Who Made the Biggest Splash on Election Night TV?

Election Night on TV was a rollercoaster for many news anchors. Early plans for a neck-and-neck race were thrown out the window as soon as the first exit polls came in. Former President Donald Trump quickly emerged as the winner, while Vice President Kamala Harris' support in key states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania crumbled. Fox News Channel had the biggest audience, followed by ABC News and MSNBC. Anchors had to stay calm and wait for official results before telling the full story. They used historical voting data to see how Harris' wins compared to President Joe Biden's in 2020. Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum on Fox News were often ahead of other networks in calling key states. They were the first to call Pennsylvania for Trump and said Harris' chances were gone. Sean Hannity, also on Fox, surprised viewers by predicting Trump's wins in Georgia and North Carolina before Fox's own decision desk. Chris Christie on ABC News brought unique insights from his political experience. He told viewers what to expect from a Trump presidency and suggested that Trump only had two years to implement his agenda before the 2028 campaign started.

NewsNation, a newer cable news outlet, was the first to call the race for Trump using data from Decision Desk HQ. Chris Cuomo made the announcement. Steve Kornacki on MSNBC kept viewers informed and explained what was happening, even when they didn't want to hear it. Joy Reid later explained that Harris lost because Black voters supported her, but white women did not. Lester Holt on NBC News cautioned his colleagues not to call the race for Trump too early. He reminded them that not all votes were in yet. Jake Tapper, John King, and Abby Phillip on CNN provided steady coverage for hours. King is known for his skill with CNN's Magic Wall, and Phillip reported from Harris' headquarters. Norah O'Donnell led CBS News' election coverage. She's expected to leave her current role but will likely be seen again during major national events. Brian Williams returned to hosting duties on Amazon's Prime Video, joined by familiar faces like Abby Huntsman and Don Lemon. The show focused more on discussion than graphics.

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