Rick: Fox used to be more balanced. Now they've gone too far right, maybe feeling the need to "balance" the other left-leaning mainstream media.
Actually, Fox is doing just doing what CNN, MSNBC, channels pandering to the left do. In an effort to grow their audiences, what does this most effectively is to keep giving the audience more of the "red meat" issues that fire up interest. And balanced pieces don't generate that type of viewing fervor. So the more left various networks go, the more right others will. And they will hardly ever criticize those politicians they pander to their audience over. Most every topic is viewed through an extremist political lens, because that's what draws in the most viewers and thus advertisers! So, these news brands like to play political topics as if they are covering sports team rivalries - in which they want to gain loyal viewers by constantly trashing the rivals of the home team's politics (whatever political bent they tend to favor in stories). They don't want you to just dislike the other political team members, they want you frothing at the mouth so as to absolutely hate them. Even the commentators like Hannity and Tucker Carlson - you can see the contempt and hatred they have for those they don't politically like. So, often, the audience is being played and hyper-partisanly stirred up. It's why I can only watch so much of any news programs - even though some tend to be far more partisan than others.
But the battles they stir up and techniques of these news shows are often feeding our divisions as people. Compromise isn't ALL bad - I mean, the U.S. system SHOULD have cooperation between opposing parties - but it's been made out like coming to positions both parties can live with is ALWAYS akin to defeat and surrender. Yes, there are things that one must make a stand on without compromise. But imagine if we took a no-compromise attitude with friends, family, and co-workers - we couldn't function with such friction, resentment, and stalemates!
To quote that immortal poet, Steve Miller:
"Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you"
