OPINION: During Bret Baier’s interview with Vice President Harris, the misogynoir asked the questions

Vice President Kamala Harris descended into the “belly of the beast” on Wednesday evening for her much-anticipated sit-down interview with Bret Baier of Fox News. For viewers on both sides of the political spectrum, the interview was set to be an incredible spectacle. This moment carried layers of significance, as it would not only give Harris an opportunity to voice her position directly to people that usually don’t hear from her. It also would offer a glimpse into the ways right-wing media, particularly Fox News, continues to frame and distort the narratives surrounding her. 

The interview took place within an incredibly nuanced context. Harris has been justifiably skeptical of engaging with media since her ascension to the top of the ticket. Her treatment, both as a candidate and as a sitting vice president, has been, to put it bluntly, unfair. Coverage of Harris’ office, especially early in her tenure as VP, bordered on obscene.

From the onset of her national political career right-wing outlets have focused on undermining her credibility and casting doubt on her competency. Harris’ hesitation to engage with traditional media this cycle is understandable; her competitor, former President Donald Trump, is often allowed to lie without consequence, while being shielded from the same level of scrutiny that Harris, as a Black woman, faces.

In this context, it is crucial to understand how Fox News has played a significant role in perpetuating a narrative that demonizes Black women in positions of power. The treatment of Harris mirrors a broader pattern seen in the right-wing media’s portrayal of Black women, which often leans into racist and sexist tropes. Historically, Black women in politics have been presented as “angry,” “untrustworthy,” or “unfit” for leadership roles, reinforcing stereotypes that marginalize their authority and undermine their legitimacy. The right-wing media machine, Fox News included, has been complicit in this by frequently misrepresenting Harris in ways that play into these stereotypes.

For Harris’s interview with Baier, the focus on questions that seemed more intent on trapping her rather than informing the public was a reflection of this wider pattern.  Baier would refuse to allow Harris to fully answer, with the vice president continuously having to demand an opportunity to speak. These tactics are not just about the individual politician; they reflect a larger strategy to delegitimize Black women in leadership positions. 

Fox News and similar outlets have found it politically advantageous to engage in these kinds of attacks, as it reinforces their base’s pre-existing biases and stokes fear of Black political leadership. This playbook isn’t new; it echoes the broader history of how the media can systematically silence and degrade Black women who step into public prominence.

While Baier may be seen by some as a “fair” journalist, his questions, and the framing of his interview, inadvertently (or perhaps purposefully) echo the larger, more insidious attack on Black women in leadership that right-wing media has been so willing to perpetuate.