Networks Tout Tax Cuts for Millions in Obama Budget, Ignore Fuzzy Math
March 4th, 2014 4:35 PM
The three network morning shows combined gave less than two minutes of air time to President Obama's proposed 2015 budget on Tuesday, though they all managed to highlight how the plan "will cut taxes for thirteen and a half million working Americans" [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]. What the NBC, ABC, and CBS broadcasts all ignored was that the debt projections under the…
NBC Warns: Midterm Election 'Holds the Fate of the Rest of the Obama P
March 4th, 2014 11:41 AM
On Tuesday morning, only NBC's Today marked the beginning of the 2014 midterm primary season and explained the dire situation for Democrats ahead on the November election. Co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed: "While President Obama's dealing with the crisis in Ukraine, here at home, the future of his presidency could be at stake. The midterm primary season kicks off today, and this will affect…
NBC Malfunction: 'Today' Airs Unedited Still of Nude Women
March 3rd, 2014 11:11 AM
NBC was caught asleep at the switch on Monday's Today, as the morning newscast broadcast a clip that featured two uncensored images of fully nude women – 10 years and a month after fellow Big Three network CBS aired Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl.
Savannah Guthrie led into an interview of actor Willem Dafoe by playing a clip from his upcoming movie "The Grand…
'New Yorker' Editor: U.S. Lacks 'Historical Leverage' Against Russia B
March 3rd, 2014 9:51 AM
Appearing on NBC's Today on Monday, New Yorker magazine editor and former Washington Post Moscow correspondent David Remnick fretted that the United States lacked the moral authority to oppose Russia's invasion of Ukraine: "The United States also does not have the leverage it wants in historical terms. Invading countries is something the United States knows about from really raw experience. And…
Networks Promote White House PR Video of Obama and Biden Jogging for L
February 28th, 2014 4:00 PM
On Friday, the NBC, ABC, and CBS morning shows all happily touted a White-House-produced video of President Obama and Vice President Biden jogging through the executive mansion to promote the fourth anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign. This was the same week that the networks refused to cover an Obama administration report showing two-thirds of small business…
Networks Tout 'Cheering Protesters' Celebrating Veto of 'Anti-Gay' Ari
February 27th, 2014 11:39 AM
After spending days denouncing a religious freedom bill in Arizona as "anti-gay," all three network morning shows on Thursday hailed protester celebrations following Governor Jan Brewer vetoing the proposed legislation. Fill-in co-host Lara Spencer led off ABC's Good Morning America by excitedly announcing: "Vetoed! Protesters cheering the Arizona governor's decision to strike the controversial…
Networks Turn Up the Heat on Arizona: When Will Governor 'Finally Kill
February 26th, 2014 2:45 PM
On Tuesday, all three network morning shows touted "pressure mounting from all sides" for Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to veto an "anti-gay" bill designed to protect religious freedom. On NBC's Today, correspondent Mike Taibbi declared: "Governor Brewer actually has until the end of the week to make her decision. But the pressure has been mounting to finally kill the bill that at the very least…
'Wounded' Al Roker Jealous of Seth Meyers Getting Joe Biden as a Guest
February 25th, 2014 2:30 PM
Continuing his creepy infatuation with Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday, NBC Today weatherman Al Roker expressed his tongue-in-cheek jealously over new Late Night host Seth Meyers getting Biden as a guest the night before: "I'm a little upset about this....We have been begging Vice President Joe Biden to come on our program. He's right across the street. He was right across the street....now…
Nets Continue Push Against 'Very Controversial' Arizona Bill That Coul
February 25th, 2014 12:05 PM
All three network morning shows on Tuesday continued the push against an Arizona bill [SB 1062] that aims to protect the religious freedom of business owners who oppose gay marriage. According to CBS This Morning co-host Charlie Rose, "Hundreds protested at the state capitol last night. They say the bill legalizes discrimination."
Today's Savannah Guthrie hyped, "Mounting pressure. From John…
Left-Wing NYC Mayor Cuts Ribbon for New 'Today' Show Plaza
February 25th, 2014 8:25 AM
On Monday, the hosts of NBC's Today invited left-wing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-renovated plaza outside Rockefeller Center's Studio 1A, with Matt Lauer gushing: "And look who stepped in here, the new mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio. Mr. Mayor, it's nice to see you....you're here for a great reason....to help us cut the ribbon…
Networks Allow a Scant Two Minutes for Obama's 'Dramatic' Reduction of
February 24th, 2014 12:10 PM
The plan by Barack Obama's government to "dramatically" shrink the size of the Army to its lowest level since World War II warranted a scant one minute and 56 seconds of total coverage on Monday's morning shows. Yet, CBS, NBC and ABC devoted 19 and a half minutes to such topics as TV shows, makeup and viral videos. [See video of ABC's coverage below. MP3 audio here.] None of the networks…
Networks Hype 'History-Making Moment for the NBA' After Jason Collins
February 24th, 2014 11:43 AM
Despite openly gay NBA player Jason Collins only spending 10 minutes on the court during a game Sunday night, all three network morning shows on Monday hailed his non-scoring time off the bench as a momentous occasion. On ABC's Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos proclaimed: "A history-making moment in the NBA. Jason Collins broke through a big barrier last night when he suited…
Networks Minimize Coverage of Anti-Socialist Protests in Venezuela
February 21st, 2014 10:02 PM
ABC, CBS, and NBC have largely punted in covering the protests against the leftist government in Venezuela. Since Monday, only NBC Nightly News has devoted a full report on the demonstrations in the South American country. Altogether, NBC has aired just over two minutes of reporting on the story. Brian Williams also stood out for explicitly mentioning the political ideology of the regime: "Many…
After Pushing Minimum Wage Hike, NBC and ABC Give 42 Seconds to Report
February 19th, 2014 11:55 AM
While all three broadcast networks happily promoted President Obama's crusade to hike the minimum wage following his State of the Union address, NBC's Today and ABC's Good Morning America only managed to provide a scant 42 seconds of coverage on Wednesday to a new Congressional Budget Office study showing such a move would cause 500,000 people to lose their jobs.
Wednesday's CBS This Morning…