Fox News host Pete Hegseth talks to The Post Millennial’s Ari Hoffman about the network’s success against rivals

Hoffman asked the Fox News host about Democrat West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin's surprise decision to vote against the Biden administration's Build Back Better Act and whether or not Manchin will cave under pressure when the bill is up for a re-vote in the future.

"First of all, it was heartening news," Hegseth said. "To see federalism at work. To see at least one man inside the lunacy of the Democratic party willing to stand up and say, 'I actually represent people in my state and I swore an oath to the constitution but I also work for those people in West Virginia...and I'm going to reflect that.'"

Senator Manchin said he could not vote for the Act because Democratic legislators were not being transparent about the real cost ($4.5 trillion) and explained that he could not impose this bill on his constituents when the US is $29 trillion in debt and inflation is skyrocketing.

"There's still no doubt that the Democrats are not giving up on this," Hegseth told Hoffman.

"It's going to go one of two ways. They're going to try to break the bill up and pass what they deem to be the more popular portions of their socialist bill where they think Joe Manchin will sign on. Or they're just going to keep trying to wear him (Manchin) down. You think about the amount of pressure from the White House on down to his colleagues. He's withstood it and that's not easy," the Fox & Friends host explained.

Hegseth also weighed in on rival networks CNN and MSNBC finally covrering Biden's inflation crisis.

"I don't know that they have the option of actually going back to quote unquote real journalism or real reporting. I think there are some things that are mugging people so directly exactly where they live, that you just can't deny it."

"We look at all the other incidents where they deny things or refuse to acknowledge them, but when it is in every sector of our economy, in every single household to not to cover it, I think they're feeling the shame of what Fox News channel does so effectively."

Hegseth used as an example his network's reporting on Biden's border crisis. "...the perfect example is the drones down on the border."

"We dubbed it 'Bidenville' under that bridge in Del Rio. What was the response from the White House? 'Holy cow. We've got to clear that out and then we've got to get the bulldozers out to smooth it out like it never existed."

Hoffman added, "Well before that it's 'We gotta get the drones out of here so no one sees what is going on,'" referencing the FAA banning drones from the area following videos of thousands of migrants under the bridge being aired by the network.

Hegseth continued, "They tried to block the drones. It's not about the actual solution. So the power of shining a light on something, and then effectively shaming other networks to cover it."

"It's a real thing. It's why they want Fox news banned out of the press briefing room," Hegseth added referencing CNN anchor Don Lemon calling for Fox to be removed.

"And by the way, they (CNN) are talking about one dude, they're talking basically about Peter Doocy, the nicest, calmest (guy) ...he's not being rude to anybody. He is simply asking the questions that anyone should ask. The media, it went from bias in the nightly news to agenda with news networks, to full on activism."