Eric Metaxas Calls Out Media Hostility and Lack of Curiosity

Eric Metaxas, a well-known writer and commentator on spirituality and ethics, appeared on the WarRoom program on Tuesday and voiced his shock and disappointment after witnessing the press’s conduct during a recent press conference with Steve Bannon. Metaxas, known for his articulate insights into morality and truth, found himself appalled by what he saw in that room. "I have a soul and a conscience,” he said. "I love America.” Yet, he admitted he rarely associates with journalists, and after that day, he understood why.

(Featured Photo Credit: WarRoom’s Jayne Zirkle)

What Metaxas witnessed went beyond any tension he’d expected. "The level of hostility was utterly despicable,” he remarked, describing an atmosphere thick with contempt. This wasn’t just a case of tough questions or hard-hitting journalism; it was outright animosity. Metaxas described the journalists as having "no humanity,” treating Bannon like "scum,” barely acknowledging his time in prison or considering the perspectives he was there to share. For Metaxas, the experience was more than disappointing. It was a startling reminder of how journalism has changed.

"Once Upon a Time” Journalism Was About Truth

Metaxas, known for his depth of thought and fair-minded approach, didn’t hold back. Reflecting on how journalism used to be, he observed that the press was once committed to pursuing the truth. "Once upon a time,” he noted, the job of a journalist was "to have curiosity about what is true, to ferret out the truth.” This mission of digging into the complexities of stories, especially those involving national controversies, is one he feels has been left behind.

He remarked that the journalists in the room seemed to "live to hate people like you and me and the people that would vote for Trump.” This lack of objectivity, he observed, was a far cry from the ethical journalism that once upheld democracy by fostering balanced discourse. In his eyes, today’s journalists have cast aside any semblance of objectivity, replacing it with open hostility toward those they disagree with.

"They Seemed to Have No Humanity”

Metaxas explained that the journalists didn’t just ask questions; they practically glared at Bannon, their disdain palpable. "The hostility was a physical presence,” he said. From the way they dressed to the expressions on their faces, it was clear that the journalists came with an agenda. They acted less like truth-seekers and more like "the information Warfare Department of the political class.”

His words hit home: "I assiduously avoid these creeps,” Metaxas shared, revealing how much he detests what modern journalism has become. He was not just upset; he was horrified. "To be in that room…it hit me viscerally.” This isn’t what he expected from an industry once built on curiosity, skepticism, and the pursuit of truth.

No Respect for the Experience

One aspect that particularly troubled Metaxas was how little respect the press showed for Bannon’s recent experience. The fact that Bannon had served time seemed lost on the reporters. Instead of extending a hint of grace, they treated him with relentless antagonism. "They want you to do more time,” he noted, sensing a kind of eagerness in the journalists’ scorn.

The entire experience, he suggested, was a sobering reminder of how polarized American politics has become. "American politics right now is a blood sport,” Metaxas added, pointing out how divisive the public discourse has become, driven by hostility from those who once mediated conversations in society.

A Call for "Team Reality”

For Metaxas, this press conference epitomized everything wrong with today’s media. Gone is the curiosity that once fueled investigative journalism. Instead, the press has become a weaponized force, acting not as reporters but as enforcers of a specific narrative. In his words, it was as if they were "playing the role of journalists in some awful movie.”

The question lingers: If journalism has truly abandoned its curiosity, who will seek the truth? Metaxas’s frustration isn’t just about Bannon; it’s a plea for the return of journalistic integrity, of a press that once challenged power with open-minded skepticism, not with predetermined disdain.

To see our coverage of the Tuesday Bannon Press Conference:

Bannon’s Out, and He’s Not Backing Down: "Dems are Going to Fight Dirty and MAGA Won’t be Silenced”

For more context about Metaxas from Tuesday’s WarRoom, Watch: