Here's how Megyn Kelly and Rachel Maddow each tackled the Clinton-FBI 'quid pro quo' story


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
If you want evidence to support the idea that liberals and conservatives are living in two parallel universes, watch how Megyn Kelly at Fox News and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow each covered the newly released notes from FBI investigators looking into Hillary Clinton's handling of classified information as secretary of state.
One FBI 302 summary suggests that Patrick Kennedy, U.S. undersecretary of state for management, had offered a "quid pro quo" to an unidentified FBI agent where the FBI would not retroactively classify one of Clinton's emails and in return, Kennedy would allow more FBI agents in Iraq. A second FBI interview summary released Monday says that the "quid pro quo" idea came from an FBI agent who suggested to an FBI colleague that Kennedy might be open to a deal. The FBI and State Department both said Monday there was never a deal offered or consummated; the FBI said it has ordered an internal ethics investigation into the conduct of the FBI official, who is retired.
Here's how Kelly covered the news on Monday's Kelly File. "Well, this stinks to high heaven," she said, "and we don't have to look far to figure out whether at least the person on the receiving end of the proposed deal thought it was a 'quid pro quo' — because it's in the FBI agent's notes!" Her guest, judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano, said Kennedy is guilty of "an attempt to commit bribery. The FBI didn't see it that way, they didn't charge him with anything, either because they didn't think they could prove the case, or maybe the FBI was in the tank for Mrs. Clinton and all of her people from Day 1 of these investigations." "That's not easy to believe," Kelly said, and he agreed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At MSNBC, Maddow said the whole story had been ginned up, starting with a Fox News report over the weekend, and doesn't hold up to scrutiny. "That Fox News report has been driving headlines all day," she said, "but also today, we all got to see the documents in question for ourselves, and if the scandal was the State Department offering something to the FBI, well, it turns out the State Department never offered anything to the FBI."
If you are curious, you can read more with less partisan spin at The New York Times or NBC News.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Bribery indictment
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
The daily gossip: Hollywood writers and studios reach tentative agreement to end strike, Taylor Swift attends Chiefs game amid Travis Kelce dating rumors, and more
The daily gossip: September 25, 2023
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Disaster averted
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
Exodus begins from Burning Man after desert mud trapped tens of thousands
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
American Airlines suing website that offers tickets via price loopholes
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Federal agencies investigating near miss between Southwest jet and private plane
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Euphoria' star Angus Cloud dies at 25
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens dies at 70
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Trader Joe's recalls 4 products in a week amid reports of rocks and insects inside food
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Emmys to be postponed for first time since after 9/11 due to strikes
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published