The Media and Evangelical Politics: A Comparative Analysis of Framing

This paper analyzes the influence of partisan media, particularly MSNBC and Fox News, on constructing polarized views of Evangelicalism in the context of the 2024 American presidential election. It focuses on how each media outlet frames the evangelical movements under presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, emphasizing the differences in how values of religion are framed to achieve political objectives. By comparing the contrasting framing, the essay illustrates how both outlets selectively emphasize radical elements to reinforce pre-existing biases. This selective framing not only skews public perception but also contributes to motivated reasoning, deepening political polarization. Ultimately, the essay argues that media framing in evangelical contexts distorts religious values for political gain, exacerbating social division.