Nothing to See Here: Networks Allow Just 117 Seconds on DUI to Nancy Pelosi's Husband

May 31st, 2022 1:05 PM

Paul Pelosi, the husband of liberal media favorite Nancy Pelosi, on Saturday night was arrested for allegedly driving drunk. The three networks jumped into protection mode, allowing just 117 seconds total. ABC’s coverage was the paltriest, just a scant 22 seconds on Sunday night.

The NBC and CBS morning and evening newscasts did slightly better: A still pathetic 39 seconds on NBC and 56 seconds on CBS. On World News Tonight, Sunday, Linsey Davis offered what would be the network’s only coverage (so far): 

Tonight, Nancy Pelosi's husband is facing two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence. Paul Pelosi, the husband of the House Speaker, was arrested late last night in Napa Valley, California accused of driving with a blood alcohol content above .08. Paul Pelosi, who is 82 years old, was released on $5,000 bail. Speaker Pelosi has not commented on the arrest. 

 

 

On Sunday’s CBS Weekend News, anchor Errol Barnett offered Pelosi PR, making sure to note that the Democratic Speaker was nowhere near the scene: “Speaker Pelosi released a statement saying she won't comment on this private matter that occurred, she says in her statement, while she was on the east coast.” 

On Monday’s Today, Sheinelle Jones underlined the same point: “The House Speaker wasn’t with her husband at the time. She was in Rhode Island to deliver the commencement address at Brown University.” 

Here’s the CBS Mornings coverage on Monday: 

And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi`s husband is free on bail after being arrested for suspicion of DUI. Eighty-two-year-old Paul Pelosi was stopped just before midnight on Saturday in Napa, California. He could face two misdemeanor charges, driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. Speaker Pelosi was in Rhode Island this weekend giving a graduation speech at Brown University. Her spokesperson says she will not comment calling it a private matter.

ABC allowing a scant 22 seconds shouldn't be shocking. The network has a long history of fawning over Speaker Pelosi. Back in January of 2007, Good Morning America actually did a story on her picking up a speck of trash. That same month, then-World News Tonight anchor Charles Gibson gushed over video of her holding a grandchild: “It seemed the ultimate in multitasking: Taking care of the children, and the country.”

The Pelosi protection on ABC was sponsored by Claritin, on CBS by Jergens and on NBC by Verizon. Click on the links to let them know what you think. 

Transcripts can be found below. Click “expand” to read more. 

World News Tonight
5/29/2022
6:23 PM ET

LINSEY DAVIS: Tonight, Nancy Pelosi's husband is facing two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence. Paul Pelosi, the husband of the House Speaker, was arrested late last night in Napa Valley, California accused of driving with a blood alcohol content above .08. Paul Pelosi, who is 82 years old, was released on $5,000 bail. Speaker Pelosi has not commented on the arrest. 

 

CBS Weekend News
5/29/2022
10:06 PM ET 

ERROL BARNETT: In other news, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, is free on bail tonight, after being arrested for driving under the influence. He was stopped just before midnight in napa county, California, and was released hours later on $5,000 bail. Speaker Pelosi released a statement saying she won't comment on this private matter that occurred, she says in her statement, while she was on the east coast.

 

NBC Nightly News
5/29/2022

NO COVERAGE: 

 

Today
5/30/2022
7:31 AM ET 

SHEINELLE JONES:  Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of DUI. The 82-year-old was taken into custody late Saturday in Napa County, California after being involved in a car accident. No one was injured in the crash. The House Speaker wasn’t with her husband at the time. She was in Rhode Island to deliver the commencement address at Brown University.

 

Good Morning America
5/30/2022

NO COVERAGE

 

CBS Mornings
5/30/2022
7:31 AM ET 

MICHELLE MILLER: And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi`s husband is free on bail after being arrested for suspicion of DUI. Eighty-two-year-old Paul Pelosi was stopped just before midnight on Saturday in Napa, California. He could face two misdemeanor charges, driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher. Speaker Pelosi was in Rhode Island this weekend giving a graduation speech at Brown University. Her spokesperson says she will not comment calling it a private matter.

 

NBC Nightly News
5/30/2022
7:11 PM ET
18 seconds 

TOM LLAMAS:  Back here in the states, to California, where the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol Saturday night after his Porsche was struck by a jeep. According to Highway Patrol report, the drivers were not injured. Speaker Pelosi was not with her husband at the time.

 

World News Tonight
5/30/2022

NO COVERAGE

CBS Evening News
5/30/2022

5/31/2022

NO COVERAGE ON MORNING SHOWS