Ep 2. 2001

The Loudest Voice season 1 episode 2, titled "2001," chronicles the events leading up to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and their aftermath. The episode offers an intimate view of the inner workings of Fox News and its founder, Roger Ailes, during a pivotal moment in American history.

As the episode opens, Ailes is seen railing against what he perceives as the liberal bias of the mainstream media. He is convinced that traditional news outlets are out of touch with ordinary Americans and seeks to position Fox News as a counterweight to what he sees as an entrenched liberal establishment.

As Ailes ramps up his efforts to build Fox News into a right-wing media powerhouse, his relationship with Rupert Murdoch, the network's owner, becomes increasingly fraught. Murdoch is a savvy businessman but lacks Ailes' instincts for the kind of sensationalism that has come to define Fox News.

Meanwhile, the events of 9/11 loom large in the background, with much of the episode devoted to the network's coverage of the attacks and their aftermath. For Ailes, the tragedy is an opportunity to cement Fox News' position as a leading voice in American media.

Despite criticisms from other journalists and cable news networks, Ailes is unrelenting in his coverage, pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in broadcasting. He champions a kind of "fair and balanced" reporting that prioritizes sensationalism and sensationalism over traditional journalistic standards, drawing criticism but also winning a dedicated following among conservative viewers.

The episode also explores the personal toll that the events of 9/11 take on Ailes and his family. His wife, Beth, is shown grappling with the enormity of the tragedy and the toll it takes on their relationship. Meanwhile, Ailes' own health begins to suffer as the stress of the crisis takes its toll.

As tensions mount both within Fox News and throughout the country as a whole, Ailes finds himself at the center of a political and cultural firestorm. Ultimately, he emerges as a figure both revered and reviled, a larger-than-life figure who shaped American media and politics in ways that continue to resonate today.