Whoopi Goldberg has never shied away from addressing contentious issues, and in a recent statement, she promised that her upcoming guest, actress and activist Alyssa Milano, will help her unveil the so-called “media tricks” Fox News uses to attract viewers and undermine The View. Goldberg’s accusations focus on the network’s apparent strategy of sensationalizing personal stories, particularly those involving children and pregnancies, to generate public interest and bolster ratings. From Kayleigh McEnany’s post-pregnancy media comeback to Rachel Campos-Duffy’s pro-life advocacy, Goldberg and Milano are setting the stage to expose what they believe to be Fox News’ calculated manipulation.

Fox News: The Network with a Calculated Strategy

Fox News, known for its polarizing political narratives, has built its brand on high-stakes drama and controversies. But according to Goldberg and Milano, the network’s true mastery lies not in political reporting, but in how it capitalizes on personal, emotional stories to drive viewership. The focus on personal moments—such as pregnancies, child-rearing, and family dynamics—has become an almost predictable tactic.

For example, Kayleigh McEnany’s recent return to Outnumbered after the birth of her second child, Nash, in November 2024, is precisely the kind of story Goldberg criticizes. McEnany’s on-air baby shower was not only a personal moment, but one that was also strategically placed to appeal to an audience already emotionally invested in her journey as a mother. Fox News is no stranger to making personal stories a central narrative, turning them into “feel-good” events that draw in viewers.

Rachel Campos-Duffy’s Heartfelt Story: A Strategy or Genuine Advocacy?

Similarly, Rachel Campos-Duffy’s own family story—raising a daughter with Down Syndrome—has been widely covered on Fox News. Campos-Duffy has openly discussed her daughter Valentina’s health challenges and the family’s pro-life stance. While Goldberg and Milano acknowledge the importance of the message, they argue that the network often elevates such stories to create an emotional connection that can shift the focus away from political or social issues in favor of feel-good narratives. The result? Increased viewership, while subtly undermining The View and similar progressive platforms that focus on more objective discussions of current events.

A Pattern of Media Manipulation?

Goldberg’s frustration isn’t just about these personal stories, but the bigger picture they represent. The act of using children, pregnancies, and family struggles as anchors for political arguments feels, to Goldberg, like a strategic choice rather than a reflection of genuine concern. She argues that Fox News often prioritizes drama over substance, packaging personal anecdotes in a way that feeds into the viewers’ emotions, making it harder for them to critically engage with the material.

The tactic is not new. Throughout the years, The View has engaged in debates about how the media manipulates emotional narratives to serve broader agendas. With her appearance on the show, Milano is expected to delve deeper into how Fox News is not just covering the news but carefully curating stories to frame their own narrative and attract a certain type of viewer. In a way, these emotional moments become tools for driving political commentary and creating polarization.

What’s Next? An Open Challenge to Fox News?

Goldberg and Milano’s move to expose these media tactics is a bold challenge to Fox News’ seemingly infallible strategy of using human interest stories as a method for ideological manipulation. The question remains: can they successfully shift the narrative and help audiences understand the difference between genuine human stories and media sensationalism?

Goldberg, known for her fiery and unapologetic style, doesn’t just intend to criticize Fox News for its political agenda but to question the very ethics of manipulating such personal moments for a broader, more divisive objective. With Milano’s support, it’s clear that The View plans to take on the media empire head-on.

As the rivalry between The View and Fox News intensifies, audiences can expect more open confrontations and deeper explorations into the impact of media strategies on modern political discourse. This feud, now compounded with personal stories and public struggles, has the potential to reshape the conversation around media influence in America, making it more important than ever to ask: How much of what we see on television is real, and how much is a carefully constructed narrative designed to keep us watching?