Owens, who has built a significant following by critiquing what she calls “woke culture” and biased reporting, zeroed in on Muir and Davis after their performance during the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The debate, already mired in controversy, became even more of a media circus as Owens took to Twitter to blast the ABC moderators for what she perceived as a one-sided approach to their roles.
“David Muir and Linsey Davis are a disgrace to journalism,” Owens tweeted. “What we witnessed wasn’t moderation—it was a blatant attempt to help Kamala Harris. They didn’t even pretend to be impartial.”
This isn’t Owens’ first rodeo when it comes to battling the mainstream media. Over the years, she has become a lightning rod for both support and outrage, never hesitating to call out what she views as the left-wing bias permeating major news networks. However, her decision to target Muir and Davis, both widely regarded as respected news anchors, has added fuel to an already fiery discourse surrounding media impartiality.
During the debate in question, Muir and Davis fact-checked Donald Trump repeatedly, a move that Owens and other conservative figures argued was unnecessary and partisan. While fact-checking has become a norm in modern political discourse, Owens claimed that the moderators focused excessively on Trump, allowing Kamala Harris to avoid scrutiny for some of her own statements.
“They treated Kamala Harris like a guest on The View—all softball questions and free passes,” Owens said in a follow-up video posted to her YouTube channel. “Meanwhile, Trump couldn’t get two words out before they jumped in to fact-check him. It was a joke.”
Owens’ critique of the debate moderation has resonated with many on the right, who argue that the mainstream media has long been biased in favor of Democrats. Her comments have quickly gone viral, sparking a flurry of responses from both her supporters and those who vehemently disagree with her stance.
As expected, Owens’ comments didn’t go unnoticed by the mainstream media, with several outlets defending Muir and Davis against her accusations. ABC News responded indirectly, stating that the network’s moderators were simply doing their job by ensuring that the candidates were held accountable for their statements.
“Moderators have a responsibility to fact-check candidates, especially when misinformation is spread,” an ABC spokesperson said in a statement. “David Muir and Linsey Davis performed their duties professionally and impartially, as they always do.”
However, Owens and her supporters weren’t buying it. They argue that the media’s idea of “fact-checking” has become synonymous with attacking conservative viewpoints while giving liberal candidates a free pass.
“What they call ‘fact-checking’ is really just interrupting one side and letting the other slide,” Owens said during a guest appearance on a conservative podcast. “If you’re going to fact-check, do it equally. Don’t pretend you’re being neutral when everyone can see you’re playing favorites.”
Her comments have sparked broader discussions about the role of debate moderators and the fine line they must walk between holding candidates accountable and appearing biased. While some agree that Muir and Davis may have been too aggressive with Trump, others argue that fact-checking is crucial in today’s media landscape, especially when misinformation can spread quickly online.
