The Surprising Way Trump’s Team Got Town Hall Questions Early

This: President-elect Donald Trump’s team got a sneak peek at the questions Fox News hosts were planning to ask at a town hall in Iowa. This isn't just a minor sneak peek, it's like getting the answers to a test before the exam starts. How did this happen? Someone inside Fox News sent the questions ahead of time. This is a big deal in the world of journalism, where being fair and unbiased is crucial. Trump’s team wasn’t sure about participating in the event because some advisers weren’t happy with Fox’s coverage. But Trump wanted to do it because he was friends with one of the hosts, Bret Baier. Baier and his co-host, Martha MacCallum, were known for asking tough questions. Trump’s team was warned about the types of questions they might face, like whether he'd disavow political violence or if he’d focus on retribution if he won the election. Thirty minutes before the town hall, a senior aide received text messages with all the questions and planned follow-ups. This gave Trump’s team a chance to prepare some answers. Trump wasn’t happy with the questions because he felt they were meant to put him on the defensive. The book “Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power” by Alex Isenstadt shares this story. Isenstadt says he has multiple sources backing up this information. Fox News has said they don’t have evidence of this happening and plan to investigate if there’s proof. The book also talks about Trump considering Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo as his running mate. She was a favorite of Trump’s because she defended him in interviews and even gave his team a heads-up on her questions. Trump’s team thought she was great with big donors and good on TV, but they didn’t have time to vet her.