Broadcast television networks have been accused of a partisan bias in their coverage of investigations involving Dr. Anthony Fauci, particularly in contrast to their reporting on probes targeting Republican figures. Critics argue that the networks treated the January 6th Committee, which investigated the Capitol attack, as newsworthy, while largely avoiding or downplaying scrutiny of Dr. Fauci's actions and statements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent reporting highlights Dr. Fauci's personal diary entries, released in late July 2023 by Republican Sen. Rand Paul. These entries, spanning from 2019 to 2022 and reportedly kept on a government computer in preparation for a book deal, detail his relationships with members of the press. According to the notes, Fauci had close interactions with figures such as CNN's Jake Tapper and ABC's George Stephanopoulos. One entry from July 2020 describes a dinner at Jake Tapper's home, noting, "Terrific couple. Friendship building." Another entry from October 2020 states, "Had dinner at my home with Jake and Jennifer Tapper. Relaxed, good time. Jake clearly believes that Trump is totally nuts."
Fauci also indicated in his diary that he provided Jake Tapper with questions to ask during an interview with then-Trump adviser Brett Giroir on CNN's "State of the Union." Stephanopoulos, according to the diary, texted Fauci, "Thank you, Tony, so impressive" after an interview. The notes also mention a conversation with former NBC anchor Chuck Todd about managing conservative media.
Despite these revelations, the broadcast networks' coverage was reportedly minimal. According to one analysis, "CBS Evening News" aired a brief report on the diary release, followed by a two-day silence until Fauci was scheduled to testify before Rand Paul's committee. When coverage did occur, it was often framed as a defense of Fauci. For instance, ABC's "Good Morning America" previewed the hearing by noting it would be a "fiery hearing" for an "85-year-old" Fauci, who had been a "target" of Sen. Paul's.
Critics contend that this approach contrasts sharply with the networks' extensive coverage of the January 6th Committee, which was characterized as a more serious and less partisan undertaking. The selective coverage, according to this perspective, demonstrates a pattern where investigations critical of Democratic figures receive less media attention than those targeting Republicans.
During the hearing itself, some network reporting focused on the contentious exchanges, such as an incident where a lawyer for Fauci was reportedly ejected. "CBS Evening News" noted that "Democrats accused the GOP of conducting a biased investigation." Network reports also occasionally included comments from Fauci critics, such as Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who raised questions about American support for "gain-of-function" research.
However, the overall narrative, as presented by some outlets, is that the broadcast networks acted as "Fauci’s unpaid defense lawyers," framing his testimony and the scrutiny he faced in a way that minimized criticism and highlighted the perceived partisanship of the Republican-led inquiry. This is contrasted with the reporting on Democratic-led investigations, which are often presented as essential to democracy and accountability.