Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) hit the campaign trail promoting “Democratic socialism” and claiming President Donald Trump supports “corporate socialism for the rich and powerful.” CNBC anchor Joe Kernen demanded clear definitions and answers from a Sanders adviser on June 13, attempting to learn whether democratic socialism would really mean more entitlements and government control.
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg reannounced a $500-million effort to eradicate coal and natural gas use in the U.S. on June 6. ABC, CBS and NBC news didn’t even flinch. That night the three broadcast evening shows made no time for the billionaire media mogul’s massive spending to shut down the rest of the nation’s coal plants by 2030 and start targeting natural gas plants. They also haven’t reported it since, much less scrutinized it even though he’s a high-profile liberal donor, media owner and maybe former politician.
The current economic expansion could “make history” if it lasts through July, but Bloomberg BusinessWeek pooh-poohed its 10th anniversary saying “no one’s partying” in the June 10 issue.
In spite of the disappointing May jobs report showing only 75,000 new jobs, MarketWatch and CNBC reported signs of continued strength in the labor market that could help ease economic jitters. MarketWatch reporter Jeffry Bartash asked, “Has the U.S. labor market really taken a big turn for the worse?” and answered, “A new pair of employment reports suggest the answer is no.” He cited a private study of employment that indicated “a steady if more subdued pace of hiring during the summer” and “near-record high” job openings (7.4 million) in April, which was coupled with an “extremely low” number of layoffs.
Hollywood celebrities aren’t the only people upset about recent state efforts to limit abortion. A number of business executives are too. CNN Business writer Jackie Wattles promoted a letter signed by more than 180 business leaders that claimed restricting abortion was “bad for business.” It appeared as a full-page ad in The New York Times. She cited a “growing willingness” by businesses to take a stand on the biggest political issues of the day, but linked only to stories of CEOs embracing left-wing causes or attitudes.
Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary and CEO Gerald Storch brought a free market reality check to Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders’ arguments for a $15 minimum wage on CNBC’s Squawk Box June 6. Sanders went to Arkansas to attack Walmart over wages and demanded at its annual shareholders meeting that it raise wages even more on June 5. O’Leary and Storch both opposed a wage mandate, saying markets do a better job of setting wages than the government.
Democratic presidential front-runner, former Vice President Joe Biden gave Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ Green New Deal a big bear hug, with the release of his 22-page climate plan June 4. The Atlantic called it a “mini green new deal” and Biden claimed it will create around 10 million jobs while reducing U.S. net-emissions to zero by 2050. Sure. Business leaders have a very different opinion about the economic impact of a Green New Deal.
Liberal Hollywood celebrities love to talk about saving the planet from climate change. They blame carbon-spewing humans for planetary crisis, all while living like hypocrites. One of the biggest is actor and producer Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio claims to be an environmentalist and has a charitable foundation, but that doesn’t mean he’s saving the world. Ironically, he was nearly outed by the left-wing, eco-website Grist on June 3; if only its “investigation” had gone deeper.
Business leaders wanting praise from the liberal media only need to embrace some left-wing cause. Promoting a conservative agenda earns scorn. The Washington Post published a massive profile on Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack and his gun control advocacy on June 2. The profile, which appeared on the cover of The Post’s Sunday Business section took up a full three-quarters of the section’s front cover that day, along with three-quarters of an inside page.
Anti-Trump California billionaire Tom Steyer leads the Need to Impeach “movement,” and Next Gen America political group. ABC wasn’t honest enough to make that clear for readers on June 1.
Instead, the network misled them by making it sound like two grassroots organizations were promoting the impeachment of President Donald Trump. Nevermind that the same billionaire donor is behind both groups and is spending millions to make impeachment a reality.
A healthy and growing economy should be good news, but CNBC claimed it could put marriages at risk. Although the liberal media often talk, downplay, or spin economic news, CNBC provided a very strange complaint about the current “strong economy” on June 1. It warned “marriage could suffer” because of economic strength. CNBC personal finance reporter Jessica Dickler wrote that given the relative strength of the economy today, marriages could be in trouble or at risk of divorce.
Even liberal newsrooms have to grapple with economic realities, as Vox Media may be learning.