Bret Baier holds a special place and status at Fox News. His 6 PM ET show, Special Report with Bret Baier, is often used as the show pointed to by the network against charges of political bias, while it makes no bones about the conservative nature of its primetime lineup that features like likes of Jesse Watters and Sean Hannity.
Holding that role puts a lot of pressure on Baier. When the validity of an entire news network’s argument that it doesn’t do legitimate journalism is fought off with “What about Bret Baier?”, that’s a heck of a spot to find oneself.
But is Bret Baier worthy of that status? I watched a special edition of Special Report — which feels like an oxymoron? — to see if the longtime Fox News host lives up to that billing.
Baier featured a sit-down interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his country and Iran traded missile attacks late last week and over the weekend.
That sentence alone highlights the status both Fox News and Bret Baier have. Amid what many concerned observers believe could be the start of all-out war, Netanyahu prioritized an interview with Baier. A critic could view that in a different light, but I believe in the glass-half-full option in this case.
To begin the conversation, Baier asked Netanyahu the question that could only lead off the interview: “Why did you launch this operation now?”
There’s no bias there. There’s not even a hint of skepticism or any other nefarious feeling. Straight, down the middle, just like you want it.
Furthermore, Baier’s follow-up pushed back on statements that the Israeli PM said, noting that United States intelligence believes that Iran gave up its nuclear weapons program more than 20 years ago and hasn’t restarted. So, if that’s true, why does Israel believe an attack was imminent?
That’s likely not a popular question with Fox News viewers, who overwhelmingly support Israel and Netanyahu. By the way, that’s not a criticism or an indictment, it’s just a fact.
But that’s where Baier, in my opinion, earns his stripes: by asking the things that aren’t going to be endorsed by the network’s legion of viewers. The questions that will lead to answers they don’t want to hear. Asking if the United States’ intelligence about Iran is wrong is a hell of a question from someone who critics would argue isn’t a real journalist.
Baier did a masterful job throughout his lengthy conversation with Netanyahu. The respect that the Israeli Prime Minister had for Baier amid the discussion was evident. And, I believe, there’s a different between respect and trust. In my view, an interview subject of this level should trust that an interviewer and television host is going to ask fair questions, respond fairly, and ask questions without bias, but not that they’ll carry the water for the politician.
I believe that Netanyahu respected Baier and his acumen while not believing that he was participating in an interview designed to make him look good.
And, when critics point to the softball style interviews that Fox News airs — which they aren’t innocent of — the network can, and fairly does, point to an interviewer like Baier against those charges.
Also, Bret Baier displayed the best quality an interviewer can have: he listened to Netanyahu, thoroughly. So, when he said that the two assassination attempts against now-President Donald Trump last year were actually enacted by Iran, that caught Baier’s attention. Likely, he had a next question that he was going to ask. But that gets thrown out the window when a global leader asserts that another nation — and not two lone actors — attempted to assassinate a former president and — at that time — the front-runner to recapture the office.
In closing, lots of people will allege that they are a tough but fair interviewer. Bret Baier does that rather frequently. But there’s a difference between talking the talk and walking the walk. From my standpoint, the Fox News host walks the walk in this fashion.
In addition to being a fine interviewer, Baier showcases an ability to helm the ship in what I’m sure are often chaotic waters. That’s really only gained with experience. And Baier puts that experience on display during Special Report. Has he earned the role of being the network’s straight newsman? To me, that answer is a resounding, emphatic yes.
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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.
