‘The Office’ Star Rainn Wilson on Left-Leaning Media Being Harder on Trump Than on Biden: “I see […] the lack of this kind of insight and passion being directed at the previous administration.”

Rainn Wilson, known for his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office, recently shared his perspective on the state of American media and politics during a conversation on his Soul Boom podcast.

Joined by MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle, Wilson highlighted concerns about biased reporting and its impact on public trust, particularly in relation to the current and previous U.S. administrations.

Wilson pointed out what he sees as a double standard in how left-leaning news outlets cover political issues. He argued that these outlets were quick to downplay challenges during the Biden administration, such as economic struggles and immigration policies, while being overly critical of the Trump administration. “This is where I would push back,” Wilson said.

“I see this kind of insight and passion being directed at the current administration, and the lack of this kind of insight and passion being directed at the previous administration.” He described the media’s approach to Biden’s tenure as dismissive, saying, “[Left-leaning news outlets] were kind of like, ‘La, la, la, la, la, Everything’s fine. Look, the economy’s great. La, la, la. Immigration’s not that much of a problem,’ and really, being Cleopatra, Queen of Denial.”

Ruhle, however, suggested that the erosion of trust in media is intentional, driven by figures like former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who owns X. “Losing that trust is not by accident, it’s by design,” she said, referencing Steve Bannon’s comment about wanting to “blow the whole thing up” during Trump’s first campaign. She also noted that Musk’s platform encourages people to “leave traditional media,” further complicating the public’s relationship with news.

The discussion also touched on immigration, a divisive issue in the U.S. Wilson emphasized that many Americans who express concerns about immigration are unfairly labeled. “Most people, a large majority of people who have a problem with the current immigration crisis, and have for the last five or 10 years, are not racist,” he said.

“But are often kind of tarred as racist by the liberal left.” Ruhle agreed, adding that Republicans are more open to addressing uncomfortable feelings about immigration, but those who voice such concerns are quickly branded as “xenophobic or racist.” She stressed the need for dialogue, saying, “And we have to make space for how people feel.”

Ruhle also connected economic hardship to public frustration, explaining that many Americans feel unheard because they struggle to “make ends meet” despite working hard. “We need to give space to sort of hear those people, hear what their needs are, and instead, a lot of those people have felt like when they voice their opinions, they’re treated like they’re xenophobic, and they’re racist, and they’re anti-immigrant, and I don’t think they are,” she said.

The conversation took a broader turn when Wilson shared insights from his podcast guests, many of whom have distanced themselves from news and social media for mental health reasons. “Half our guests have said, ‘I don’t watch the news anymore, and my life is so much better,’” he said.

“‘I turn it off, I took Apple News off my phone, I don’t even subscribe, I don’t go on social media, and I don’t read news articles, and I’m raising bees and growing poppies and washing my dishes and meditating and my life is so much better and richer for it.’”

Ruhle challenged this, arguing that tuning out is a luxury not everyone can afford. “I think you said the most important thing: ‘richer,’” she said. “That’s a very rich thing to say, because people of privilege can afford to tune out.”

The podcast also addressed radical ideas about governance, with Ruhle recalling a suggestion from an acquaintance: “Listen, the two-party system doesn’t work…. Let’s have Elon Musk go in there, let’s shake it up, and let’s see how things work out.” Wilson questioned the consequences of such disruption, asking, “But who’s gonna be hurt? Who’s gonna suffer? When the social safety net is dismantled, who’s gonna suffer? Tech bros and Wall Street traders? No. Actors in their fancy burned-down houses? No.”

Wilson’s critique underscores a growing divide in how Americans consume and perceive news, with both he and Ruhle acknowledging the challenges of fostering open, honest discussions in a polarized climate.

You can listen to the whole interview here:

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