Maddow’s Stand-In Alex Wagner Hopes to ‘Dismantle’ or ‘Undercut’ Right-Wing Lies

Interview with Deadline.com: MSNBC host Alex Wagner, who now hosts four of five nights in the Rachel Maddow hour, stated that he hopes to “dismantle” or at the very least undermine right-wing lies in an interview. This is a subtle attack on Fox News and clickbait. Brian Stelter).

“It’s incredibly distressing to talk to people on the ground and realize that a third to nearly half of this country is living in a parallel universe,” she said. “And It is urgent to find a way to destroy, or at the very least, undercut, a system which has spun lies for American citizens and has had a devastating effect on American democracy. It’s the $1 trillion question, and I’m not entirely sure how we answer it, except that we keep pushing for the truth, and we keep asking people, and challenging their beliefs if they’re founded on lies.”

MSNBC thinks that they are Fox’s antidote. 

“I think everybody should keep an eye on what’s happening on Fox News,” she said. “It’s our responsibility to make sure that when information is out there that is not true, that we as journalists are purveyors of the truth. Do I really want to waste my time talking all about Tucker Carlson, or not? Listen, there is enough happening in the world that is important to cover, that one has to make choices, and I’m not saying this to get into some cable tit for tat. But Fox has has a profound effect on American democracy, and it’s important to understand what is happening over there.”

Wagner was compelled to honour Maddow and her admirers: Wagner explained that they were trying to find ways to carry on some of Rachel’s intellectual rigors and insightful analysis. He also suggested that Wagner could add new elements to reflect his experience. 

Maddow’s Monday evening program has seen a million more viewers in recent weeks than MSNBC with its rotating hosts.

David Bauder, AP Media reporter for the show, was only kind enough to praise Wagner in his report.

“They hope that they’ll be able to turn her into a star,” said Mark Feldstein, professor of broadcasting at the University of Maryland. “This is a big void with Rachel stepping back, and Wagner has the star power to do it. It’s kind of surprising to me that she isn’t one already, since she’s smart and very good on television.”