In a recap of the November 14 Democratic presidential debate, Sunday’s Nightly News avoided awkward moments, such as the candidates refusing to use the term “radical Islam” or Bernie Sanders doubling down on climate change being the greatest national security threat.
ABC
By Scott Whitlock | November 16, 2015 | 12:06 PM EST
In the wake of the terrorist slaughter in Paris, one might expect coverage of the Obama administration’s announcement that five more detainees would be released from Guantanamo Bay. Yet, NBC’s Today show, despite a four hour run-time, ignored the story. The New York Times, which often is used by the networks to select story topics, covered the release.
By Alexa Moutevelis Coombs | November 16, 2015 | 1:03 AM EST
In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, many shows have postponed or replaced episodes this week that have terrorism storylines. But the main plot of ABC’s Quantico is a terrorist bombing at Grand Central Station in New York City and the flashback of the events leading up to that day. To acknowledge the terror attacks (kind of) without having to completely cancel their show, this message appeared at the beginning of last night’s episode, “Over.”
By Alexa Moutevelis Coombs | November 15, 2015 | 2:24 PM EST
In the episode “The Big Sleepover” of Last Man Standing, Eve’s friend has overstayed her welcome at the Baxter household and interfered with Mike’s (Tim Allen) relationship with his daughter. Eve finally finds a way to get her friend to find another place to stay because she doesn’t want her dad “moping around like Obama got a third term.”
By Tom Blumer | November 15, 2015 | 11:44 AM EST
As of early this morning, Matt Drudge was carrying a link to a story headlining how President Obama is "under fire for saying ISIS 'contained' just hours before Paris attack."
Well, Obama is under some fire, but Drudge's link is to coverage at the UK Daily Mail. That's unfortunately unsurprising, because there is little to no mention of Obama's naive, foolish and callous statement in the U.S. establishment press. So Obama may be "under fire" from people who are paying attention, but low-information news consumers (and voters) who didn't happen to see the original Thursday interview will likely remain unaware of it. In one such example of convenient oversight, the Associated Press published a Thursday evening story on that interview, and decided that its only newsworthy element was Obama's immigration-related criticism of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.
By Kyle Drennen | November 13, 2015 | 1:09 PM EST
As questions began to be raised regarding Hillary Clinton’s dubious claim that she once tried to join the Marines in 1975, on Friday, only NBC’s Today briefly noted the controversy, with co-host Savannah Guthrie warning: “Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton is facing scrutiny about a story from her past that she repeated on the campaign trail this week, and it could come up at tomorrow's debate.”
By Scott Whitlock | November 13, 2015 | 11:41 AM EST
Former Democratic operative turned journalist George Stephanopoulos on Thursday and Friday threw softballs at Barack Obama, setting the President up to attack certain Americans as bigots and to trash Ben Carson. On Thursday's Nightline, the journalist asked about Donald Trump’s immigration and deportation plans. Stephanopoulos wondered, “So, what do you think when you hear people cheer for that?” Obama sneered, “I think is that there's always been a strain of anti-immigrant sentiment in America.”
By Alexa Moutevelis Coombs | November 13, 2015 | 5:22 AM EST
Social Justice Warriors just had their moment in the sun on the Grey’s Anatomy episode "Something Against You." Dr. Maggie Pierce had a big speech on racial micro-aggressions that concluded with her telling Dr. Amelia Shepherd to “check your white privilege.”
By Scott Whitlock | November 12, 2015 | 11:49 AM EST
Good Morning America’s Tom Llamas on Thursday whined that Marco Rubio was “dodging our questions” on immigration. Yet, the journalist seemed to forget that the Senator answered questions on that very topic on Wednesday’s GMA. At a campaign event, the journalist pounced and grilled the Republican about Donald Trump: “I tried asking Senator Marco Rubio about Trump's idea, but he dodged our questions.”
By Dylan Gwinn | November 11, 2015 | 11:48 PM EST
Art imitated life on Wednesday night’s edition of Modern Family. On an episode called “The More You Ignore Me,” Luke (Nolan Gould) explained the finer points of how one can get out of an arrest.
By Curtis Houck | November 11, 2015 | 11:43 PM EST
On Wednesday night, NBC Nightly News neglected to inform its viewers of a new report concerning the scandal-ridden Department of Veterans Affairs and the $142 million it paid out in bonuses to employees (including some who were facing discipline and/or recently fired). Compiled by the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the report stated that some of those who received bonuses still got them despite the fact that “several of them were under investigation or accused of mismanagement.”
By Tom Blumer | November 11, 2015 | 11:39 PM EST
Just as a reality check, I asked a friend today what his reaction would be if I said with a sincere-sounding voice that he makes me want to strangle him. He said, "Almost sounds like a threat." I said, "No, it was supposed to be a joke." He said, "No it's not."
I also asked another person what her reaction would be if I earnestly called her "demented." She said, "You'd be insulting me." I asked, "What if I said I was just joking?" Response: "I'd say, 'The heck you were.'" In the past ten days, members of the press have decided that threatening language and an insult, both directed at GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, were only "jokes." There is virtually no chance that these same people would give the same treatment to threats and insults directed at Democrats and leftists.