The journalists at ABC News on Monday renewed their push to promote sequester fears. Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos hyped, " Breaking this morning: Airport armageddon. Almost seven thousand flights could be delayed, today and every day, up to three hours. " [MP3 audio here .] The ABC morning show featured only liberal Democrat Chuck Schumer and no Republican voices. Over on CBS This Morning , however, reporter Sharyl Attkisson explained the GOP position, featuring Republican Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania. The congressman described the automatic spending cuts that are causing furloughs of Federal Aviation Administration employees this way: "I believe... continue reading
On Sunday's NBC Meet the Press , special correspondent Tom Brokaw used a discussion on the Boston Marathon bombings to argue more broadly that the "roots" of anti-American terrorism across the Islamic world are U.S. drone attacks: "I think we also have to examine the use of drones that the United States is involved in and – and there are a lot of civilians who are innocently killed in a drone attack in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, and in Iraq." [ Listen to the audio ] Brokaw began by wondering: "We have to work a lot harder at a motivation here... continue reading
On Thursday's All Things Considered , NPR's Ari Shapiro couldn't be bothered to feature any of the religious leaders who spoke at the inter-faith service in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, Instead, Shapiro zeroed in on the liberal politicians who spoke, playing five straight clips from President Obama's speech at the memorial event. The correspondent also played up the President's speaking ability: " This was Obama the orator, a man who is famous for his ability to give a speech that, even in a time of mourning, can bring a crowd roaring to its feet ."... continue reading
Weeks after White House hype over the budget sequester fizzled as the policy went into effect, on Thursday's NBC Nightly News , anchor Brian Williams signaled a new media push to scare viewers about the modest reductions in government spending: "On the subject of air travel, sooner or later the so-called sequester in Washington is going to affect all Americans." [ Listen to the audio ] Williams teased the news brief by warning: "The reason for major flight delays starting this weekend at a lot of the best known airports across this country." He later explained that "air traffic controller... continue reading
On Wednesday's All In show on MSNBC, host Chris Hayes devoted a segment to fretting over what he viewed as a "bizarre and perverse mismatch" at the country's willingness to act aggressively in response to deaths from terrorist acts, but the difficulty to get a response to the many gun deaths. He also described the 30,000 people who die from gun shots each year as "martyrs on the altar of the Second Amendment," as he complained of a double standard. The MSNBC host teased the segment at about 8:11 p.m.: "Up next, why our political system has zero tolerance for... continue reading
Following gun background check legislation being voted down in the Senate on Wednesday, anchor Brian Williams led off NBC Nightly News that evening by proclaiming: "There are cries of 'shame' from victims of gun violence watching from the Senate gallery and the President reacts with anger." Williams later touted how Obama "called it 'a pretty shameful day for Washington'" when ranting about the loss from the Rose Garden that afternoon. [ Listen to the audio ] In the report that followed, correspondent Kelly O'Donnell portrayed opponents of gun restrictions as unsympathetic to shooting victims: "...many of those Newtown families watched... continue reading
CBS lined up gun control supporters on Wednesday's CBS Evening News and Thursday's CBS This Morning . Chip Reid and Major Garrett played 11 soundbites from President Obama and other Democrats, as well as family members of the Newtown massacre victims. The only gun rights supporter that the two correspondents could find was Chuck Grassley. Reid played two clips from the Republican senator during his reports. Reid led his second report by hyping how " forces opposed to gun control proved that they are still in control here in Washington ". Garrett sounded like a stenographer for the White House... continue reading
ABC on Wednesday and Thursday parroted Barack Obama's anger over the failure of his gun control bill, touting the President's rage over this "shameful day." On World News and Good Morning America , reporter Jon Karl featured no pro-Second Amendment voices. Diane Sawyer trumpeted, " Tonight, outrage from the families of the victims of gun violence." On Thursday, Good Morning America's Amy Robach reminded, "[Obama] called it a shameful day in Washington and vowed to keep fighting." Karl even misrepresented the legislation: "It would have expand background checks to all purchases at gun shows and online. They're now only required... continue reading
On Tuesday's All In show, MSNBC's Chris Hayes reacted negatively to Senator Susan Collins because the Maine Republican recently recommended that, if any non-citizens are involved in the Boston bombing, they should not be afforded Miranda rights and should be handed to a military tribunal, as the MSNBC host asserted that he was "angered and disappointed" by her comments which he later called a "disgrace." His reaction to Collins came as he took a moment to give attention to a report by the Constitution Project which criticized the treatment of terror suspects by the Bush administration as "torture." After complaining... continue reading
In part two of her interview with President Obama aired on Wednesday's NBC Today , co-host Savannah Guthrie lobbed several softballs, wrapping up the exchange by wondering: "I know you're not endorsing, but do you personally hope that Hillary Clinton runs in 2016?...Do you miss her around here?" [ Listen to the audio ] Obama used Guthrie's prompting to praise Clinton: "I think she was an extraordinary secretary of state and she became not only a great partner for me in foreign policy, but a good friend....I do [miss her]. She's earned her rest and I know that she's going... continue reading