By — Hannah Grabenstein Hannah Grabenstein Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/who-is-chris-stirewalt-and-why-is-he-testifying-in-the-jan-6-hearings Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Who is Chris Stirewalt and why is he testifying in the Jan. 6 hearings? Politics Updated on Jun 13, 2022 12:33 PM EDT — Published on Jun 12, 2022 9:49 PM EDT Chris Stirewalt, a former Fox News political editor who was fired by the cable network after the 2020 election, told the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack that it was clear on election night that Trump would not win certain states, including Arizona, which the network called early for Joe Biden. “We already knew that Trump’s chances were very small and getting smaller, based on what we had seen,” Stirewalt said. “So we were able to make the call early. We were able to beat the competition.” READ MORE: Your guide to the key players at the Jan. 6 hearings Stirewalt was fired in the aftermath of conservative backlash to Fox News correctly calling Arizona for Biden in the 2020 election. He’s since moved to NewsNation, an independent cable news network, where he’s currently the political editor. WATCH LIVE: Jan. 6 committee hearings – Day 2 At the hearing, which focused on Trump and his advisors’ effort to perpetuate lies about election fraud, the committee asked Stirewalt to explain the “red mirage” that was both expected and then present on election night. He explained that early results are typically expected to be positive for Republicans, but when mail-in votes are counted, the lead can shrink or disappear. “The Trump campaign and the president had made it clear they were going to try and exploit this anomaly,” Stirewalt testified. Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California asked Stirewalt if it should have been expected that Trump’s lead on election night would shrink. “It happens every time,” Stirewalt said. READ MORE: The Jan. 6 hearings are underway. Here’s how to watch them Fox News did not carry the first Jan. 6 primetime hearings live, unlike every other major broadcast and cable network, and Stirewalt has not attempted to hide his distaste for his former employer. “They’re not trying to do journalism. Well — whatever they’re trying to do, they’re certainly not achieving that,” he said on NewsNation. “What they’re trying to do is entertain and keep their audience and move the product.” For more on the key players in the Jan. 6 committee hearings, click here. This story is developing and will be updated as more becomes available. By — Hannah Grabenstein Hannah Grabenstein @hgrabenstein
Chris Stirewalt, a former Fox News political editor who was fired by the cable network after the 2020 election, told the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack that it was clear on election night that Trump would not win certain states, including Arizona, which the network called early for Joe Biden. “We already knew that Trump’s chances were very small and getting smaller, based on what we had seen,” Stirewalt said. “So we were able to make the call early. We were able to beat the competition.” READ MORE: Your guide to the key players at the Jan. 6 hearings Stirewalt was fired in the aftermath of conservative backlash to Fox News correctly calling Arizona for Biden in the 2020 election. He’s since moved to NewsNation, an independent cable news network, where he’s currently the political editor. WATCH LIVE: Jan. 6 committee hearings – Day 2 At the hearing, which focused on Trump and his advisors’ effort to perpetuate lies about election fraud, the committee asked Stirewalt to explain the “red mirage” that was both expected and then present on election night. He explained that early results are typically expected to be positive for Republicans, but when mail-in votes are counted, the lead can shrink or disappear. “The Trump campaign and the president had made it clear they were going to try and exploit this anomaly,” Stirewalt testified. Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California asked Stirewalt if it should have been expected that Trump’s lead on election night would shrink. “It happens every time,” Stirewalt said. READ MORE: The Jan. 6 hearings are underway. Here’s how to watch them Fox News did not carry the first Jan. 6 primetime hearings live, unlike every other major broadcast and cable network, and Stirewalt has not attempted to hide his distaste for his former employer. “They’re not trying to do journalism. Well — whatever they’re trying to do, they’re certainly not achieving that,” he said on NewsNation. “What they’re trying to do is entertain and keep their audience and move the product.” For more on the key players in the Jan. 6 committee hearings, click here. This story is developing and will be updated as more becomes available.