60 Minutes Fails to Note Why Invasive Lionfish Dominate Cuban Coral Re

Divers all over South Florida were probably drooling last night while watching the huge lionfish that appeared in the 60 Minutes broadcast about Cuba's Jardines de la Reina coral reef off that island's southern shore. The reason is that the state of Florida has declared open season on the invasive lionfish, introduced from Asia, which is known to devastate marine life on coral reefs.…
P.J. Gladnick
December 19th, 2011 12:13 PM

Announcing MRC's Best Notable Quotables of 2011: The 24th Annual Award

Last week, MRC announced the results of our "public ballot" for the worst media quotes in 2011, sort of the "People's Choice Awards" version of our Best Notable Quotables of 2011. This morning, the official results -- chosen by a distinguished panel of 48 radio talk show hosts, magazine editors, columnists, editorial writers, and expert media observers -- are in, and New York Times columnist…
NB Staff
December 19th, 2011 10:56 AM

On NBC's Meet the Press, Bachmann Schools Gregory on National Debt

As Congresswoman Michele Bachmann made the point on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that the national debt has increased dramatically under President Obama compared to under President Bush, host David Gregory interrupted and attempted to dismiss that fact: "Congresswoman, that just misstates the record....For accuracy, the debt exploded under the Bush administration." [Audio available here]…
Kyle Drennen
December 19th, 2011 10:35 AM

Open Thread: North Korea's Dictator Kim Jong Il Dead

After 17 years reigning as the Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il has reportedly died of heart failure, and his son, Kim Jong Un, has been announced as his successor. With instability in the region possibly posing a security threat to neighboring countries and abroad, governments around the world are keeping a careful eye on the region. What do you think Kim Jong Il's death means for…
NB Staff
December 19th, 2011 10:35 AM

Kathy Griffin to Co-host CNN's New Year's Eve Show

Vulgarian comedienne Kathy Griffin will once again co-host CNN's New Year's Eve show. TVNewser reported Sunday:
Noel Sheppard
December 19th, 2011 9:10 AM

ABC and NBC Play Up Liberal Endorsement as Boost for Mitt Romney

On Sunday, both morning and evening newscasts on ABC and NBC touted the Des Moines Register's endorsement of Mitt Romney as a boost for his campaign for President, in spite of the paper's left-wing tilt in a state where the Republican Party is predominantly conservative. While they did at least note the paper's liberal slant, both networks still played up the liberal endorsement.
Brad Wilmouth
December 19th, 2011 8:25 AM

Huffington Post Front Page Headline: 'Brady Slays Tebow

The liberal, secular, Tim Tebow-hating media rejoiced Sunday after the New England Patriots soundly defeated the Denver Broncos. A fine example of the merriment was displayed on the front page of the perilously liberal and secular Huffington Post with the headline "Brady Slays Tebow":
Noel Sheppard
December 19th, 2011 8:02 AM

GLAAD On Another Censorship Rampage

GLAAD is a cancer on all things free speech. They make the backers of the old Production Code  and those anti-Communist Blacklisters look like look like Marxist libertines. From The Wrap: "The ABC comedy 'Work It' doesn’t even premiere until January 3, and already it’s invoking ire from rights groups."
John Nolte
December 19th, 2011 7:59 AM

Moderating a Debate About Size of Government, Amanpour Takes the Liber

In her next to last week hosting This Week, ABC’s Christiane Amanpour moderated a show-long debate, touted as “The Great American Debates,” devoted to the proposition: “There’s Too Much Government.” George Will and Congressman Paul Ryan took up the affirmative case, squaring off against Robert Reich and Congressman Barney Frank. But Amanpour was hardly neutral. She began by framing the…
Brent Baker
December 19th, 2011 6:22 AM

NPR's Scott Simon Oozes Over God-Bashing Hitchens As 'Aggressively Inc

It wasn't enough for NPR to honor atheist author Christopher Hitchens on both morning and evening shows on Friday. On Saturday morning's Weekend Edition, NPR anchor Scott Simon set aside any troubling notions that Hitchens put forward about "totalitarian" religious belief and simply celebrated the man for defying being labeled: "By the time he died, no label applied to Christopher Hitchens. I…
Tim Graham
December 18th, 2011 11:03 PM

Daily Kos Week in Review: Jive Talkin

To the typical lefty, white conservatives are racists, whereas black conservatives are better described as racism-enablers -- Uncle Toms who, in effect, assert their own inferiority in order to please their supposed betters. This past week, one Kossack made that argument in slightly more colorful terms.     As usual, each headline is preceded by the blogger's name or pseudonym. DKWIR will…
Tom Johnson
December 18th, 2011 10:51 PM

Tom Brokaw Warns 'Income Inequality' Could Lead to 'Class War

Appearing as a guest on Wednesday's Piers Morgan Tonight on CNN ,as he discussed the Occupy Wall Street protests, former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw warned that a "class war" could develop unless "income inequality" is addressed. Brokaw:
Brad Wilmouth
December 18th, 2011 9:34 PM

George Will Demolishes Robert Reich: 'You Are a Pyromaniac In a Field

George Will on Sunday marvelously told liberal economist Robert Reich something that many conservatives have been dying to say for years. During a fascinating Right vs. Left debate on ABC's This Week, after Reich predictably pined for higher income tax rates to solve all that ails us, Will struck back with the line of the weekend, "You are a pyromaniac in a field of strawmen" (video follows…
Noel Sheppard
December 18th, 2011 7:30 PM

David Zurawik: NBC Hiring Chelsea Clinton a 'Journalistically Bankrupt

Baltimore Sun television critic David Zurawik on Sunday called NBC hiring Chelsea Clinton a "journalistically-bankrupt decision." Talking to CNN's Howard Kurtz about Clinton's debut, Zurawik said if she's been preparing for this all her life "it's been a largely wasted life" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
Noel Sheppard
December 18th, 2011 4:19 PM