Michael Knowles Analyzes the Presidential Election and How Trump’s Victory Forced Media to Change on “The Michael Knowles Show”

Top Points

• Trump’s Victory Shattered Media Assumptions: Michael Knowles said Donald Trump’s win in both the popular and electoral vote shocked establishment outlets like CNN and MSNBC, forcing them to confront how badly they misread the electorate.

• Legacy Networks Relied on Outrage for Profit: Knowles argued that the media built its business model around attacking Trump, and his victory exposed their dependence on conflict-driven coverage to maintain ratings.

• Trump Redefined the Media Landscape: He explained that Trump’s direct communication with voters bypassed traditional gatekeepers, proving that the public now shapes political narratives and news consumption.

Full Report:

On a recent episode of The Michael Knowles Show, host Michael Knowles examined how Donald Trump’s presidential victory reshaped both American politics and the media landscape. Knowles argued that major establishment networks such as CNN and MSNBC have been forced to rethink their business and editorial models after being caught off guard by Trump’s success at the ballot box.

Trump’s Win and the Media’s Shock

Knowles began by describing how Trump’s victory in both the popular and electoral vote shocked the political establishment. For years, he said, major media outlets operated on the assumption that Trump’s appeal was limited and that traditional Democratic strongholds would hold. When those assumptions collapsed, the networks faced a crisis of credibility.

He explained that Trump’s message of populism, economic renewal, and national pride resonated with millions of voters who had felt ignored by the political and media elite. “The press didn’t just underestimate Trump,” Knowles said. “They misunderstood the country that elected him.”

According to Knowles, this election upended the power dynamics of political coverage. CNN and MSNBC, which had built their programming around opposing Trump, suddenly found themselves needing to adjust their tone and strategy to remain relevant in a country that had chosen him decisively.

The Business of Outrage and the Need for Change

Knowles said that Trump’s victory exposed a deeper issue within legacy media: their reliance on outrage-driven content. He argued that these networks built entire business models around framing Trump as a villain, using constant conflict to boost ratings. With Trump’s win, that strategy backfired, leaving them scrambling to rebuild trust with viewers.

He pointed to how networks quickly shifted their narratives in the aftermath of the election, moving from months of dismissive coverage to calls for “unity” and “healing.” This pivot, he said, showed that their editorial priorities are driven more by business survival than journalistic integrity.

Knowles also observed that many viewers no longer rely on traditional cable news for information, instead turning to independent media and podcasts. He said Trump’s rise to power accelerated this shift, empowering voices outside the establishment to shape public opinion directly.

Trump’s Impact on Journalism and Politics

In the latter half of the episode, Knowles explored how Trump’s leadership style has redefined the relationship between politicians, media, and voters. He said that Trump’s direct communication through social media bypassed traditional gatekeepers and forced journalists to adapt to a new reality where voters can hear directly from leaders without media interpretation.

Knowles argued that Trump’s approach revealed the weaknesses of legacy journalism, which relies on selective framing and manufactured consensus. “The Trump era,” he said, “proved that the media doesn’t control the narrative anymore. The people do.”

He predicted that Trump’s victory would continue to influence how news is produced and consumed. In his view, the demand for authenticity, transparency, and accountability will only grow stronger, and the outlets that refuse to evolve will lose their influence.

Conclusion

In this episode of The Michael Knowles Show, Michael Knowles used Trump’s presidential victory to highlight how the American media establishment has been forced to adapt. He said that Trump’s success revealed both the power and the fragility of the news industry, showing that a single election can expose decades of bias and complacency.

For Knowles and his listeners, the lesson was clear. The media no longer decides which voices matter or which stories deserve attention. Trump’s victory reshaped not only politics but the entire communication landscape, giving Americans more control over their own information and the future of public debate.

References

• The Daily Wire. (2025, October 22). Michael Knowles: “The Media Can’t Survive Without a Villain.” Retrieved from https://www.dailywire.com

• Pew Research Center. (2024, November 12). Public Trust in News Media Falls to Historic Lows. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org

• Axios. (2025, January 3). Cable News Faces Ratings Decline After Major Political Shifts. Retrieved from https://www.axios.com

• Columbia Journalism Review. (2024, December 18). How Political Polarization Reshaped the Business of News. Retrieved from https://www.cjr.org