Richard Branson

Billionaires Want to End Capitalism As We Know It
By Mike Ciandella | June 17, 2013 | 2:46 PM EDT

Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington and a group of other CEOs and former world leaders have formed a group whose goal is to end capitalism as we know it. The nonprofit, known as “The B Team,” was created to help promote a “better version of capitalism, one that prioritizes people and planet over profit.” This ignores the fact that capitalism is, by definition, motivated by profit.

The team, led by Branson and German businessman Jochen Zeitz, calls for drastic changes in how the economy works. These include “new rules and models for the future of business – not incremental ‘change as usual.’”

NBC's Matt Lauer Praises Richard Branson's 'Different Kind of Capitalism' Not Driven By Profits
By Kyle Drennen | December 1, 2011 | 10:39 AM EST

Updated [12:54 ET]: More analysis and full transcript added.

Introducing an interview with CEO Richard Branson about his new book, "Screw Business As Usual," on Thursday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer proclaimed: "...Sir Richard Branson argues the driving force behind capitalism should not be about making a profit, it's about caring for people, communities, and the planet." [Audio available here]

After questioning Branson on the practicality of such a business model, Lauer concluded: "So it's a different kind of capitalism. You're not saying that once you become successful you abandon the principles of capitalism, you just adjust those principles." Moments later, Lauer wondered if, "that form of capitalism would calm some of these emotions that we're seeing in the streets right now" in the Occupy Wall Street movement? [View video after the jump]

Begala: Blumenthal's Vietnam Lie Like Condi Rice Calling Dubya 'Husband'?
By Matthew Balan | May 19, 2010 | 3:39 PM EDT
CNN contributor and Democrat extraordinaire Paul Begala's Bush Derangement Syndrome got the better of him during a panel discussion on Tuesday's AC360 (as Mary Matalin correctly pointed out later in the segment) when he compared Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal's lie about serving in Vietnam to Condoleezza Rice's 2004 gaffe where she called former President Bush "my husband" [audio available here].

Thirty-one minutes into the 10 pm Eastern hour, anchor Anderson Cooper asked Begala about Blumenthal's statement earlier on Tuesday where he claimed he "misspoke" his false claim about serving during the Vietnam War: "I think only politicians use that word 'misspoke.' Other people call it a lie or just a mistake. But he says he accepts responsibility for misspeaking. What do you make of that?"

The CNN political contributor's answer started out in a reasonable manner, but soon descended into the bizarre, to use his own word. Cooper even expressed his utter surprise that Begala had somehow fit the Bush administration into his answer (the rest of the panel erupted in laughter at Cooper's retort, and obviously at Begala's expense).
Time Gives Global Warming Alarmist Site Free Advertising
By Jeff Poor | February 25, 2008 | 4:07 PM EST

WebsiteA Time.com article by Bryan Walsh encouraged readers to go to an environmentalist Web site because it might be their last chance to see the "polar world."

"Man your computers - GlobalWarming101.com might give you a last glimpse of a dying polar world," Walsh wrote on February 22.

The Web site is run by Will Steger, who identified himself as an author, photographer and "ceaseless advocate for the Earth's well being."

"To help raise awareness of the damage climate change is wreaking on the polar regions, next month Steger will be leading a team of six young adventurers on a 1,400-mile, 60-day-long dogsled expedition across Ellesmere Island, in the far Canadian Arctic," wrote Walsh.

Networks: Bashing Airlines Is Just the Ticket
By Julia A. Seymour | August 29, 2007 | 4:00 PM EDT

According to the networks, the skies have been unfriendly to fly this summer and the airlines are to blame.

Journalists have been quick to point the finger at business when the problems can easily be pegged to an outmoded computer system – owned and operated by the U.S. government.

“One of the knocks on JetBlue following this Valentine’s Day situation was that the airline had grown too big too fast,” Matt Lauer said to JetBlue’s CEO on August 20 “Today.”

In Two Segments, CBS's Harry Smith Raises Global Warming Alarm
By Justin McCarthy | August 7, 2007 | 3:00 PM EDT

CBS’s Harry Smith led the charge against "global climate change," first with billionaire airline founder and activist Richard Branson and then in the health segment. On the August 7 edition of "The Early Show" at 7:49 AM, Harry Smith hosted the health segment on how to handle the heat with the current heat wave that is affecting much of the eastern half of the United States.