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Washington Examiner’s ‘Liberal Media Scream’ With the MRC’s Assessment
Since late January of 2012‚ the Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard has once a week featured a “Mainstream Media Scream” selection in his “Washington Secrets” column. For each pick‚ usually posted online on Monday‚ I provide an explanation and recommend a “scream” rating (scale of one to five).
This post contains the “Liberal Media Screams” starting in January 2023.
>; For 2021 and 2022‚ for all of 2020. For all of 2019. For all of 2018. (Re-named “Liberal Media Scream” as of June 11‚ 2018.) “Mainstream Media Screams” for:
>; July-December 2017 posts; January through June 2017; July to December 2016; for January to June 2016; for July to December 2015; for January to June 2015. (2012-2014 are featured on MRC.org: For 2014; for June 17‚ 2013 through the end of 2013. And for January 31‚ 2012 through June 11‚ 2013.)
Check Bedard’s “Washington Secrets” blog for the latest choice and his other Washington insider posts. Each week‚ this page will be updated with Bedard’s latest example of the worst bias of the week.
(For more of the worst liberal media bias‚ browse the Media Research Center's Notable Quotables with compilations of the latest outrageous‚ sometimes humorous‚ quotes in the liberal media.)
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â– New on March 25: Liberal Media Scream:Â Condescending ‘Really?’ to Rubio’s wish to be Trump VP
See the posting on the Washington Examiner's site where you can watch the video and read Baker's assessment. A week later‚ Bedard's article will be posted here.
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â– March 18: Liberal Media Scream:Â ‘Bloodbath’ is what media are doing to Trump
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream focuses on the media and President Joe Biden’s distortion of former President Donald Trump’s warning of an economic “bloodbath” if he’s not returned to the White House to stop China’s dumping of autos in the U.S. under Biden.
The media‚ and now the Biden campaign‚ pulled the word out of a long Trump explanation at an Ohio political rally of auto sales to make it sound like he was calling for a civil war if he’s not elected.
It’s very similar to what the media did after the Jan. 6‚ 2021‚ Capitol riots and spelled out how they’d treat a President Trump if given a chance.
Leading that fake rant over the weekend was ABC and a guest on This Week‚ New York magazine’s Susan Glasser‚ formerly with the liberal-left Washington Post and Politico.
Without any sign of embarrassment for distorting Trump’s words‚ Glasser ranted on about how threatening Trump is.
In office‚ Trump did assail reporters for their “fake news” and overwhelming bias but also was the most accessible and talkative president during his one term. He followed an Obama-Biden administration that was condemned by journalists for avoiding reporters and using technology to go around the media.
Susan Glasser on Sunday’s This Week on ABC:
“Donald Trump‚ it seems to me‚ it’s very hard eight years into this. We still struggle with how to cover him as journalists‚ but in a way‚ the unhinged‚ rambling rants that you see from the former president of the United States are baked in‚ and I think‚ in a way‚ we are all desensitized and inured to the extraordinary‚ remarkable and very at times un-American and threatening things that the former president is saying.
“I’m not saying it’s easy to understand how to cover it‚ but I think we have to cover it when the former president‚ who’s already incited violence among his followers‚ says that there’s going to be a bloodbath after the election if he does not win. He is telling us what he is going to do. …
I’m sorry. I just have to say something. Like Donald Trump is attacking‚ in a broad-brush sense‚ the basic pillars of American democracy. Period. Full stop. If that’s not news to you. It’s not about tariffs. That’s not the reason why millions of Americans are supporting Donald Trump. Let’s be real about that.”
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Yes‚ after eight years of constant hyperventilating by journalists‚ over supposed outrageous comments from Donald Trump‚ many have become ‘inured‚’ but it’s not journalists. It’s the public to the media’s never-ending scare-mongering about Trump bringing an end to ‘the basic pillars of American democracy.’ Glasser’s answer: Double down and get more journalists to be even more aggressive in denouncing Trump. Good luck with that‚ convincing anyone who has already tuned out such vitriol.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– March 11: Liberal Media Scream:Â Hollywood freaks over Trump
(Washington Examiner post)
Hollywood’s awards season has finally ended and in perfectly normal election-year fashion: Tinseltown freaking out over former President Donald Trump’s possible return to the White House.
Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel got a retort from Trump after he blasted the former president and his Republican allies. Kimmel responded‚ “Well‚ thank you‚ President Trump. Thank you for watching. I’m surprised you’re still — isn’t it past your jail time?”
But his shruggable performance was far outdone by the angry venting of actor Robert De Niro‚ who stepped up his attacks on Trump.
On Friday‚ De Niro pleased Bill Maher’s audience by blasting Trump. “Vote for Trump and you’ll get the nightmare. Vote for Biden and it will be back to normalcy‚” he began.
To laughter and applause from Maher’s Los Angeles studio audience‚ De Niro marveled at how anyone could support Trump. He called the poll-leading former president “a total monster” who will install a “dictatorship.” More insults followed: “sociopathic‚ psychopathic‚ malignant narcissist‚” as well as an “idiot” and “clown.”
From Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO:
ROBERT DE NIRO: The bottom line is: It’s Biden vs. Trump. We want to live in a world that we want to live in and enjoy living in or live in a nightmare? Vote for Trump and you’ll get the nightmare. Vote for Biden and it will be back to normalcy. …
The guy is a total monster‚ and anybody‚ I don’t understand it. I guess they get behind the kind of logic: They want to f*** with people‚ screw them because they’re unhappy about something. He’s such a mean‚ nasty‚ hateful person. I’d never play him as an actor because I can’t see any good in him — nothing‚ nothing at all‚ nothing redeemable in him. Whoever the people are who want to vote for him‚ and they look like intelligent people around there‚ for some reason‚ it can’t be‚ it cannot be. If he wins the election‚ you won’t be on the show anymore. He’ll come looking for me. They’ll be things that happened that none of us can imagine. That’s what happens in that kind of a dictatorship — which is what he says. Let’s believe him. Take him at his word.
He’s a sociopathic‚ psychopathic‚ malignant narcissist. He is a dangerous person … the people who somehow think he’s going to be the answer to their prayers‚ whatever those are.
BILL MAHER: Did you know him as fellow New Yorkers?
DE NIRO: Never wanted to know him.
MAHER: Never wanted to‚ you must have crossed —
DE NIRO: He was an idiot. He was a clown. He was a clown in New York.
Brent Baker‚ the vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Rants like this from pretentious Hollywood celebrities probably drive more to vote for Trump than dissuade anyone from supporting him. How many care about the all-too-predictable left-wing political views of lefties in Hollywood who always denounce the Republican candidate and advocate for the Democratic one? Not anyone who is drawn to Trump.”
Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– March 4: Liberal Media Scream:Â Media role is reeducating you on greatness of Bidenomics
(Washington Examiner post)
President Joe Biden has apparently realized that pitching “Bidenomics” is a loser politically‚ but his White House forgot to tell its media echo chamber.
According to an Issues &; Insights report‚ Biden has “ditched” the term‚ with the report noting Biden and his White House used the term 59 times last July. By last month‚ it got a mention just 10 times.
That makes sense since most polls show that the public viewed the term negatively because they feel that the economy is poor and that prices are unjustifiably high.
But the well-paid Washington media thinks the public is stupid and needs to be reeducated on just how great Bidenomics is for them.
For example‚ this week’s Liberal Media Scream features longtime editor and columnist Margaret Sullivan telling fellow anti-Trumper Christiane Amanpour that it’s up to them to make sure people understand the consequences of their wrong-headedness.
“You know‚” Sullivan said on Amanpour’s show‚ “people think that the economy is not doing well. You know‚ do our public service mission‚ which is to make sure‚ as sure as we can‚ that we have an informed electorate. Whose fault is that? Well‚ it’s partly the fault of the media. And I think that that ought to be rectified.”
From Saturday’s The Amanpour Hour on CNN
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: The horse race and an age-old dilemma. Why the obsession over Biden’s age misses the point.
MARGARET SULLIVAN‚ GUARDIAN: I wonder whether people are as aware of Trump’s authoritarian plans as they are of Biden’s age.
AMANPOUR: My next guest says enough is enough with the media’s hyperbolic herd mentality coverage of Biden’s age and competency. Critic‚ columnist‚ and academic Margaret Sullivan urges us to get real about the issues because this election is about much more than‚ quote‚ “chasing clicks.”
SULLIVAN: I think that the leaders of major American news organizations should have front and center in their minds‚ and be communicating to their staffs‚ that this is an extremely consequential election and we should be doing our public service role that it’s not so much about chasing the latest clicks and the latest horse race coverage but rather to make sure that we’re getting the stakes of the race across to people.
You know‚ people think that the economy is not doing well. You know‚ do our public service mission‚ which is to make sure‚ as sure as we can‚ that we have an informed electorate. Whose fault is that? Well‚ it’s partly the fault of the media. And I think that that ought to be rectified.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “What Margaret Sullivan advocates is exactly why the media have lost all credibility and trust for most Americans. She’s decided Trump is too dangerous to be president‚ so journalists should throw away all standards of journalism by openly joining Team Biden to convince voters of Biden’s virtues while downplaying his negatives. And then journalists wonder why they are seen in such low esteem when they are little more than Democratic Party operatives.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– February 26: Liberal Media Scream:Â Trump Derangement Syndrome flies off the charts
(Washington Examiner post)
The media have been on a rantfest lately‚ warning that former President Donald Trump will end democracy and execute his enemies.
Just consider what Bob Costas said over the weekend. “You have to be in the throes of some sort of toxic delusion in a toxic cult to believe that Donald Trump has ever been‚ in any sense‚ emotionally‚ psychologically‚ intellectually‚ or ethically fit to be president of the United States‚” he said.
But that’s nothing compared to our Liberal Media Scream focus on Tom Schaller‚ the author of White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy‚ who went further to attack the half of the nation that has supported Trump over the years.
White rural voters‚ he told MSNBC’s Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski‚ “are the most racist‚ xenophobic‚ anti-immigrant‚ and anti-gay geodemographic group in the country. … They’re the most conspiracist group: QAnon support and subscribers‚ election denialism‚ COVID denialism and scientific skepticism‚ Obama birthism.” And that’s just the start of his five scream rant.
From Monday’s Morning Joe on MSNBC:
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: As we barrel toward a likely rematch of the 2020 election‚ one candidate continues to have a hold over white rural voters. But it’s not Joe Biden‚ seen here as a boy on the right side of your screen‚ who went to public school‚ is the son of a used car salesman‚ and was born to a middle-class family in Scranton‚ Pennsylvania. Instead‚ it is Trump‚ here on the left side‚ a private school-educated son of a New York City real estate tycoon who became a millionaire at 8 years old and didn’t have to serve because he claimed he had bone spurs in his little feet. So‚ why is it that Trump appeals so much to a group he couldn’t be more different from?
Joining us now‚ professor of political science at the University of Maryland‚ Baltimore County‚ Tom Schaller‚ and journalist and opinion writer Paul Waldman. Their new book out tomorrow is entitled‚ White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy. Tom‚ I’ll start with you. Why are white rural voters a threat to democracy at this point? You would think‚ as we pointed out‚ looking at Joe Biden’s background and Donald Trump’s‚ that the opposite would be true.
TOM SCHALLER: “We lay out the fourfold interconnected threat that white rural voters pose to the country. First of all‚ we show 30 polls and national studies that demonstrate this. So we provide the receipts in Chapter 6. They are the most racist‚ xenophobic‚ anti-immigrant‚ and anti-gay geodemographic group in the country.
“Second‚ they’re the most conspiracist group: QAnon support and subscribers‚ election denialism‚ COVID denialism and scientific skepticism‚ Obama birthism. Third‚ anti-democratic sentiments. They don’t believe in an independent press — free speech. They’re most likely to say the president should be able to act unilaterally without checks from Congress or the courts or the bureaucracy. They’re also the most strongly white nationalist and white Christian nationalists. And fourth‚ they’re most likely to excuse or justify violence as acceptable alternative to peaceful public discourse…
“I think this is the disconnect‚ right? They’d rather channel their rage. I think what a lot of white rural Americans have decided is that their economic fortunes are decided by globalization and frankly‚ late-stage capitalism‚ which is eating up all the mom and pop stores and taking away the extractive industries‚ in coal and farming and so forth‚ so they might as well vote on their culture issues‚ they might as well vote on God‚ guns‚ and religion because they feel like neither party is going to deliver any material benefit.
“They’re not going to reverse the closure of rural pharmacies and rural hospitals and rural healthcare facilities‚ which are disappearing not because of communism and not because of socialism but because of capitalism‚ right? Rural pharmacies and hospitals are closing because they’re not moneymakers‚ and unless they’re part of a regional chain‚ they’re disappearing. So Trump comes in and says‚ let’s just hate on cities‚ let’s just hate on minorities‚ let’s hate on immigrants‚ and at least they can deliver on that. And so they’re not even voting in their material interest anymore‚ and that’s causing a further decay and decline of rural communities.”
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explained our weekly pick: “So‚ if a class of voters prefers a candidate you don’t like‚ it couldn’t be that they just have a differing opinion with which you can respectfully disagree. No‚ you must impugn and demean them to discredit their irrational preference for the candidate you condescendingly have decided is not in their best interest. And since this makes MSNBC viewers feel superior‚ you get a welcoming platform on the left-wing cable channel’s morning show.”
Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– February 19: Liberal Media Scream:Â Colbert says Trump ‘going to prison’ better than sex
(Washington Examiner post)
Remember when late-night comedy shows were funny instead of being populated by left-wing lecturers?
Case in point in our weekly Liberal Media Scream is Late Show host Stephen Colbert. Along with many people last week‚ he watched the televised testimony of Fulton County‚ Georgia‚ District Attorney Fani Willis and her explanation of her affair with an attorney she put in charge of the election case against former President Donald Trump.
“How good was this sex? Good enough to risk democracy over?” he asked in his monologue.
Colbert then added‚ “You know what feels really good? Donald Trump going to prison. That — that‚ my friends — is what they call a real happy ending.”
From Thursday’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS:Â Â Â
STEPHEN COLBERT: Now‚ I don’t know who’s telling the truth here yet‚ but I will say exchanging business cards isn’t exactly a meet cute. The movie’s not called When Harry Networked with Sally. Now‚ at one point‚ Willis had had enough and really laid into opposing counsel.
FANI WILLIS: You’re confused; you think I’m on trial. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I’m not on trial‚ no matter how hard you try to put me on trial.
COLBERT: Damn straight. Yeah. That’s right. That’s right. Here’s the thing. Yes‚ it’s true Donald Trump and his associates are on trial in this‚ one of the most important cases in the history of our republic. So‚ and‚ I’ve just got one follow-up question here: Given that if you are removed from the prosecution‚ it could delay this trial until after the election: How good was the sex? Good enough to risk democracy over? Because I’ve never had sex that good. You know what feels really good? Donald Trump going to prison. That — that‚ my friends — is what they call the real happy ending.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Liberals love to complain that Donald Trump has broken many norms‚ but prominent entertainment media figures like Colbert have destroyed late-night TV. It was a comedy refuge from hard-edged politics‚ but Colbert is using his show to advance left-wing talking points and push his hate of Trump and conservatives in the guise of comedy. It’s not funny‚ and a legend like Johnny Carson‚ whose political jokes were light-hearted and chided both sides‚ is rolling over in his grave.”
Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– February 12: Liberal Media Scream:Â MSNBC host laughably says press against Biden
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream has LOL written all over it.
Imagine any cable news show host claiming that the media has a negative bias against President Joe Biden. LOL‚ right?
That’s what happened on Sunday’s Meet the Press when MSNBC host Jen Psaki said the media showed its bias when it simply repeated what the nearly 400-page report from special counsel Robert Hur said about the president’s foggy mind.
Psaki‚ who was Biden’s first White House press secretary‚ complained that the media should be attacking former President Donald Trump‚ not her former boss.
“If you’re sitting in the White House and on the campaign right now‚ you’re absolutely banging your head against the wall at the way that the Thursday report has been covered‚ given all of the things” Trump has said and done‚ she said.
From the roundtable on Sunday’s Meet the Press:
JEN PSAKI: If you’re sitting in the White House and on the campaign right now‚ you’re absolutely banging your head against the wall at the way that the Thursday report has been covered‚ given all of the things that have happened this week‚ including‚ and I know you asked Chris Christie about this‚ the fact that Donald Trump yesterday suggested that Vladimir Putin should have free rein in attacking NATO allies‚ and what do we see is wall-to-wall coverage of whether a guy who is four years older than his opponent is too old to be president.
KRISTEN WELKER: And we are going to get to NATO. Go ahead.
BRENDAN BUCK‚ former spokesman to ex-speaker Paul Ryan: Part of that job‚ to bring that to the front is‚ it’s the president’s job to bring that out and attack his opponent. I mean‚ the president is not taking the opportunity on Super Bowl Sunday. He’s not taking‚ really‚ any opportunities. And we hear‚ time and again —
PSAKI: First of all‚ that’s not true. It’s not being covered. He has traveled just as much as Donald Trump‚ as Barack Obama. It is hard to break through the cloud of Donald Trump in this media environment. That is true.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “A media hostile to a liberal cause or Democratic politician is such a novelty that liberal political operatives like Jen Psaki just can’t comprehend it. After three-plus years of sycophantic coverage of Joe Biden‚ he gets a few days of negative coverage‚ and she lashes out at the media for daring to briefly act as real journalists. Welcome to the world endured every day for decades by conservatives and Republicans.” Â
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– February 5: Liberal Media Scream:Â Kristen Welker likes to lecture Republicans‚ too
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features a look at new Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker’s treatment of Republican leaders. And surprise — not — she continues to be just as biased as former host Chuck Todd.
First‚ she lectured House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on the border bill released by the Senate on Sunday. “You are now the speaker of the House. Do you not have a responsibility to your voters‚ to the people who put you in office‚ to address what you have called a crisis and catastrophe? Isn’t something better than nothing?” she said.
Then‚ she passed along the Democratic talking point that after three years of aggressively enacting open border policies‚ “Joe Biden said he would shut down the border.”
From Sunday’s Meet the Press on NBC:
KRISTEN WELKER: You have been calling for legislative change to actually deal with this problem. You are now the speaker of the House. Do you not have a responsibility to your voters‚ to the people who put you in office‚ to address what you have called a crisis and catastrophe? Isn’t something better than nothing?
SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: Kristen‚ we did that. We did that nine months ago. And since we passed our measure in the House to solve this problem‚ and the reason we had to do it is because we saw that President Biden was not fulfilling his obligation under the law. That’s why it is such a failure of leadership‚ but we did our part. And by the way‚ since then‚ in the nine months since that bill sat on [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer’s desk‚ collecting dust‚ 1.8 million illegals have been allowed into this country‚ welcomed into the country‚ sent around the nation into every community — communities near everyone listening and watching this morning. And that is a catastrophe‚ and the American people know it‚ and that’s part of the reason that Joe Biden has the lowest approval rating of any president facing reelection.
WELKER: Even former President Trump‚ though‚ called for legislative change on this issue. You have one of the slimmest majorities in the House in history. Don’t you have to compromise to get something done? What you passed in the House can’t pass in the Senate‚ Mr. Speaker. You know that.
JOHNSON: We are willing to work. We are willing to work with the Senate. I am not disclosing that‚ and I’ve been very consistent for the hundred days that I’ve had the gavel. We are willing to work‚ but they have to be serious about it. If you only do a few of those components‚ you are not going to solve the problem‚ and Kristen‚ that is not a Republican talking point. That’s what the sheriffs at the border‚ the Border Patrol agents‚ the deputy chief of U.S. Border Patrol‚ a 33-year veteran of the agency‚ told us. He said that it’s as though we’re administering an open fire hydrant. He said‚ “I don’t need more buckets‚” like the president has proposed. I need to stop the flow‚ and we know how to do that‚ but Joe Biden is unwilling to do it.
WELKER: Let me ask you about your decision‚ and by the way‚ Joe Biden said he would shut down the border. He’s calling for more funding. He’s calling for you to pass this legislation.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “A perfect example of a so-called journalist serving as an advocate for Washington’s media-political establishment‚ demanding a recalcitrant conservative get in line and adopt the approved narrative.”
Rating: THREE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– January 29‚ 2024: No Liberal Media Scream this week.
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â– January 22‚ 2024: Liberal Media Scream:Â Washington Post’s Rubin wants Trump ‘fascists’ reeducated
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features popular Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin doubling down on her Never Trump campaign.
Appearing on the MSNBC weekend show Velshi exactly a year from Inauguration Day‚ the onetime conservative opinion writer said that the masses appearing at former President Donald Trump’s rallies “are part of a fascist cult.”
And‚ she added‚ “they’re impervious to any kind of data‚ any kind of information. But what you have to do‚ if you care about democracy‚ is mobilize the people who already know that he’s a danger and reaffirm and reeducate the people who are perhaps kind of flirting in the middle — they’re soft Republicans‚ they’re never Republicans — about the danger of going back to Trump.”
Rubin on MSNBC’s Velshi on Saturday:
“Why it’s perhaps important to go to one of these rallies is to understand why he does have supporters. These people are part of a fascist cult. And let’s be honest‚ there are a lot of them. But a lot of them doesn’t mean that they are behaving logically or rationally. To the contrary‚ we’ve seen in other fascist regimes that millions of people‚ sometimes even a majority of the country‚ becomes intoxicated with an authoritarian figure‚ and these people are utterly irrational. If you speak to some of them‚ they will spit back these bizarro conspiracy theories. They actually believe in all of the mumbo-jumbo that he tells them.
“So I think it would be a wake-up call about what these people are about‚ and‚ no‚ we’re not going to convince people who are part of the cult to switch. As you say‚ they’re impervious to any kind of data‚ any kind of information. But what you have to do‚ if you care about democracy‚ is mobilize the people who already know that he’s a danger and reaffirm and reeducate the people who are perhaps kind of flirting in the middle — they’re soft Republicans‚ they’re never Republicans — about the danger of going back to Trump. And I think that’s the job between now and November‚ and that’s the challenge for the Biden administration.”
Brent Baker‚ the vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “How condescending of Rubin to be so comfortable denigrating supporters of a presidential candidate she despises with one of the most vile insults. Just because she hates Trump doesn’t make those going to his rallies‚ the very embodiment of democracy in action‚ ‘fascists.’ Whatever happened to liberals wanting to expand participation in the democratic process?”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– January 15‚ 2024: Liberal Media Scream:Â MSNBC’s Mika all in to help Biden’s reelection
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features Mika Brzezinski‚ the co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe‚ fawning over first lady Jill Biden in a sign of where the cable network stands before the 2024 presidential primary season begins.
With easy questions quizzing Biden about her favorite emoji to dismissing chants of “Let’s go Brandon” that still follow the president‚ Brzezinski put on an able defense of the Biden White House.
Among the questions posed to the first lady was this: “The division in this country‚ the cruelty of MAGA Republicans against your family. Does any part of you once in a while think‚ ugh‚ maybe we bow out?”
The questions were part of Brzezinski’s Know Your Value “movement.” Our partners at the Media Research Center highlighted these from last Thursday’s show and today’s event at the White House:
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: You’ve been married to President Joe Biden for 46 years. There have been Senate races‚ three presidential campaigns‚ eight years of your husband serving as vice president. Unthinkable personal loss and challenge‚ and now democracy is on the ballot. What do you think when you hear people say‚ “Well‚ I just can’t vote for Joe Biden this election?” What is it that they may not know about him at this point‚ especially when the alternative seems to want to change this nation so radically?
BRZEZINSKI: Potentially another four years in the White House. With everything you do here‚ does yet another one give you any pause thinking of‚ like‚ the personal health and well-being for both of you? The division in this country‚ the cruelty of MAGA Republicans against your family. Does any part of you once in a while think‚ ugh‚ maybe we bow out?
BRZEZINSKI: How have you been coping personally with the onslaught of accusations against your husband and your family‚ including and especially Hunter‚ the focus of a House Oversight Committee hearing holding‚ holding him in contempt‚ obsessing over him‚ showing pictures of him during vulnerable moments in his battle with addiction on the floor of the House. This would crush any family.
BRZEZINSKI: What do you think when you hear Trump Republicans calling it “Biden crime family” or one congresswoman‚ “The Biden crime family sold out America‚” Marjorie Taylor Greene‚ “He’s a liar‚ he’s mentally incompetent‚” and let’s not even talk about what “Let’s go Brandon” means. But you have U.S. senators holding signs that say that.
….BRZEZINSKI: Your favorite emoji?
JILL BIDEN: Oh‚ my gosh. The turquoise heart.
BRZEZINSKI: Turquoise heart?
BIDEN: Yeah.
BRZEZINSKI: I don’t have the turquoise heart on my phone. What does that mean?
BIDEN: It’s like the beach. It’s calm.
BRZEZINSKI: Oh‚ I like that.
BIDEN: Color of the sea.
BRZEZINSKI: Do I type out turquoise heart? Comfort food?
BIDEN: Oh‚ french fries.
BRZEZINSKI: Umm. Yeah‚ yeah.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Mika Brzezinski is all in on the reelection of Joe Biden. First lady Jill Biden picked well in selecting Brzezinski to interview her‚ confident she wouldn’t be challenged as they both could commiserate with how awful Trump is and how mean Republicans are to her family‚ topped by letting her tout the turquoise heart emoji. How informative.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– January 8‚ 2024: Liberal Media Scream:Â Stephanopoulos judges Trump an insurrectionist‚ unqualified for 2024
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream is a five-screamer featuring an ABC host and former Clinton handler acting as judge‚ jury‚ and executioner of former President Donald Trump and his effort to remain on the 2024 primary ballots and let voters‚ not partisan state officials‚ decide his fate.
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos‚ on his Sunday show This Week‚ was quizzing his panel about the campaigns in some states to declare Trump ineligible for election because an official decided that the former president triggered a 14th Amendment ban on insurrectionists.
On his show‚ which occurred the day after the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot‚ one of his panelists suggested the Supreme Court will decide Trump is guilty but that it will be up to Congress and not the states to erase the GOP front-runner’s name from the ballots.
“If you say he engaged in insurrection‚” Stephanopoulos said‚ “I don’t see how you can escape the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment and say he’s qualified to run for office.”
Panelist Donna Brazile‚ an influential liberal and former acting Democratic Party chairwoman‚ told her host‚ “I totally agree with you‚ George.”
From the roundtable on Sunday’s This Week on ABC:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Sarah‚ what’s your guess on what the court does here?
SARAH ISGUR‚ SENIOR EDITOR OF THE DISPATCH: I think you’ll have the Supreme Court hold that he is not disqualified from being on the ballot. They’ll overturn the Colorado Supreme Court.
STEPHANOPOULOS: The question is‚ how will they do it though?
ISGUR: Correct. I think they’ll say that‚ in fact‚ the 14th Amendment makes clear it’s up to Congress. If Congress can requalify someone by a two-thirds vote‚ there’s no timeline on that. Which means that‚ you know‚ as one of the amicus briefs has pointed out‚ it’s really supposed to be post-elections about holding office‚ not running for office. And so I think they’ll say it’s really Congress’s job. The states can’t make up their own standard. Is it beyond a reasonable doubt? Is it more likely than not? Et cetera. What’s interesting to me will be whether or not the Supreme Court goes out of their way in order to get those three‚ Kagan‚ Sotomayor‚ Jackson votes‚ in saying‚ “Yes‚ it was an insurrection‚ and yes‚ he engaged in it‚ but it’s up to Congress.”
STEPHANOPOULOS: I don’t see how they can do that‚ Donna Brazile. If you say he engaged in insurrection‚ was the question I asked Nancy Pelosi‚ I don’t see how you can escape the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment and say he’s qualified to run for office.
DONNA BRAZILE: I totally agree with you‚ George.
Brent Baker‚ the vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Another example of how Stephanopoulos remains a Democratic partisan first‚ a journalist a distant second. No true journalist would weigh in with a definitive conclusion on what the Supreme Court should do weeks before a ruling on such a contentious issue which divides Americans. Stephanopoulos has clearly put himself in the camp with those who want to deny the public’s ability to vote for whomever they prefer. So much for saving democracy from Trump when you want to subvert the process.”
Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– December 25‚ 2023 and January 1‚ 2024: No Liberal Media Screams these weeks.
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â– December 18‚ 2023: Liberal Media Scream:Â Scaremonger Scarborough: Trump will ‘execute’ foes‚ crush ‘American experiment’
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough’s latest anti-Trump ranting.
The host‚ whose earlier claim that former President Donald Trump will “execute” foes should he be reelected won the Media Research Center’s “Worst Quote of the Year‚” said on Monday that Trump would destroy America’s democracy‚ too.
“A year from now‚ it could be over‚ the American experiment at an end one year from now‚” Scarborough said in comments we graded a rare five out of five “liberal media screams.”
His comments are clearly what the latest Rasmussen Reports survey was tapping into when it found that more voters than ever believe the left bias in the media has reached a new high. The comments also raise a question about what scaremongering liberal media figures will be saying in 11 months if Trump is on the verge of beating President Joe Biden.
Scarborough on Monday’s Morning Joe in a discussion with Politico’s Jonathan Lemire:
“One year from now‚ it could be over. American democracy could be over. Donald Trump‚ one year from now‚ could win. He’s told us what he is going to do. When I say American democracy is going to be over‚ I haven’t said this. Donald Trump is the guy who said it. He is the one talking about executing generals that are not loyal enough to him‚ a guy that’s talking about terminating the Constitution if it gets in the way of his power. He’s the guy that’s talking about taking off news networks he disagrees with. He’s the one talking about prosecuting and putting in jail people who disagree with him. He’s the one saying that.
“So‚ a year from now‚ it could be over‚ the American experiment at an end one year from now. So‚ let me ask you‚ with that being the case and with Joe Biden’s poll numbers getting worse‚ why is the White House going around singing‚ ‘Don’t worry‚ be happy’? Because that’s basically what they’re saying. Why does Joe Biden still have all of his campaign people inside the White House? When are they going to go out and start working on the campaign — not of his lifetime‚ of our lifetime? When are they going to start acting like American democracy is on the line and stop telling everybody to not worry?”
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explained our weekly pick: “Saying day after day after day the same over the top ‘the sky is falling’ warning to try to scare his viewers about Trump ending democracy is doing nothing but making Scarborough look every bit as unhinged as he wants people to see Trump. It may be catnip for MSNBC viewers‚ but Scarborough has become a parody of someone stuck inside a Trump Derangement Syndrome whirlwind unable to make cogent criticisms.”
Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– December 11: Liberal Media Scream:Â PBS runs interference for Biden over Hunter scandals
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the efforts of Public TV and a Washington Post columnist to deflect the latest criminal indictment of first son Hunter Biden away from President Joe Biden.
Following the tax charges filed by the Justice Department against Hunter Biden‚ the PBS NewsHour was eager to tell viewers on Friday that it saw no connection to the president.
Anchor Geoff Bennett started with the “context” that Hunter Biden “does not work in the White House for his father in the way that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump did. And the indictment does not in any way implicate President Joe Biden.”
PBS guest Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post also ran block for Biden. “For Republicans to try to make a connection between Hunter Biden and trying to say that‚ 'Well‚ if you’re going to go after Trump‚ well‚ why shouldn’t we go after Biden?' these are two completely different cases‚” he lectured.
From Friday’s PBS NewsHour:
GEOFF BENNETT: So‚ let’s start with the latest legal trouble facing Hunter Biden‚ with the important context that Hunter Biden’s a private citizen. He is not seeking‚ nor has he ever held‚ public office. He does not work in the White House for his father in the way that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump did. And the indictment does not in any way implicate President Joe Biden.
And yet this will certainly add to the problems‚ the political problems‚ facing this White House‚ as House Republicans‚ Jonathan‚ zero in on Hunter Biden’s business dealings as part of their own investigations.
JONATHAN CAPEHART: As part of their own investigations that have been going on for years now‚ and they’ve been using the president’s son‚ the president’s troubled son‚ to try to sully the president. And so far‚ they’ve come up with nothing‚ even though‚ next week‚ apparently‚ they’re going to be voting on‚ you know‚ to authorize an impeachment inquiry‚ trying to make connections that aren’t there.
Look‚ when you read the indictment‚ when you hear about the indictment‚ it’s bad. I mean‚ it’s not good. It’s not good at all. But we’re talking about someone‚ as you — I’m glad you put that proper context there. He’s an adult. He has not held office. He’s not sought office. He’s not working for his father.
The only thing is‚ is that he — his father is president of the United States. He’s being held accountable. And I take — I agree with [Hunter Biden’s lawyer] Abbe Lowell that‚ if his last name weren’t Biden‚ he probably wouldn’t even have these charges. They would have worked it out.
But he’s facing the consequences‚ and he’s going through the legal avenues that are afforded to him. And for Republicans to try to make a connection between Hunter Biden and trying to say that‚ 'Well‚ if you’re going to go after Trump‚ well‚ why shouldn’t we go after Biden?' these are two completely different cases.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “You can almost feel through the screen how uncomfortable the PBS team was to even cover this story‚ but they realized they had to at least mention it‚ so they poured on the caveats so their audience wouldn’t be burdened with any information that might hurt their perception of President Biden. It’s the exact opposite tack they take with Donald Trump‚ where any allegations around him are amplified and discussed ad nauseam.”
Rating: THREE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– December 4: Liberal Media Scream:Â Media eagerly team with Liz Cheney to undermine Trump
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the remarkable teaming of the media with conservative Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney to stop former President Donald Trump’s 2024 bid.
Repeating her success in winning Democrats to her cause after the Jan. 6 riots and in her No. 2 role on the House Jan. 6 panel‚ the media have eagerly opened its best shows for her to talk about her new book and campaign against Trump.
The media have helped to promote her book and provided top platforms‚ notably on CBS Sunday Morning‚ where she warned that “one of the things we see today is sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States.”
In interviewing her about Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning‚ John Dickerson offered the perfect set-up question: “If a person is a member of Congress and they have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution‚ can they defend the Constitution and also endorse Donald Trump?”
Cheney replied: “You can’t be for Donald Trump and for the Constitution. You have to choose.”
The media's focus on the book has helped it into the No. 1 spot on Amazon on Monday‚ a day before it is released.
From Sunday’s CBS News Sunday Morning:
JOHN DICKERSON: After losing her 2022 Republican primary‚ Cheney traded the U.S. Capitol dome for the Thomas Jefferson-designed rotunda at the University of Virginia‚ where she has been lecturing on politics and writing a new book‚ Oath and Honor.
Let me ask you about that oath. If a person is a member of Congress and they have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution‚ can they defend the Constitution and also endorse Donald Trump?
LIZ CHENEY: No. It’s inconsistent.
DICKERSON: So‚ they’re breaking with their oath by saying they would like him to be the next president?
CHENEY: In my view‚ you know‚ fundamentally‚ there is a choice to be made. You can’t both be for Donald Trump and for the Constitution. You have to choose.
DICKERSON: It’s a lot of people who are choosing Donald Trump.
CHENEY: Yeah‚ it is.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Usually‚ to earn such a laudatory CBS News segment for your book‚ it must be published by CBS-owned Simon &; Schuster. But Dickerson and CBS are so enthralled with her quest to destroy Trump and anyone Trump-adjacent that despite having Little‚ Brown and Company as her publisher‚ they went into full promotion mode‚ cuing up her talking points with no pushback.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– November 27: Liberal Media Scream:Â Post reporter says ‘sources’ fret public’s lack of credit for Biden ‘successes’
(Washington Examiner post)
For this week’s Liberal Media Scream‚ we have the latest example of a journalist inside the Beltway concerned that President Joe Biden just isn’t getting the credit he deserves for "Bidenomics‚" the Middle East crisis‚ or pretty much anything else.
Despite two years of polling that shows the public doesn’t buy the White House spin that their life is better under the Democratic administration‚ the Washington Post’s Leigh Ann Caldwell on Sunday’s Meet the Press cited “my sources” complaining that Biden is getting treated like the no-respect funnyman Rodney Dangerfield.
“My sources are saying President Biden doesn’t get a lot of credit‚ not only on this‚ but on a whole host of things‚” she said in addressing the hostage releases over the weekend.
But maybe there's hope‚ she added‚ that Biden will get the credit she says he deserves if his team just sells it better. "They have a lot of work to do to once again‚ like I said‚ try to get credit for the successes that he’s had over the past two years which he keeps on getting blamed for everything bad that’s happened."
From Sunday’s Meet the Press:
KRISTEN WELKER: Leigh Ann‚ I want to start with you. This is a huge test for President Biden. And obviously now‚ the pressure’s on to release the Americans. How is this playing for him politically‚ do you think?
LEIGH ANN CALDWELL: Well‚ obviously it’ll be great if Americans are released with those hostages. But my sources are saying that President Biden also doesn’t get a lot of credit for his successes‚ not only on this‚ but on a whole host of things. So that does concern Democrats on Capitol Hill....
Yeah‚ Bidenomics has really been‚ become a negative word‚ especially among Democrats‚ because it’s not working. I was texting with some Democratic members of Congress last night just trying to get a read over the holiday weekend‚ what they’re hearing at home and what people are saying‚ and these members said that it is just not looking good for President Biden politically out there‚ that he would probably lose some swing states if the election were held today. So they have a lot of work to do to once again‚ like I said‚ try to get credit for the successes that he’s had over the past two years which he keeps on getting blamed for everything bad that’s happened.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Caldwell maintained Democrats ‘have a lot of work to do to once again‚ like I said‚ try to get credit for the successes’ President Biden has ‘had over the past two years‚’ but she’s clearly just as invested as any liberal Democrat in advancing that narrative to help Biden. And in that interest‚ she reflects much of the press corps which want to influence the outcome‚ as proven by how complaints that Biden isn’t getting the credit he supposedly deserves have become a common media theme.”
Rating: THREE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– November 20: Liberal Media Scream:Â ABC’s Jonathan Karl says he wrote book to warn voters away from Trump
(Washington Examiner post)
For this week’s Liberal Media Scream‚ we feature the latest example of the legacy media going from self-appointed instant fact-checkers on former President Donald Trump to out-and-out enemies.
The choice is ABC’s Jonathan Karl‚ who admitted that he wrote his latest book on Trump to warn America about him.
Asked on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS why Trump is leading the Republican nomination contest‚ Karl said that “superficially” there’s “a sense” that things were better during the Trump presidency. And‚ he added of his just-released Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party‚ “that’s why I wrote this book.”
He explained that “if people are going to go into this next election thinking about that‚ they also need to be thinking‚ not just about what Trump was‚ but what he is now and what he is proposing and planning to do‚ what a second Trump administration would look like. And I don’t think people have come to terms with that at all.”
Karl on Thursday’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS:
“I think part of what’s happened is people look back. There’s anxiety in the country. People have economic anxiety. There’s discontent with Joe Biden and I think there’s some superficially a sense like ‘Look‚ if we could only go back to four years ago‚ the world was relatively at peace‚ inflation was low‚ everything was —’ I think there is some of that and that’s why I wrote this book because if people are going to go into this next election thinking about that‚ they also need to be thinking‚ not just about what Trump was‚ but what he is now and what he is proposing and planning to do‚ what a second Trump administration would look like. And I don’t think people have come to terms with that at all.”
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Karl’s quest is the very definition of improper political advocacy by a journalist. His job is to report the news in an impartial manner‚ not jump into the fray when a candidate he hates gets popular‚ and write a book to convince voters they are making a bad choice. How could any Trump supporter‚ or any Republican‚ ever trust his reporting when they know he has a personal interest in directing the outcome?”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– November 13: Liberal Media Scream:Â CNN’s Hunt says no room for ‘happy and sunny’ in GOP
(Washington Examiner post)
For this week’s Liberal Media Scream‚ we feature the latest CNN absurdity‚ a blanket declaration that there is no place for happiness in the Republican Party.
The claim came today from CNN’s Kasie Hunt‚ who was giving her early morning assessment on the decision by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) to drop out of the 2024 presidential race‚ joining former Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines.
“There’s just no appetite in the Republican base right now for someone who’s happy and sunny‚” she said‚ citing her election night sources.
Of course‚ many pollsters would suggest that there is just no appetite in the Republican base for anybody other than former President Donald Trump‚ and GOP voters seem to be pretty happy with that.
Hunt‚ CNN’s chief national affairs analyst‚ on Monday’s CNN This Morning:
“The noteworthy thing to me about this — I mean‚ look‚ I think it was pretty clear that Tim Scott’s campaign never took off the way‚ frankly‚ a lot of people in Washington thought that it might. He had‚ you know‚ all the ingredients to be really successful in the traditional Republican Party. He had a lot of backing. Honestly‚ he wasn’t public about it‚ but a lot of the people who have been working against Donald Trump for more traditional candidates like Mitt Romney were working on his operation trying to figure out how they could make that happen.
“But when I talked to sources‚ and I did a lot of this on election night last week‚ they keep saying to me that there’s just no appetite in the Republican base right now for someone who’s happy and sunny. They’re angry. The base is angry. And that’s a big part of why Donald Trump has had such a durable lead in this race because he campaigns in a much different way. Tim Scott tried to be the kind of ‘Morning in America’ Republican candidate‚ and it’s just not what people are into. So‚ you know‚ it does make sense. He saw the writing on the wall‚ especially about the fourth debate‚ and here we are.”
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “None of the GOP presidential candidates are coming close to Trump‚ so why the particular argument Tim Scott failed because he’s a ‘happy warrior’ and the electorate is motivated by anger? Trump fans would contend his rallies are peppered with funny lines and upbeat messaging about the basis for his movement‚ Make America Great Again‚ which in itself is a happy and aspirational quest for a return to the best of America.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– November 6: Liberal Media Scream:Â CNN’s Zakaria says Biden better on border than Trump
(Washington Examiner post)
For this week’s Liberal Media Scream we feature the zaniest pro-White House spin yet on the historic border crisis caused by President Joe Biden’s policies.
While big city “sanctuary” mayors are crying uncle because the president’s policies are dumping in thousands of illegal immigrants without providing any money or help with housing‚ CNN’s Fareed Zakaria somehow thinks that the White House is handling the crisis well.
Biden is “actually not doing a bad job‚” he said on Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher. For proof‚ he cited the deportation of illegal immigrants‚ ignoring the enormous crowds of migrants waved into the U.S. every day and the high number of those who slip in undetected.
Zakaria on Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO:
“Biden’s actually not doing a bad job‚ they have deported more people — if you think that’s right and I do because you want a system of laws‚ right? They have deported more people under the Biden administration than Trump did. They’ve been harder line. The problem for Biden is‚ and this is a problem for Democrats‚ you can’t take credit for it because then you’re going to outrage‚ the progressive wing is going to go nuts. And so‚ even the things he does‚ it’s like stealth enforcement. You can’t talk about it.”
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Talk about missing the forest for the trees. The only reason the Biden administration deported anyone was because of the Trump-imposed Title 42 to deal with COVID‚ which stayed in place for more than two years of his administration until he ended it in May. In the fiscal year that ended September 30‚ 2.4 million people crossed the southern border‚ the highest number since records started being kept
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