​Fox News takes a beating in post-election ratings



Cable network news behemoth Fox News took a rare beating in prime-time ratings in the week after election night, according to the latest Nielsen ratings.

Fox News garnered 5.736 million viewers for its prime-time coverage between election day and Sunday, according to ratings released by Nielsen, while CNN came slightly above Fox News with 5.941 million average viewers.

Both fell short of NBC, who averaged 6.33 million viewers partly because of the Sunday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Election night saw Fox News crushing the competition with 14.158 million average viewers in prime time. CNN saw 9.47 million viewers, with MSNBC coming in at third place with 7.661 million viewers.

Fox News has had to weather numerous incidents that have caused many of their previous fans to seek alternative news outlets, including the YouTube channel of BlazeTV host Steven Crowder.

Fox News was excoriated by allies and supporters of the president after they called the state of Arizona early on election day before any other news outlets. When pressured by online outrage to change their call, Chris Wallace said that the Fox News decision desk would not waiver in its decision to call the state. Biden currently holds a lead of just over 11,000 votes in the state.

On Monday, an off-air video of a Fox News host condescendingly dismissing comments about the election call from a guest surfaced on social media and fueled more outrage.

President Donald Trump has also criticized Fox News many times over his term, often when they don't give him what he perceives to be the best coverage.

In May, the president outright complained that Fox News was "doing nothing" to help him and other Republicans get re-elected.

Many will disagree, but @FoxNews is doing nothing to help Republicans, and me, get re-elected on November 3rd. Sure… https://t.co/Q0FEs4tqWP
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1590085802.0

Prior to election night, Fox News had been crushing records with their ratings, prompting TheWrap to credit the network with delivering "the highest primetime averages in cable news history."

Here's the latest about the election:

Georgia officials announce hand recount of presidential ballotswww.youtube.com

Hot mic catches Fox News anchor's stunned response to guest criticizing media calling election for Joe Biden



A Fox News anchor was caught on a hot mic offering a stunned response to a guest who questioned the media calling the presidential election for former Vice President Joe Biden.

Anchor Sandra Smith appeared not to realize she was still on the screen as she mocked her guest on her morning show, "American's Newsroom."

"I think everybody wants to know that this was done properly and legally and we can trust the results," said attorney Cleta Mitchell.

"And I think we have to look into every one of these concerns. Remember, just because CNN says, or even Fox News says that somebody's president doesn't make them president," Mitchell said.

"What?" Smith asked.

"What is happening? Like, Trace, we've called it," she said, referring to co-anchor Trace Gallagher, who was interviewing Mitchell.

Video of the comment was circulated widely on social media:

Sandra Smith, off-air, reacts to her colleague Trace Gallagher indulging a nutjob who denies the outcome of the ele… https://t.co/Jr18tWdWMF
— Timothy Burke (@Timothy Burke)1604933417.0

That version of the video garnered over 2 million views on Monday.

Mitchell later responded on her Twitter account to the condescending response by Smith.

"Sandra Smith thinks FoxNews calling the election means Biden is President," tweeted Mitchell.

Sandra Smith thinks FoxNews calling the election means Biden is President. Forget that pesky Constitution... happy… https://t.co/iRCMjeyLhE
— Cleta Mitchell (@Cleta Mitchell)1604963465.0

"Forget that pesky Constitution... happy to be considered a nut job because I believe in the rule of law," she concluded.

Critics used the video to further pummel Fox News for what many said was a premature call for Biden winning the state of Arizona. Many Trump supporters have sworn of the network in favor of other news outlets. Fox News has stood by its call on Arizona, according to veteran journalist Chris Wallace.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a speech on the Senate floor Monday that the president had every right to litigate his concerns of the election and that the corporate media had no constitutional authority to call the election.