NBC's Lauer Cites Left-Wing Columnist to Slam Gingrich's 'Controversia

In an interview with Donald Trump on Monday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer hit Newt Gingrich for pointing out that poor inner city children lack role models: "He made some controversial comments recently about the poor and jobs....Maureen Dowd in the Times on Sunday said, 'Has he not heard of the working poor?'" Lauer turned to Trump and fretted: "Did Newt Gingrich unfairly characterize…

New CMI Special Report: Baptism by Fire

Matt Philbin
With the 2012 elections less than a year away, the liberal media are attacking President Obama's potential opponents on a number of fronts, but especially on religion. ABC, CBS and NBC have used religion in two ways, either painting the field of GOP primary challengers as a God Squad of religious zealots or playing up differences in their faith. Whether they're letting viewers know that "Rick…

NBC Cheers College Course on Rapper Jay-Z By Left-Wing Professor Micha

On Friday's NBC Today, MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin gushed over a new class at Georgetown University taught by liberal professor Michael Eric Dyson: "Race, class, gender, culture, all things that would be covered in most sociology classes and they're covered in Michael Eric Dyson's as well, but the issues are examined in a way that uniquely appeals to college students." Melvin touted how, "Jay-…

NBC's Ann Curry to Joe Biden: With No WMD, Can U.S. 'Claim Victory' in

In an interview with Vice President Joe Biden in Iraq aired on Thursday's NBC Today, co-host Ann Curry depicted the war effort there as a failure: "In a war that was started to protect the world from weapons of mass destruction that were never found, can the United States claim victory?" [Audio available here] Biden agreed with Curry as he took a jab at the Bush administration: "We're not…

NBC's Matt Lauer Praises Richard Branson's 'Different Kind of Capitali

Updated : More analysis and full transcript added. Introducing an interview with CEO Richard Branson about his new book, "Screw Business As Usual," on Thursday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer proclaimed: "...Sir Richard Branson argues the driving force behind capitalism should not be about making a profit, it's about caring for people, communities, and the planet." [Audio available here]…

NBC's Brian Williams Slams 'Dirty' Romney Ad But Touts Deceptive DNC A

On Monday's NBC Rock Center, host Brian Williams took time to update viewers on the latest political news, "And if you want to guess how dirty this campaign will be, listen to this Romney ad....Romney's spokesperson said they're not going to take their foot off the gas." Williams played a clip of President Obama from the ad: "If we keep talking about the economy, we're going to lose." He…

NBC's Lauer Hits Obama Advisor From Left, Cites Democratic Mayor Calli

On Wednesday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer interviewed Obama advisor David Plouffe and promoted liberal concerns that the administration had not pushed enough government economic programs: "Even the Democratic Mayor of Scranton, Christopher Dougherty, says that he'd hoped for more federal help under this Democratic administration, and it hasn't come." Lauer further detailed Dougherty's…

NBC's Ann Curry in Baghdad: 'U.S. Brings Its Divisive Eight-Year War i

In a live report from Baghdad on Wednesday's NBC Today, co-host Ann Curry described her arrival to the country with Vice President Biden: "Security is heavy amid an uptick in violence as the U.S. brings its divisive eight-year war in Iraq to an end. The Vice President timed his trip to the last days of America's war in Iraq." Later in the report, Curry listed the cost of the war: "Eight…

NBC's Savannah Guthrie Ignores Barney Frank's Role in Housing Collapse

In a testy interview on Tuesday's NBC Today, fill-in co-host Savannah Guthrie avoided asking retiring Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank about his role in the collapse of the housing market and yet the liberal Democrat still complained: "You've managed to ask all sort of negative questions.....you're four for four in managing to find a negative approach." Guthrie began the segment by…

Networks Ignore Violence at 'Peaceful' Occupy L.A., Play Up 'Party' Vi

The Big Three network morning shows on Monday all reported on the possible showdown between Occupy L.A. protesters and the LAPD. NBC's Today and CBS's Early Show highlighted that the left-leaning demonstrators held a "block party" as they defied law enforcement. All three media outlets also played up the supposedly "peaceful" nature of the protest, while ignoring other media reports of violence…

NBC Apologizes to Michele Bachmann for Offensive Fallon Song

NBC on Wednesday issued a formal apology to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) for the offensive song that was played as she walked onto the stage to be Jimmy Fallon's guest Monday evening. The issue was discussed in great detail on Thursday's Today show (video follows with transcript and commentary):

CBS Omits Bill Ayers Context of Obama Clip Used in Romney Ad

CBS's Early Show on Wednesday boosted a claim by Democrats that a recent Mitt Romney ad takes a line from a 2008 speech by then-candidate Barack Obama out of context. However, CBS noted at that time that Obama was using that line to counter a McCain campaign ad which played up the Democrat's association with left-wing terrorist Bill Ayers. Anchor Erica Hill raised the controversy over the…

All Three Networks Hype 'Ugly' Pepper Spray 'Outrage,' Played Down Occ

The three network morning shows, which have been mostly ignoring crimes at the Occupy Wall Street protests, hyped the "ugly" and "disturbing" "outrage" of students at the University of California, Davis campus being sprayed with pepper. Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos interviewed the school's chancellor and repeatedly berated her about resigning. On NBC's Today, Ann Curry warned…

CBS Highlights Chu's Solyndra Testimony in Congress, ABC Punts

On Friday, CBS's Early Show was the only Big Three morning show to cover Energy Secretary Steven Chu's testimony before a congressional hearing on the $528 million loan to the bankrupt solar panel company Solyndra. NBC previewed the hearing on Thursday's Today show, but avoided it the following morning. ABC's GMA completely ignored it both days. Fill-in news anchor Betty Nguyen gave a 44-…