During a panel discussion on January 26, Fox News’ so-called “straight news anchor” Bret Baier undermined his own show’s reporting on how Republican threats to kill a bipartisan border security deal serve to politically benefit former President Donald Trump.

While a segment on Fox News’ evening show Special Report with Bret Baier framed the border deal dispute as part of an ongoing feud between Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram noted that “conservatives contend a border agreement could weaken the hand of the leading candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, former President Trump."

By mentioning this, Pergram effectively confirmed that Republicans are following Trump’s orders by backing out of the deal in order to continue blaming President Joe Biden for “the border problem” ahead of the 2024 election.

Later in the broadcast, Baier opted to ignore Pergram’s reporting and focus on grievances against Biden’s immigration policy. “The president could have gone back to Remain in Mexico as an executive order,” Baier complained, “He could have stopped catch-and-release.” Then, Baier excused Republicans’ political gamesmanship entirely: “No matter what happens on Capitol Hill, there are other things the Biden administration could have, or – could have done to stop this."

Baier’s decision to downplay the central fact of the border deal drama falls in line with his network’s return to form as an unapologetically pro-Trump propaganda outlet, even after his lies’ cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.