It’s time to find out who had the Worst Media Quote of the Week. This interactive series is where you — our loyal NewsBusters visitors and MRC supporters — get to vote on which leftist journalist or celebrity had the worst media quote of the week.
Much appreciation to all who voted last week via NewsBusters and the MRC’s various social media sites (Facebook, Instagram and X.com).
The results of the Worst Media Quote of the Week are in and the winner is…
Ed O’Keefe!
The CBS senior White House correspondent won with 62 percent of the vote. O’Keefe took first place for cluelessly asking White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt: “Where or when does the President believe he’s been falsely called racist?” ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir came in second place with 27 percent. Finishing last was CBS correspondent David Schecter at 11 percent.
Check out the following clip (via the MRC Video team) to see the nominees in action:
🔴 POLL: Worst Quote of the Week, presented by @TJTAW44 and @Justine_Brooke
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) February 19, 2026
1. David Muir: Trump will destroy the planet and kill you!
2. David Schecter: Climate change was a part of the nation's founding.
3. Ed O’Keefe: When has anybody called Trump racist?
Vote below! pic.twitter.com/yhDs5Whpm7
WINNER (62 percent of the vote)
Clueless Ed O’Keefe: When Has Anybody Called Trump Racist?
CBS senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe: “Today in his statement about Jesse Jackson, the President said, ‘Despite the fact that I’m falsely and consistently called a racist by the scoundrels and lunatics on the radical left, Democrats all, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way.’ Where or when does the President believe he’s been falsely called racist?”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: “You’re kidding, right?”
O’Keefe: “No.”
— White House Press Briefing, February 18.
SECOND PLACE (27 percent of the vote)
David Muir: Trump Is Going to Destroy the Planet and Kill You
“Tonight, President Trump has repealed U.S. power to regulate climate in this country. The president officially rejecting the science. And what this now clears the way for. Critics tonight arguing this is not only dangerous for the environment but for your health.”
— Anchor David Muir on ABC’s World News Tonight, February 12.
THIRD PLACE (11 percent of the vote)
CBS Reporter David Schecter Injects Climate Propaganda into the Nation’s Founding
Correspondent David Schecter: “So, it turns out, around the time Washington looked out on the icy Delaware, there were two important pictures coming into focus: One, the story of America; the other, the beginnings of climate change. And both continue to shape our world. I kind of like to think about George Washington showing back up in 2026 and saying-”
Eric Steig, glaciologist: “What have you done?”
Schecter: “This is pretty different!”
— CBS Sunday Morning, February 15.
Thanks again to all who participated!
Sponsored by James P. Jimirro
