Here is how Fox News 'distorted' their reporting on the Mueller report to keep their viewers happy

On Thursday, Erik Wemple a media critic at The Washington Post slammed Fox News over their distorted coverage of special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

He first explained that Fox News host Sean Hannity repeated President Donald Trump's claim that there was no "collusion."

Mueller's reported concluded that Trump and his campaign did not criminally conspire with Russia, however finding instances of Trump obstructing justice.

'"No collusion,' Hannity had said innumerable times on his program, echoing President Trump’s refrain," Wemple wrote.

Adding, "Anyone supposing that Hannity’s brush with correctness illustrated anything more than the broken-clock principle might consider all the evidence he marshaled on a critical Mueller story."

He went on to explain how Hannity distorted the story that Trump sought to interfere with the investigation by attempting to  fire Mueller reported by The New York Times. 

"On his program, Hannity posed as a debunking journalist — initially. 'Our sources — and I’ve checked in with many of them — they’re not confirming' the reporting of the Times, said Hannity," he said.

Wemple continued, "The matter of Trump’s disposition toward Mueller is among the more enduring threads to emerge from the special counsel’s report. Any impeachment effort launched by House Democrats will center on the attempt to fire Mueller and, in particular, Trump’s subsequent effort to get McGahn to deny the firing story."

He then explained how Fox News hosts are not considered journalists.

"In recent years, much has been made of the so-called wall between opinion hosts and news personnel at Fox News. The idea that newsies are legitimate — as opposed to the loony opinionators — underlies the argument that the Democratic National Committee should partner with Fox News for primary debates."

He then broke down Hannity wrongdoing in reporting the story. Wemple said:

• Hannity at first posed as a news reporter — talking about his 'sources' — when discussing the Times scoop.
• When Hannity later received some level of confirmation ... he pooh-poohed the whole thing.
• “Fox & Friends” proceeded as if they were quarantined from news reporting.

Read the full column here.