Propaganda Tactics in MSNBC’s Coverage of the Bondi Hearing
On October 7, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a high-stakes hearing on the alleged weaponization of the Department of Justice. While Fox News aired the full hearing uninterrupted, MSNBC selectively cut away from key Republican questioning, opting instead for commentary and narrative reframing. This editorial strategy exemplifies several classic propaganda techniques.
1. Selective Omission
MSNBC did not broadcast the full hearing. Instead, each time Republican Senators began speaking, MSNBC cut away. This deprived the audience of seeing Republican Senators press Bondi on DOJ conduct under President Biden. MSNBC shielded its audience from the documented instances of President Biden and his administration using the DOJ and FBI to target GOP members for investigations. This tactic, known as selective omission, shapes perception by withholding inconvenient facts.
Example: During Bondi’s exchange with Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Florida), MSNBC viewers were shown commentary from Glenn Thrush (New York Times) and Mark Leibovich (The Atlantic), who redirected the focus to Trump’s alleged abuses.
2. Framing and Reframing
MSNBC consistently redirected the narrative from Bondi’s testimony to broader critiques of Trump. Even when Bondi discussed FBI surveillance of Republican lawmakers, MSNBC’s panel emphasized Trump-era controversies.
Example: Legal correspondent Lisa Rubin described Bondi as “dodging accountability,” while Katy Tur’s panel focused on Trump’s DOJ actions.
3. Card Stacking
MSNBC’s guest lineup was ideologically uniform, offering no dissenting voices or legal analysts sympathetic to Bondi’s position.
Guests and Hosts:
- Katy Tur (Host)
- Lisa Rubin (Legal Correspondent)
- Glenn Thrush (New York Times)
- Mark Leibovich (The Atlantic)
All reinforced the same narrative: Bondi was evasive, Trump was corrupt, and the DOJ was under threat from the right.
4. Name-Calling and Demonization
MSNBC’s broader editorial tone frequently labels Trump supporters as “extremists,” “election deniers,” or “threats to democracy.” This primes viewers to distrust Republican critiques.
Contrast: Fox News aired Bondi’s full statement:
“They may try to destroy our country, but they won’t… because we have the greatest president in Donald Trump and he will make America safe again.”
MSNBC viewers never heard this. Instead, they were told Bondi was “dodging questions” and “deflecting accountability.”
5. Transfer and Emotional Manipulation
MSNBC used emotionally charged language and imagery to associate Republicans with chaos and corruption. Commentary segments referenced January 6, Trump’s impeachment, and the Comey indictment—even though these were tangential to the hearing’s core topics.
Fox News: Bias or Transparency?
Fox News is often criticized for its prime time lineup—Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, Laura Ingraham—all openly conservative and aligned with Trump. But during the Bondi hearing, Fox aired the full proceedings without interruption. Viewers saw Bondi’s exchanges with both Democrats and Republicans, including her sparring with Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) over the Epstein files and the Comey investigation.
This approach, while ideologically sympathetic, was transparent. MSNBC, by contrast, curated the hearing through commentary, telling viewers what to think rather than what was said.
Consequences of Editorial Bias
1. Erosion of Trust
Selective omission and narrative framing erode public trust in journalism. Viewers are given a curated experience designed to reinforce existing beliefs.
2. Polarization and Echo Chambers
MSNBC’s refusal to air Republican questioning contributes to echo chambers. Viewers are shielded from opposing viewpoints, making bipartisan dialogue nearly impossible.
3. Undermining Oversight
Hearings like Bondi’s are meant to hold officials accountable. When networks filter these events through partisan lenses, they undermine democratic oversight.
Conclusion: A Call for Media Accountability
The Bondi hearing was a litmus test for media integrity. Fox News passed by airing the full event. MSNBC failed by employing propaganda tactics that distorted the hearing’s purpose and shielded viewers from critical information.
Claiming Fox News is biased while ignoring MSNBC’s editorial manipulation is intellectually dishonest. Bias exists across the media spectrum—but transparency, not ideology, should be the standard. Viewers deserve full access to public proceedings, not curated narratives.
Footnotes and Source Links
- CBS News: Bondi faces questions on DOJ probes and Epstein files
- MSNBC: Bondi dodged questions during Senate hearing
- Bing Profile: Pam Bondi – U.S. Attorney General
- PBS NewsHour: Bondi deflects questions in Senate oversight hearing
- YouTube: Full Bondi hearing broadcast by RSBN
- PBS: Bondi clashes with Schiff over DOJ investigations