More likely the White House told FOX News that there would be significant consequences for continuing to push anti-vaxxer nonsense. All the FOX Hosts including Hannity all changed their tune on the same day.
Despite the denials coming out of FOX --- it is pretty clear that the Biden administration got out the paddle and beat FOX's rear until they complied.
Fox News Denies Story Claiming ‘High-Level’ Talks With White House on Covid Coverage
https://www.mediaite.com/news/cnns-...vel-talks-with-white-house-on-covid-coverage/
CNN reported on Tuesday that there have been “regular, high-level conversations” between the Biden administration and Fox News over the network’s covid-19 coverage. Fox News denied that report and a CNN correspondent said later in the day that “both sides have subsequently disputed the discussions were” high-level.
Fox has gotten a lot of attention for anti-vaccine commentary by hosts
like Tucker Carlson. In recent days, others on Fox News
have encouraged people to get vaccinated.
CNN’s
Kaitlan Collins and
Brian Stelter reported Tuesday on talks between the network and the White House:
There have been regular, high-level conversations between the White House and Fox News regarding their coverage of the pandemic and vaccines, a source familiar with the talks tells CNN…
The person who confirmed the conversations cautioned there has been no singular conversation that has played a role in Fox’s coverage of Covid-19. Throughout the pandemic, officials have regularly reached out to Fox News about their Covid-19 coverage. While White House officials often reach out to television networks and other news outlets about their coronavirus coverage, but this outreach is notable given Fox News’ past coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fox News denied the report in a statement provided to
New York Times media correspondent
Michael Grynbaum.
“CNN’s reporting is inaccurate,” the statement said. “There have been no high level conversations between FOX News Media and the White House regarding our coverage. We had one routine briefing with the White House in early May on vaccination rates and our DC bureau personnel are regularly in touch with them on a variety of issues, as is the case with every other network.”
(More at above url)