambition extends beyond the guest roster. The show’s expanding travel schedule and the approaching national milestone have her energized heading into the next chapter.
“We’re doing interesting things for the 250th anniversary of the country that will take us to different locations,” Bream said. “During campaign years, I enjoy traveling to different states and hearing different voices. From places like the Iowa State Fair to traditional sit-down interviews, we want to keep changing it up and seeing where our audience wants to go.”
At its core, though, Fox News Sunday remains what it’s always been: a platform for accountability and conversation at the highest levels of American public life. Bream carries that responsibility with clear eyes.
“I still pinch myself regularly,” she said. “It’s very much my dream job, so it feels like a privilege and a great responsibility. I can’t wait to see what the next 30 years brings.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
