The debate over whether Democrats should engage with Fox News has been going on for years, but I've always argued in favor of showing up on the network. First of all, refusing to engage gives Fox News the story they want. Imagine if I had refused to call on Peter Doocy in the White House press briefing room. I would have missed out on some of my most satisfying briefing room exchanges, and it would have implied I was somehow scared of his questions.
And as Vice President Kamala Harris proved during her interview Wednesday night, Fox News is really not that scary. Sure, Harris' interview wasn't perfect, but she delivered a much stronger answer on how her presidency would be different from Joe Biden's, and she very memorably called out host Bret Baier for failing to play Trump's full "enemy from within" comments.
When I was White House press secretary, I appeared on "Fox News Sunday" more than any other weekend news show. In part, to prove I could. But also to help combat misinformation and present Americans with arguments and data they may not otherwise see. Plus, a combative interview can be fun sometimes. Just ask Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Ultimately, refusing to engage with outlets like Fox doesn't punish them. It's the same reason why I think Democrats who refuse to engage on social media platforms are making a big mistake. Yes, many platforms have legitimate flaws, but they also provide more than 50 percent of people with their news. With just weeks until Election Day, now is not the time to try to claim the moral high ground. Candidates need to meet voters wherever they get their information and leave nothing on the field.
Read more exclusive insights from Jen Psaki here. And tune into "Inside with Jen Psaki" Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, and Sundays at 12 p.m. ET on MSNBC.
