As the clock ticked towards the dramatic crescendo of election night, television news anchors implored their audiences to prepare for a marathon of uncertainty. With the leading polls reflecting an agonizingly tight contest, the specter of drawn-out ballot counting loomed large, prompting a light-hearted yet poignant atmosphere where correspondents mused about the prospect of dozing off within their studio confines.
“It’s a nail-biter, folks! A nail-biter!” Rachel Maddow declared with fervor on MSNBC just shy of 9:46 p.m. Eastern. Not long thereafter, Bret Baier on Fox News cautioned about rushing to conclusions, reminding viewers, “We’re not there yet; patience is key.” The sense of anticipation was palpable.
However, as the witching hour crept closer on the East Coast, the chasm began to widen ominously between Vice President Kamala Harris and the former President, Donald J. Trump. From one pivotal swing state to another, the momentum shifted inexorably—a harbinger of a Trump resurgence.
“This echoes the tumult of 2016 more than the cautious optimism of 2020,” CNN’s Chris Wallace remarked, hinting that the drawn-out deliberation that characterized Biden’s victory was unlikely to be echoed this time around.
Then, in a startling turn, just before the clock struck 2:30 a.m., every major network switched to a live feed from Florida, where Trump delivered a victory speech that reverberated through living rooms across the nation. Although Fox News, NewsNation, and Newsmax had already called the presidency in Trump’s favor, the anticipation was thick—an unmistakable prelude suggesting that a new chapter was about to unfold.
Unlike four years prior, when anchors scrupulously dissected the nuances of absentee ballot counts and grappling legalities, this election brought a more straightforward narrative—denizens of the political world left in the wings. The primordial trend lines were unspooling with clarity, and some anchors acknowledged the inescapable trajectory of results sooner than others.
In the early evening’s 5 p.m. hour, Wallace seized upon an exit poll revealing that nearly three-quarters of surveyed voters harbored dissatisfaction or anger toward the nation’s current trajectory. “In conventional terms,” he pondered aloud, “it would indeed take a miracle for Kamala Harris to navigate such turbulent waters.” His colleague, Audie Cornish, cautioned patience, suggesting, “Hold your horses; it’s still early in our electoral dance.”
As the night unfolded, networks maneuvered with cautious optimism. On Fox News, Sean Hannity, buoyant in his support, predicted victories for Trump in Georgia and North Carolina—a prediction quickly moderated by Baier’s reminder that those states remained uncalled.
Amidst the rising tide of Trump’s apparent victory, Baier revisited earlier assertions: “The biggest political phoenix-from-the-ashes story we’ve ever witnessed—bar none.” In a moment of historical linkage, Laura Ingraham dubbed it “the greatest comeback, I believe, in history.”
Conversely, the tone struck at MSNBC remained markedly tempered. Once the NBC News decision desk allocated Pennsylvania to Trump shortly after 2 a.m., Maddow articulated a chilling reality: “This poses an insurmountable challenge for Kamala Harris and the Democratic ticket.”
Stephanie Ruhle, another MSNBC stalwart, broadened the lens, suggesting the evening’s outcome transcended the figures on the screen. “This isn’t merely about Ms. Harris or Mr. Trump. It’s a reflection of the American populace’s choice—a poignant revelation of the majority’s voice.”
