Pew Research: What Fox News Reveals About America

Fox News, launched in 1996, isn’t just a cable channel—it’s a political powerhouse. Loved by some, distrusted by others, its influence on U.S. media and politics is profound. Pew Research’s latest data highlights just how central Fox is to the modern information divide.

Key Facts to Know:

• Massive Reach:
  38% of Americans regularly get news from Fox—on par with ABC and NBC.

• Partisan Divide:
  56% of Republicans trust Fox.
  64% of Democrats distrust it—triple the share who trust it.
  Overall, Fox has the highest distrust rating of any major news source.

• Conservative Core:
  57% of Republicans regularly tune in.
  Fox viewers lean right, but audiences of outlets like Newsmax, Breitbart, and The Daily Wire skew even further.

• Older Viewership:
  Nearly half of adults over 65 say Fox is their go-to.
  Only 28% of adults under 30 watch it regularly.

• Election Influence:
  In 2024, Fox was the most-cited source for political news—especially among older voters.

Why It Matters

Fox News isn’t just a media outlet—it’s a mirror of America’s political divide. With soaring trust on the right and deep skepticism on the left, it plays a defining role in shaping how millions interpret the world. If we care about democracy, media literacy, and truth—we need to understand who’s informing who.