FnF News
FNF News | Media & Society
Published: June 16, 2025
By: Khadija Khan
“MSNBC Took My Grandmother”: How Mainstream Media Is Dividing American Families
It started with a simple question over dinner: “Did you see what Trump did this week?”
What followed wasn’t just a political conversation — it was a family rift, years in the making.
“I love my grandmother more than anything,” says 34-year-old Jacob Monroe, a public school teacher from Iowa. “But after watching MSNBC and CNN every day for the past decade, she’s become convinced half the country are fascists — including me.”
Jacob’s story isn’t unique. Across the United States, mainstream media outlets once trusted as reliable sources of news are increasingly blamed for fueling generational and ideological divides. For many conservative Americans, especially younger adults, the senior members of their families have become unwitting soldiers in a culture war — armed with talking points from CNN and MSNBC.
“They didn’t just report the news to her,” Jacob says. “They reshaped her worldview.”
A Generational Gap Built by Media
Surveys show that seniors are the most loyal viewers of traditional TV news, particularly cable outlets. According to a 2024 Pew Research study, more than 65% of Americans over age 65 get their political news primarily from television, and of that group, nearly 70% cite CNN or MSNBC as their preferred source.
These channels — once considered center-left — have grown significantly more partisan in recent years, especially in their coverage of figures like Donald Trump, Supreme Court rulings, and national protests.
“My grandmother thinks Ron DeSantis is an actual fascist,” Jacob says. “She thinks Republicans want to outlaw books and imprison women. And that’s just from what she watches daily.”
He says no amount of honest conversation, fact-checking, or shared history can undo the damage.
“They Brainwashed Her”
On social media, the phrase “MSNBC stole my grandma” has become a kind of ironic shorthand — used by frustrated younger relatives who’ve watched their loved ones become increasingly hostile toward conservative viewpoints.
“She told me I’m an extremist because I voted for Trump,” said Danielle S., a 29-year-old from Arizona, in a viral TikTok clip. “She used to teach me how to bake pies. Now she lectures me about systemic racism and Rachel Maddow segments.”
This generational disconnect has serious emotional consequences. A 2023 Harvard Kennedy School study found that 33% of Americans reported reduced contact with at least one family member due to political disagreements intensified by media exposure.
In many cases, the trust placed in cable news outlets becomes a substitute for critical engagement, especially among older viewers who grew up during a time when news was synonymous with public service.
“They believe what they’re told, because that’s what the news used to be,” said Dr. Lisa McGregor, a media psychologist at NYU. “They don’t realize the shift — that journalism has become political programming.”
MSNBC’s Influence: Rhetoric or Reality?
Critics argue that MSNBC, in particular, has transitioned from reporting news to actively shaping political narratives.
- Hosts like Joy Reid and Rachel Maddow frequently compare Trump-era policies to authoritarian regimes.
- Panels are often stacked with former DNC operatives, left-wing academics, and legacy media journalists who largely agree on cultural narratives.
- Coverage of events like the 2024 Trump trial, school board protests, and parental rights movements tends to be framed in apocalyptic language.
“My grandma watches hours of it daily,” Jacob says. “She thinks people who don’t support Biden are dangerous. She even questioned if my military veteran uncle should be ‘reported’ for his views.”
The CNN Parallel
While CNN attempts to maintain a centrist label, its content — especially prime-time opinion programming — frequently takes a slanted tone.
Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and others have been criticized for giving more airtime to political scandals involving Republicans than Democrats. During the 2024 election, CNN faced backlash for cutting away from Trump rallies but airing Biden speeches uninterrupted.
In a Gallup poll released in early 2025, trust in CNN among Republicans dropped to just 8%, compared to 58% in 2005. Among independents, trust has also fallen — down 21 points since 2020.
Can This Divide Be Healed?
Jacob says he hasn’t given up on his grandmother. He still calls every Sunday. But he’s careful now.
“We talk about gardening, recipes, old family vacations — anything but politics. I miss when we didn’t have to walk on eggshells.”
Experts say the only way to rebuild family bonds across political lines is outside of the media narrative, focusing on shared human values and stories, not political tribes.
“Turn off the television,” says Dr. McGregor. “Talk to your family. Not at them. And not through media scripts.”
A New Media Moment?
While legacy networks continue their partisan drift, many Americans are seeking alternative platforms — podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters, and substack writers they trust more than the mainstream.
But even that shift can lead to new echo chambers.
“We didn’t lose grandma to MSNBC,” Jacob says. “We lost her to a world where everyone thinks the other side is evil.”
Sources:
- Pew Research Center, “Media Consumption by Age Demographics,” 2024
- Gallup Trust in Media Report, Q1 2025
- Harvard Kennedy School Polarization Study, 2023
- Interviews with FNF readers and contributors
- NYU Psychology Department: Interview with Dr. Lisa McGregor, 2025
- Analysis of MSNBC programming from March–June 2025