Polygraph

In 2009, David Axelrod appeared on ABC News to discuss whether Fox News qualified as a legitimate news organization.

Posted by The Michael Berry Show, Checked

Polygraph verdictTrue
Sources
3 support2 context
Said
1 time·
Confidence
90%
The Michael Berry ShowSep 23, 2026
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On October 18, 2009, David Axelrod appeared on ABC's "This Week" and discussed whether Fox News was a legitimate news organization, saying it was "not really a news station" and that its news programming was "pushing a point of view."

What was said

… Petru In home Fitness. So, since Obama is out there, let me give you a brief history. 2009, David Axelrod was the senior advisor to Barack Obama. It's the first year of the Obama administration. the Obama administration. Axelrod goes on ABC News. He had thoughts about Fox News and whether Fox News qualified as a legitimate news organization. What you're hearing here is the left doing what they don't want Trump doing, and in fact, the reason Trump is doing this is to make the point the left actually did this a year ago. …
The Michael Berry Show · · from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Supports. An ABC News transcript of Axelrod's October 18, 2009 "This Week" interview shows him questioned about the White House's back-and-forth with Fox News, the central topic of the claim.[2]

Supports. Politico reports that Axelrod said on ABC's "This Week" that Fox News Channel is "not really a news station" and that much of its programming is "not really news."[1]

Supports. Radio & Television Business Report confirms Axelrod spoke on ABC questioning whether Fox was a news operation, echoing Anita Dunn's remarks about "legitimate news organizations."[3]

Context. Other coverage, including the Daily Beast and Record opinion pieces, repeats the same ABC appearance and Fox remarks, consistent with the core claim.[4][5]

Sources

5 sources: 1 tier 2, 4 not rated

  1. 1Fox 'not really news,' says Axelrodpolitico.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
  2. 2Transcript: Axelrodabcnews.com · not rated · cited for: supports
  3. 3WH, Fox continue to exchange potshots | Radio & Television Business Reportrbr.com · not rated · cited for: supports
  4. 4Obama can cower in his office and avoid Fox Newsrecordnet.com · not rated · cited for: context
  5. 5First They Came for Fox Newsthedailybeast.com · not rated · cited for: context

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