Critic’s Notebook: Election Night 2024 TV Coverage Was Only for the Masochistic or the Truly Obsessed

Critic’s Notebook: Election Night 2024 TV Coverage Was Only for the Masochistic or the Truly Obsessed

As a seasoned political observer with over three decades of living through contentious elections, I must say that this year’s Election Day coverage was as exhilarating and exhausting as ever. The relentless stream of results, analysis, and commentary kept me on the edge of my seat, brewing coffee after coffee to stay awake.


In today’s highly divisive political climate, there’s one key takeaway: Primetime TV news on Election Night is best suited for avid politics enthusiasts, number crunchers, and those who find enjoyment in self-inflicted pain.

As CNN’s Jake Tapper announced preliminary results, he frequently emphasized, “Remember, it’s far too early to draw conclusions.” Indeed, in most instances, the percentage of counted votes was minuscule. Tapper also suggested viewers should prepare for a long night by making coffee, which might not have been the best advice for those seeking comfort or control during such tense moments.

Regardless of whether you tuned into regular TV networks or cable news channels, the programming was generally ruled by male commentators, many of them white, who were actively gesturing in front of screens, much like speedy meteorologists. Notably, Steve Kornacki from MSNBC stood out, gaining popularity in 2020 for his swift speech and signature khaki pants. Tonight, he seemed like a hyperactive Harry Potter, delving into historical patterns and the voting histories of specific counties with a level of detail that would leave a Talmudic scholar impressed.

Each of these broadcast networks features analysts operating visual aids like CNN’s John King and his “Magic Wall” or Fox News’ Bill Hemmer and his “Bill-board”. This year, MSNBC introduced an online “Kornacki Cam”, available for streaming on Peacock and YouTube, to cater to viewers who can’t bear missing a moment when he is off the air.

The broadcast started off with a playful tone, featuring instances like an exit poll conversation with a young man in North Carolina admitting to CNN that he had initially chosen not to vote. However, his girlfriend had given him an ultimatum, leading him to cast his ballot for Harris. This incident made one ponder if women worried about their reproductive rights might have considered taking action similar to the fictional notion of a Lysistrata-inspired sex strike.

Discussing the younger male voters who supported Trump, it was revealed that his campaign was intensely dedicated to ensuring their presence at the polls on that specific night. Given the Arizona man’s statement to an MSNBC interviewer about voting for Trump because Kamala Harris hadn’t appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast, it’s no surprise that society is in a difficult state now. After all, Rogan, previously recognized primarily as the host of Fear Factor, has emerged as one of the key figures shaping American culture today.

It’s clear that the team at Fox News was filled with excitement as Trump won several states one after another. Their “economic advisory group,” made up of individuals like Maria Bartiromo and Larry Kudlow from Fox Business, claimed that the electorate was turning against Harris due to the Biden administration’s immigration policies and stimulus checks.

Kellyanne Conway articulated clearly that “voters were choosing between ‘consciousness and frailty'” on the ballot. Sean Hannity seemed overly enthusiastic about a potential Trump victory. Meanwhile, Laura Ingraham predicted it would be “the most extraordinary political resurgence ever.” During the night, Fox News consistently called states for Trump before other networks did, causing Jesse Watters to joke, “Are we absolutely certain about New Jersey?” when that traditionally Democratic state was declared for Harris.

Many contests were settled quickly, with instances like the failure of referendums in Florida aimed at easing abortion restrictions and legalizing recreational marijuana being among them. Despite receiving more than half of the votes, these proposals fell short of the necessary 60% “supermajority.” This seems to be part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ strategy, which appears effective in turning Florida into the nation’s most conservative state. As Lawrence O’Donnell from MSNBC stated, this result is a manifestation of “government ruled by a Republican minority definition.

Throughout the voting process, commentators across different networks frequently spoke about “key indicators” as well as “indicators within indicators,” which became quite repetitive. Along the way, we discovered several issues with the election, such as allegations of fraud by the Trump campaign in Philadelphia (yes, surprising); bomb threats at various polling stations in Georgia, some of which seemed to originate from Russia; and complications with mail-in ballots in Nevada due to a peculiar reason: “young voters are unsure about how to sign their names.

Essentially, the mood of the night was encapsulated by none other than Sen. Joe Manchin, who consistently avoided taking sides. In an interview with CBS’s Jim Acosta, he stated, “We will endure whoever wins.” This statement, in a nutshell, captures why many Americans find Sen. Joe Manchin difficult to admire.

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2024-11-06 09:54