Don't Think for Two Seconds POTATUS Has Forgotten Student Loans in All These Other Messes

When Can You Ignore a Congressional Subpoena?

Picture this: a serene day at the Lake District Coast Aquarium‚ a favorite haunt for Wendy Armstrong and her daughters‚ Aurora and Daisy. This aquarium‚ nestled in the heart of the U.K.‚ is a window to the underwater world‚ home to a myriad of sea creatures‚ including the fascinating stingrays. Stingrays‚ known for their flat... The post Stingray photobombs baby’s photo and the outcome is hilarious because of their matching expressions appeared first on Animal Channel.

TikTok‚ infamous for censoring Americans‚ has emerged as a facilitator of illegal immigration‚ prompting two U.S. senators to urge the app be banned. A CBS News’ 60 Minutes segment exposed how illegal aliens exploit the southern border crisis using Communist Chinese government-tied TikTok. The app appears to have a double standard‚ silencing constitutionally-protected free speech while promoting illegal immigration into the United States. 60 Minutes’ reporting ignited Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) to call for TikTok to be banned. The 60 Minutes segment showed illegal aliens pouring through a gap in the border fence. “We wondered how all of these migrants knew about this particular entryway into California‚” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi began. “The answer was in their hands.” The video shows Alfonsi talking with migrants and learning they utilized TikTok. Alfonsi reported that a TikTok post instructs migrants on hiring smugglers.  TikTok bans illegal content‚ including “content which promotes or facilitates illegal services” and “national security-related offenses.” The Communist Chinese government-tied app’s own policy also bans “human exploitation‚ including trafficking and smuggling” content‚ but in doing so‚ the platform does still allow “for migrants and refugees to be able to document their journeys.” “Bottom line: TikTok is anti-American‚” said MRC Free Speech America Director Michael Morris. “Couple the quixotic nature of how TikTok enforces its policies regarding human exploitation with its propensity to censor constitutionally-protected speech‚ and the underlying issues with the Communist Chinese government-tied app become plain.” “Time to ban TikTok‚” Rubio wrote on X‚ while Hawley simply declared: “Ban TikTok.” Other lawmakers reacted to the video‚ including Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) who called the app a “national security threat.” Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) echoed these concerns‚ asking‚ “Is anyone actually surprised?! #TikTok’s owners are no friends of the United States &; are giving our private information to Communist #China!” Alfonsi specifically identified TikTok as “created in China.” The app is owned by Chinese company ByteDance‚ in which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) owns a board seat and maintains a financial stake. According to Open Secrets data‚ ByteDance increased lobbying by 77 percent in 2023‚ from $4.94 million in 2022 to $8.74 million in 2023. Alfonsi said that CBS found a TikTok video with “step-by-step instructions for hiring smugglers and detailed directions to that hole we visited” in the border barrier. When it came to the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict‚ however‚ TikTok boasted about removing millions of videos. “We were struck by just how orderly and routine it all seemed‚” Alfonsi continued‚ referring to the border crossings. She described how migrants entered the U.S. and walked to a spot where they could surrender to Border Patrol. The migrants in the video even had suitcases. The number of Chinese migrants has jumped significantly over the last year or so‚ with some experts‚ such as Fox News’s Gordon Chang‚ warning that CCP plants could be among them. The Daily Caller reported that Border Patrol encountered 24‚000 Chinese migrants in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023‚ versus 1‚970 in FY2022 and 323 in FY2021. The FY2023 numbers are higher than the 10 previous years’ Chinese illegal aliens combined‚ according to The New York Times. CBS reported that a total of 37‚000 Chinese illegals were apprehended in 2023‚ or “50 times” the 2021 number. The Biden administration recently reduced vetting of Chinese migrants. TikTok is a threat to national security and to free speech. MRC Free Speech America ranked TikTok’s Hamas-Israel censorship spree as the second worst Big Tech censorship of 2023.  Conservatives are under attack. Contact TikTok via email at communitymanager@tiktok.com and demand Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency‚ clarity on hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. Also ask why TikTok targets free speech for censorship‚ but allows the promotion of illegal immigration into the United States? If you have been censored‚ contact us at the Media Research Center contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

PBS’s leftish investigative show Frontline devoted a nearly two-and-a-half-hour episode‚ complete with trademark liberal melodrama‚ to the impending trial of former President Donald Trump‚ related to the Capitol Hill rampage of January 6‚ 2021. The Democratic-dominated committee's final report made a blueprint for Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith. An indictment against Trump followed‚ charging the former president with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election (the trial originally set for March 4 has been postponed). PBS journalist Hari Sreenivasan (who separately interviewed director Michael Kirk for the PBS show Amanpour &; Co. last week) enthused about Frontline and the “PBS difference” on his personal LinkedIn page: Even if you think you remember everything about Jan. 6‚ the trials and the role of the former President‚ you are likely to learn something new. This 2.5 hour summation is greater than all the daily stories that came at us over the years. This is truly the PBS difference. Who else has the bandwidth to devote hours of primetime? No one. The interviews are almost entirely with staunch conservative Republicans and the film is stronger for it. There is no worry that the interviews/soundbites were taken out of context‚ because as always‚ in an act of radical transparency Frontline makes all the transcripts and videos available in their entirety…. This claim on the interviews is blatantly false. It was mostly liberal journalists like Peter Baker and Robert Draper and Susan Glasser‚ who were not ideologically labeled. Meanwhile‚ Bill Kristol‚ a former conservative who is not only anti-Trump but pro-Biden‚ was trumpeted as “conservative.” Pseudo-conservative columnist David French also made an appearance. Their web page of interview transcripts also included Mona Charen‚ Alyssa Farah Griffin‚ Adam Kinzinger‚ Michael Luttig‚ Olivia Troye‚ and Charlie Sykes. They're all welcome on CNN or MSNBC. You can sense the liberal interview tilt right from the introduction:  The “PBS difference” in the case consisted of Frontline once again pleasing its liberal viewership‚ from a 2023 documentary about “ruthless” Senate leader Mitch McConell to the show’s decades-long history of liberal muckraking and agenda-pushing. “Democracy on Trial” rehashed what news-watchers are already familiar with‚ including all of the sometimes cringeworthy‚ sometimes contested details of what Trump and his allies like Rudy Giuliani allegedly said and plotted during the ultimately successful transfer of power. Director Kirk (who cowrote the episode with Mike Wiser) dwelled on the head of the Congressional committee‚ Bennie Thompson‚ himself a bit of an election denier‚ though of course that inconvenient detail didn’t make the cut. Frontline’s distinctive‚ gentle-voiced Will Lyman narrated‚ as he has for decades. Narrator: For the first time in American history‚ a president charged with crimes in office. Meanwhile‚ liberal hero Jack Smith got the Eliot Ness treatment: Ken White‚ criminal defense attorney: Jack Smith is sort of like the central-casting‚ career federal prosecutor. He's been doing this for 20 years. He has a reputation for being thorough and methodical. He's fairly aggressive‚ but not reckless-aggressive. He's a very formidable opponent for Trump's lawyers. Meanwhile‚ Frontline made much of Bennie Thompson growing up during Jim Crow and who “saw parallels” between that era and what the Trumpers attempted on January 6. Journalist Robert Draper: Bennie Thompson is a Mississippi congressman‚ a black man who grew up during the Civil Rights era in Mississippi‚ during the last vestiges of Jim Crow and saw how hard-fought the franchise to vote was for so many black Americans. Narrator: In January 6th‚ Thompson saw parallels. Thompson: One of the symbols of Southern resistance to voting rights and equal opportunity was the Confederate battle flag. And to see that flag being waved by many of the protestors brought back those memories. Tim Mulvey‚ Comm. Director‚ Jan. 6 Committee: When he saw rioters storm the Capitol‚ carrying the Confederate battle flag‚ essentially trying to take away the votes of the American people‚ that I know affected him profoundly. Thompson certainly didn’t hold “the votes of the American people” nearly so sacred in January 2005. After the 2004 presidential election in which Republican George W. Bush defeated Democratic Sen. John Kerry thanks to winning Ohio‚ Rep. Thompson was one of 31 House Democrats who voted not to recognize Ohio’s electoral votes‚ which conceivably would have overturned Bush’s victory. So who put "democracy on trial" back then? 

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.)   â–  New on February 5: Liberal Media Scream: Kristen Welker likes to lecture Republicans‚ too 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.   â–  January 29‚ 2024: No Liberal Media Scream this week.   â–  January 22‚ 2024: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  January 15‚ 2024: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  January 8‚ 2024: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  December 25‚ 2023 and January 1‚ 2024: No Liberal Media Screams these weeks.   â–  December 18‚ 2023: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  December 11: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  December 4: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  November 27: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  November 20: Liberal Media Scream: 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.   â–  November 13: Liberal Media Scream: 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–  November 6: Liberal Media Scream: 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 in 1960‚ and that was the third straight record year‚ all under Biden.” Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  October 30: Liberal Media Scream: Speaker Johnson takes compare him to KKK and mass shooter (Washington Examiner post) We could see this coming from miles away. For this week’s Liberal Media Scream‚ we feature the predictably sad reaction of the press to the unanimous Republican vote to confirm soft-spoken Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as the 56th House speaker last week. Outlet after outlet tried to portray the Bible-toting Johnson as out of touch with America‚ instead comparing him to a KKK leader. It’s surprising liberal media outlets didn’t identify him with his middle name‚ James Michael Johnson‚ like mass killers. Even on CNN‚ analyst Gloria Borger conceded that the media was trying too hard to demonize the little-known lawmaker. It is “hard to demonize” him‚ she said‚ explaining‚ “He’s not the devil incarnate.” But Bill Maher and his crew didn’t get the memo. First‚ on his Friday show‚ Scott Galloway‚ a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business‚ said to audience applause‚ “The reason this guy is speaker is none of us have the time to read his resume and realize he’s David Duke-lite.” Maher pushed back on that characterization‚ but he offered his own invective‚ calling Johnson “a religious nut” before raising last week’s mass shooter of 18 in Maine: “Apparently he heard voices‚ and I thought‚ ‘Is he that different than Mike Johnson?’” From Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO and Max: SCOTT GALLOWAY: The whole point here is that we separate church and state‚ that we believe in the peaceful transfer of power‚ and the reason this guy is speaker is none of us have the time to read his resume and realize he’s David Duke-lite. BILL MAHER: Well‚ we do now. I don’t know if he’s David Duke-lite — I read today he has an adopted black son. I don’t think David Duke would do that‚ but he is a religious nut. .... MAHER: When you’re this much of a religious fanatic‚ there is no room for real democracy. That’s not what you believe in. He said it today: Look in the Bible — that’s my worldview. I was reading about this horrible shooting in Maine. We don’t know much about the guy yet‚ but apparently he heard voices‚ and I thought‚ ‘Is he that different than Mike Johnson?’ I mean‚ degree‚ yes‚ but it’s thinner than you think. Brent Baker‚ the vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “What hypocrisy. You can’t decry how Donald Trump and MAGA have lowered discourse in America and undermined respect for democracy and then smear the incoming speaker of the House as no different than a racist Klan leader or a mass murderer. The comparisons are ridiculous and should be beneath anyone who considers themselves a serious political analyst.” Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  October 23: Liberal Media Scream: Morning Joe warns of Trump retaliation just short of firing squads (Washington Examiner post) This week’s Liberal Media Scream features MSNBC host Joe Scarborough speculating on a second Trump White House‚ ranting that it will be one retaliation after another for slights he’s felt over the past eight years‚ starting with the media and courts. On his show this morning‚ Scarborough compared Trump to hard-line Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. “He’s wiped out the judiciary‚ he’s wiped out the free press‚” Scarborough charged. There was no mention‚ of course‚ of how Trump made history as president with his appointments to federal courts‚ including three of the current U.S. Supreme Court justices‚ or that he was among the most accessible presidents in recent memory despite his verbal hits on the press. But at least he offered that Trump won’t line up his enemies and shoot them. Scarborough’s ruminations came during an interview with the Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum‚ who just wrote an article titled “Netanyahu’s Attack on Democracy Left Israel Unprepared.” Joe Scarborough on Monday’s Morning Joe on MSNBC: “I always tell people‚ if you want to see what Donald Trump is going to do if he gets reelected‚ don’t think about him lining up people against the wall and having them shot." “Just see what [Viktor] Orban has done in Hungary where he’s bragged about having illiberal democracy‚ and he’s wiped out the judiciary‚ he’s wiped out the free press. And Anne [Applebaum]‚ I suppose‚ that’s probably what Donald Trump will look for as a blueprint if he gets elected again.” Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Left-wing paranoia perfectly encapsulated by Joe Scarborough. No matter how bad you think a second Trump presidency would be for the nation‚ the idea that just because he makes derogatory remarks about judges‚ prosecutors‚ and journalists means he wants to ‘wipe out’ the judiciary and free press‚ is ridiculous. And even if he were so inclined‚ the U.S. political system would never allow it‚ leaving Scarborough’s warning as little more than baseless scaremongering.” Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  October 16: Liberal Media Scream: CBS anchor scoffs‚ ‘Indictment’ of Biden? (Washington Examiner post) This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the hypocrisy and bewildering ignorance of the media’s coverage of the classified documents cases both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face. On the hypocrisy front‚ consider all the hours of TV coverage Trump received for his handling of documents compared to Biden. Also‚ consider how much time the networks gave the extraordinary two days of questions Biden faced last weekend from the prosecutor: just 48 seconds. Then watch as CBS Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan appears astonished that Biden’s case and charges are similar to Trump’s and that a House Republican chairman would even suggest that they should be handled the same way. “Indictment?” she interjected when her guest‚ Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH)‚ chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence‚ said‚ “President Biden needs the same consequence that they pursue with President Trump.” From Sunday’s Face the Nation on CBS: MARGARET BRENNAN: You were talking about classified documents mishandled by the current president‚ and you said that when it came to Biden and Trump‚ they’re both equally egregious with equal classification issues. This past week‚ President Biden was interviewed by special counsel Robert Hur. Will there be legal consequences? Will your committee do anything to act on this? I mean‚ what exactly do you mean equally egregious? REP. MIKE TURNER: Well‚ when you look at the documents‚ both the classification level and the subject matter‚ both sides‚ Trump and Biden's documents‚ if they had been released in the public or gotten into the hands of nefarious parties‚ would be damaging to the United States national security. When I look at those documents‚ there are documents on both sides‚ equally egregious‚ that would have negative consequences to our means‚ methods‚ techniques‚ and our allies. Now‚ in this instance‚ I think President Biden needs the same consequence that they pursue with President Trump. The actions are the same. And in this instance‚ if you notice— BRENNAN: Indictment? TURNER: You’re getting leak after leak after leak on the Trump documents. You’re hearing nothing on the Biden documents. So you’re continuing to see the inequality that comes out of the Justice Department as there’s silence on the other side with respect to Biden’s. And by the way‚ he was a serial classified document hoarder. I reviewed documents that were from all the time that he’s been in government. This really is a very serious breach by President Biden. BRENNAN: Just to be clear here‚ though‚ are you saying that President Biden had top secret and TS/SCI classification level documents in his personal home? TURNER: That’s public already‚ Margaret‚ so I’m not confirming something that people don’t already know. That is correct. BRENNAN: OK. So I think you’re saying that he should be indicted when you say treated the same? TURNER: I think they need to be treated exactly the same. Now‚ they’re continuing their investigation with President Biden. I don’t think if President Biden in the end has been found to violate the law‚ and I believe from what I’ve seen that he has‚ that he should be treated any differently than Donald Trump. Why would he? Just because he’s president or because he’s a Democrat? And that’s how the Department of Justice has been acting. They need to be treated the same. Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Brennan’s naivete about President Biden’s potential very serious misdeeds and seeming surprise that a veteran congressman would suggest he deserves to get treated just as harshly as former President Trump‚ reflects the larger disinterest in Biden’s behavior by the Trump-obsessed press corps. Indeed‚ special counsel Robert Hur interviewed Biden over two days last week‚ yet the ABC‚ CBS‚ and NBC evening newscasts offered a measly 48 seconds of coverage in total.” Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  October 9: Liberal Media Scream: CBS touts waitress jobs as sign Bidenomics works (Washington Examiner post) This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the transparent effort by the media to prop up Bidenomics at a time when most people believe costs and expenses under President Joe Biden are way too high. CBS led the way over the weekend when Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan said that a jobs report showing restaurant jobs up was proof Biden’s claims are right. She cited it to counter claims from 2024 Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) that the economy is not doing enough for people. “That seems to undercut your argument that the economy’s broken‚” Brennan said. Scott slapped down that logic. He said‚ “Well‚ all you have to do is talk to the average American family and ask them what they feel — how they feel about Bidenomics. The answer is very simple. We’ve lost over $5‚000 of spending power since January of 2021. We should always celebrate the creation of jobs‚ but we should never forget that we went 52 consecutive paychecks — 52 consecutive paychecks — with a loss of spending power.” From Sunday’s Face the Nation on CBS: MARGARET BRENNAN: On Friday‚ we spoke with Republican senator and presidential candidate Tim Scott from his home state of South Carolina. Our conversation began on the economy and the surprisingly robust September jobs report. BRENNAN TO SEN. TIM SCOTT: Friday's jobs numbers shattered expectations. It showed some economic momentum. In fact‚ restaurant hospitality hiring is back to pre-pandemic levels. That seems to undercut your argument that the economy’s broken. SCOTT: Well‚ all you have to do is talk to the average American family and ask them what they feel — how they feel about Bidenomics. The answer is very simple. We’ve lost over $5‚000 of spending power since January of 2021. We should always celebrate the creation of jobs‚ but we should never forget that we went 52 consecutive paychecks — 52 consecutive paychecks — with a loss of spending power. BRENNAN: And you blame political leadership‚ not the Federal Reserve? SCOTT: Well‚ if you think about the fact that over the last‚ I guess‚ year and a half‚ we’ve seen 16% inflation since Joe Biden’s taken office‚ which led to 11 consecutive rate increases‚ that downward pressure on our economy certainly created cracks and fissures throughout the economy. That was caused by Joe Biden’s lack of leadership and understanding of how to create jobs in America. Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Brennan put Democratic talking point spin ahead of reality in getting so excited about a jobs report largely built on gains in part-time employment and government jobs. Her priority was to undermine Scott’s very persuasive argument that Bidenomics is a disaster‚ something recognized by the vast majority of people outside of the media elite.” Rating: THREE out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  October 2: Liberal Media Scream: MAGA just racists‚ says MSNBC regular (Washington Examiner post) This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the continued smearing of MAGA by MSNBC‚ this time including the broken-record claim that supporters of former President Donald Trump are racists. Ignoring Trump’s support among black people‚ his friendships with notable African Americans‚ and his appointments of black people to top jobs during his administration‚ MSNBC let legal correspondent Elie Mystal rant that Trump is running for president again “on white grievance” and adding that “without racism‚ Trump is just dumber Chris Christie‚ all right?” From Sunday night’s The Mehdi Hasan Show on MSNBC: MEHDI HASAN: When you watch Donald Trump talking about “dampening the forest floor‚” and then you look at polls that show him neck and neck with Biden or maybe in the lead by 10 points or 5 points over Biden‚ do you put your head in your hair in your hands? ELIE MYSTAL: Look‚ Mehdi‚ not really. There is a recent poll‚ a study out of the University of Chicago that said the biggest indicator of whether or not you support Trump is whether or not you believe racism has been defeated‚ right? Whether or not you believe systemic racism doesn’t exist‚ whether or not you believe that what white people face more racism than people of color. Trump’s running on white grievance. It’s how he’s always been. It’s what he’s always done. And I feel like reducing it to racism always makes certain kinds of Democrats squeamish. We want there to be a bigger answer. We want to believe maybe Republicans actually think you should “dampen the forests.” We want to believe there is a reason. There’s nothing there there. All it is is white grievance. Without racism‚ Trump is just dumber Chris Christie‚ all right? And so‚ that is why he is where he is because he plays into the racism of his fans. Brent Baker‚ the vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “How convenient it must be to be so comfortable dismissing the political choice of a large portion of the public by tarring them all as a bunch of racists. Saves time on having to actually address what failures of your side the top candidate on the other side is fulfilling. But stay in your bubble‚ Mr. Mystal‚ and you may very well be surprised when those polls‚ showing Trump beating Biden‚ come true.” Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  September 25: No Liberal Media Scream this week.   â–  September 18: Liberal Media Scream: Meet the Press’s Kristen Welker debuts as Chuck Todd clone (Washington Examiner post) This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the debut of Kristen Welker as host of NBC’s Meet the Press. But other than a new face‚ there was no change from the lefty bias of the declining show’s MC. To help Welker's first episode‚ former President Donald Trump agreed to appear. In return‚ he faced the usual liberal fact-checking interruptions‚ especially when answering questions about abortion. Several times‚ Welker tried to quiet Trump’s charge that Democrats favor abortion right up to birth. “Democrats aren't saying that. Democrats are not saying that‚” she said. Her performance won failing grades from conservatives‚ who weren’t expecting a big shift from the bias of former host Chuck Todd. Federalist Editor-in-Chief Mollie Hemingway was first out with an analysis headlined‚ "NBC’s Kristen Welker Lied Repeatedly About Democrats’ Extreme Abortion Position." “Kristen Welker brazenly and repeatedly lied in a bizarre‚ conspiracy-laden debate with former President Donald Trump on Sunday‚” she wrote‚ adding‚ “Welker interrupted her own pre-taped debate with the president to insert her own ‘fact checks’ that were false or were not responsive to actual claims Trump made.” From Sunday’s Meet the Press on NBC: DONALD TRUMP: Roe v. Wade. For 52 years‚ people‚ including Democrats‚ wanted it to go back to states so that states could make it right. Roe v. Wade‚ I did something that nobody thought was possible‚ and Roe v. Wade was terminated and put back to the states. Now‚ people‚ pro-lifers‚ have the right to negotiate for the first time. They had no rights at all because the radical people on this are really the Democrats that say after five months‚ six months‚ seven months‚ eight months‚ and even after birth‚ you’re allowed to terminate the baby. KRISTEN WELKER: Democrats aren't saying that. Democrats are not saying that. Does it bother you‚ though‚ that women say their lives are being put at risk? Do you feel you bear any responsibility because‚ as you say‚ you are responsible for having Roe v. Wade overturned? TRUMP: What’s going to happen? It’s an issue that’s been going on for a long time. It’s a very polarizing issue. Because of what's been done and because of the fact we brought it back to the states‚ we're going to have people come together on this issue. They're gonna determine the time because nobody wants to see five‚ six‚ seven‚ eight‚ nine months. Nobody wants to see abortions when you have a baby in the womb. I said with Hillary Clinton when we had the debate‚ I made a statement: Rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month‚ you're allowed to do that‚ and you shouldn't be allowed to do that. WELKER: Again‚ no one is arguing for that‚ that's not a part of anyone's platform‚ Mr. President. TRUMP: The Democrats are able to kill the baby after birth‚ and nobody wants that. WELKER: Democrats don’t want that‚ either. Kevin Tober‚ news analyst for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Kristen Welker either never read the 2020 Democratic platform or she's purposefully trying to gaslight her viewers in the guise of a ‘fact check’ of Trump. The current platform of the Democratic Party poses no limits on abortions. Instead of pointing this fact out‚ Welker decided to scold Trump for telling the truth‚ which apparently isn't allowed on NBC. If this is what we can expect from Welker as the new moderator of Meet the Press‚ Chuck Todd might as well have stayed on as the moderator. Different anchor‚ same liberal media bias.” Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  September 11: Liberal Media Scream: Chuck Todd puts self among the greats (Washington Examiner post) This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the departure of one of our favorite representatives of bias‚ Chuck Todd‚ the outgoing host of NBC’s Meet the Press. Signing off from his daily and Sunday shows‚ Todd said he hoped he helped educate viewers on the issues of the day and that he would now turn more to nuance and bridging divides. As he looks to his future as the network’s political analyst‚ he said he would follow the paths of two of the network’s past greats‚ David Brinkley and Tim Russert. “I will continue‚ of course‚ to be a big part of NBC’s political coverage because‚ as Tom Brokaw said to me‚ ‘Look‚ some networks do some things well‚ but nobody does politics like NBC.’ And he was referring back all the way to David Brinkley. And that is sort of the tradition I’ve always said‚ from Brinkley to Russert‚ and that’s the stuff I want to carry on‚” Todd said. His final comments on both shows are in this clip: Todd‚ at the end of Friday’s daily Meet the Press NOW on the NBC News NOW streaming channel: “On my first day on the job on Meet the Press‚ I was handed an audience survey of Sunday show viewers. The No. 1 reason why folks decided to tune into any Sunday show‚ the No. 1 reason: to get educated. It wasn’t to find out if their side was winning or losing. They just wanted to know.” “It’s that education piece I’m hanging my hat on for the rest of my professional life because one thing we all lament lately is the lack of knowledge and nuance in our politics. That’s a vacuum I hope to continue to fill‚ whether in a traditional news platform or other venues —documentaries‚ docudramas‚ or even too-close-to-the-truth fiction.” “I’ll continue to be a big part of NBC News political coverage because no one in this business covers politics as well as NBC. Thanks for watching. I’ll see you down the road.” Todd‚ wrapping up Meet the Press on NBC on Sunday morning: “So‚ for nearly a decade‚ I’ve had the honor of helping to explain America to Washington and Washington to America‚ as Kristen [Welker] just quoted me about. And it’s that education piece that I’m hanging my hat on for the rest of my professional life. One thing we will lament — we all lament lately — is the lack of knowledge and nuance in our politics and citizenship. That’s a vacuum I hope to continue to fill‚ whether in our continued news coverage here at NBC or via other venues‚ like docuseries and docudramas‚ focused on bridging our divides‚ piercing these political bubbles. And I will continue‚ of course‚ to be a big part of NBC’s political coverage because‚ as Tom Brokaw said to me‚ ‘Look‚ some networks do some things well‚ but nobody does politics like NBC.’ And he was referring back all the way to David Brinkley. And that is sort of the tradition I’ve always said‚ from Brinkley to Russert‚ and that’s the stuff I want to carry on.” “So that’s all for today. Thanks for watching and for so many years of loyalty to me and to this show. I’m happy to say my colleague‚ Kristen Welker‚ is going to be here next week because it doesn’t matter who sits in this chair. If it’s Sunday‚ it’s Meet the Press.” Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Todd‚ pretentious to the end. In all his years hosting Meet the Press‚ he never showed much interest in bringing ‘nuance’ to his liberal agenda or ‘bridging’ divides or ‘piercing ... political bubbles‚’ to say nothing of never matching the journalism of David Brinkley or Tim Russert. I watched David Brinkley and Tim Russert. Chuck Todd is no David Brinkley or Tim Russert.” Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.   â–  September 4: Liberal Media Scream: Biden’s coverage ‘tougher than he deserves’ (Washington Examiner post) This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the classic attitude of the Washington press corps toward Democratic presidents that originally got us working with the Media Research Center to highlight out-of-touch newsies. It is the complaint that the press is too tough when‚ in fact‚ they have barely scratched the surface of what some critics believe to be a corrupt presidential operation dating back to President Joe Biden’s days as vice president under former President Barack Obama. NBC’s Meet the Press featured Franklin Foer‚ an Atlantic writer who just released a bestselling book on the president titled The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future. Foer told moderator Chuck Todd that “Trump caused the media to become so emotional‚ to get so engaged in covering all the high drama.” And with Biden‚ he said‚ t

With the senators behind the bipartisan border deal having finally unveiled the text of their bill on Sunday night‚ the “big three” of ABC‚ CBS‚ and NBC went all out on their Monday morning news shows to fluff the pillows of dealmakers‚ giving few to any details beyond cursory allusions to give it maximum appeal and painting GOP opposition as driven by former President Trump. Our friends at America First Legal have done phenomenal work with numerous threads starting on Sunday night (such as ones here‚ here‚ and here) debunking a number of the points made on the networks‚ including the claim the deal would end “catch and release” of illegal immigrants and that the border would shutter if crossings reach a certain threshold. It also exposed details left out by the networks‚ including provisions Biden could unilaterally ignore.     ABC’s Good Morning America was the most enthusiastic. Fill-in co-host Linsey Davis boasted of the “bipartisan group...unveil[ing] a compromise bill‚ but the Republican Speaker of the House says it’s dead on arrival.” A reliable liberal tool‚ senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott complained Republicans already oppose “the most significant border security and immigration deal...in over a decade.” “This is a massive package‚ $118 billion. That includes $20 billion for border security‚ sweeping immigration restrictions‚ including shutting down the border when migrant encounters reach 5‚000 a day and making it difficult to claim asylum in the U.S.‚” she added. The two also griped about the House GOP moving forward with a clean bill for Israel‚ but not Ukraine. And‚ for emphasis‚ Scott returned in the second hour to repeat many of the same talking points. (click “expand”): DAVIS: And‚ Rachel‚ the Senate and House‚ it seems‚ are moving on two separate tracks with Republicans pushing for it with their own package for aid with Israel. SCOTT: Yeah. And remember‚ it was Republicans who demanded border security in exchange for additional funding for Israel and Ukraine. Now the House is moving forward with just aid to Israel. That throws into doubt any future aid to Ukraine and while they are rejecting this set of border provisions‚ they are taking the rare step moving forward with a vote to impeach the Homeland Security secretary‚ Alejandro Mayorkas[.] (....) SCOTT: And this is the most significant bipartisan deal on immigration and border security in over a decade. But House Speaker Mike Johnson is making it clear it is not going anywhere. This is a massive package‚ $118 billion. That includes $20 billion for border security‚ sweeping immigration restrictions‚ including shutting down the border when migrant encounters reach 5‚000 a day‚ and making it more difficult to claim asylum in the U.S. $60 billion for Ukraine. $14 billion for Israel. The President calling it the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying it provides direct and immediate solutions to our crisis at the southern border. But this faced Republican opposition over in the House before it was even released. Donald Trump‚ who has been urging Republicans to reject this issue‚ wants to run on immigration in November. And House Speaker Mike Johnson making it clear that this bill is dead on arrival saying‚ it’s “worse than” they predicted or “expected”. It won’t even get a vote in the House[.] NBC’s Today had co-host Savannah Guthrie come out guns blazing in a tease: “Dead on arrival. The Speaker of the House vowing to tank the historic border deal reached by both parties in the Senate‚ and on defense over accusations it’s Donald Trump pulling the strings.” Co-host Hoda Kotb began the actual segment by fretting Republicans have put up “stiff opposition” to “[a] landmark Senate deal aimed at toughening immigration laws”. NBC Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles also shamelessly floated little else besides the dollar figures and griping “House Republicans...signal[ed] that the immigration reforms were not enough” despite “Republicans in the Senate call[ing] this the most conservative border proposal in a generation.” “It cuts off all migration when more than 5‚000 people attempt to enter on a given day. It expands the number of detention facilities and raises the standard for migrants to qualify for asylum‚” he added before concluding with the framing that Republicans oppose it on Donald Trump’s behalf. CBS Mornings also said its piece. Fill-in co-host Jericka Duncan touted the “breakthrough plan” and congressional correspondent Nikole Killion described it as a “compromise” that “would give the administration new emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border‚ allowing immediate deportation before asylum is requested.”  “The government would be required to close the border when migrant encounters reach a daily average of 5‚000 over a week. It also ends catch-and-release policies and streamlines asylum cases by processing claims in six months or less‚” she added. To her credit‚ however‚ she acknowledged opposition on the left with “some progressive Democrats and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus...also pushing back‚ claiming they were left out of the border talks.” To see the relevant transcripts from February 5‚ click here (for ABC)‚ here (for CBS)‚ and here (for NBC).

Do not be fooled by the Senate’s new “border” bill‚ because it has very little to do with the border. “It’s actually a multibillion-dollar war package‚” Glenn Beck warns. “Now‚ it does have some stuff to do with the border‚ depending on who you talk to; it’s both amazing for the border and the worst piece of immigration legislation in history.” The Senators revealed that the bill is a $118 billion emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act‚ which would give $60 billion in aid to Ukraine while only giving $20 billion to securing the U.S. southern border. It also gives $14 billion in security assistance to Israel and $10 billion in humanitarian assistance for civilians caught in the conflict zones of Gaza. But that’s not all. Almost $5 billion is going to support key regional partners in the Indo-Pacific to deter China‚ $2.5 billion is going to support the U.S. Central Command operations in the Red Sea‚ and $2.3 billion is going to Ukrainians and other displaced refugees. It would also require the Department of Homeland Security to “nearly” shut down the border. “It means that we’re not going to shut down the border‚ but nearly do it‚” Glenn mocks‚ before explaining that they won’t shut down the border unless the number of migrant crossers increases more than 5‚000 a day‚ or if they reach 4‚000 people a day in a one-week span. “So‚ if there’s 4‚000 people for six days‚ they can’t shut down the border‚” Glenn says. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

The statue on my desk is among my most prized possessions. Carved from wood‚ it depicts a slender‚ wizened old man walking barefoot with a sack of grain in his hands. His face is ancient‚ tired‚ indifferent. One cannot tell if he is a mystic or an impoverished victim of a great catastrophe. Perhaps there is less of a difference between the two than one might imagine. I keep this statue in daily view because it reminds me of a fundamental truth about man and his default state: homelessness. Harrowing as it is to consider‚ we are by default homeless‚ never promised a secure haven or a good night's rest. From the placid warmth of my hard-won home‚ I remember my time on the streets of America — more than a thousand nights of vagrancy in 48 states. Contemplation of this somber-faced wooden man reminds me to be grateful for the four walls I now own — and it reminds me that my possession of them is hardly a guarantee. The"it will never happen to me" mentality is seldom held by the wise‚ and it is never held by astute observers of history and its unexpected cruelties. Had you asked a well-heeled Yugoslavian commissar in 1989 if his son might be eating rats on the other side of four years‚ he'd probably regard your inquiry as disgusting and offensive. Ask the same question of an American banker in 1925‚ and he'd be just as indignant. Yet both the Yugoslav Wars and the Great Depression did indeed compel even the wealthiest scions to experiment with alternative meats — including the flesh of the rat — for the sake of keeping themselves alive. The"it will never happen to me" mentality is seldom held by the wise‚ and it is never held by astute observers of history and its unexpected cruelties. The disaster few consider What is true on the historical basis of time is as true of individual biographies. Tornadoes‚ house fires‚ break-ins‚ crippling injuries‚ blinding chemical accidents — a litany of grave misfortunes can visit almost anyone more or less at any time. An entire industry has emerged around this basic understanding these days. Books on survival and "prepping" are on the shelves of practically any bookstore or library‚ and even more online videos and articles on these subjects circulate widely. Yet one flavor of misfortune seems to go undiscussed more often than not — the possibility of becoming homeless. This may be because quite unlike a war‚ a hurricane‚ or a carjacking‚ the idea of becoming homeless is distinctly humiliating and embarrassing. Even the most dedicated practioners of the "prepper" mindset make the fatal error of assuming that it can't happen to them. Of course it easily could. An international banking crisis could render one's savings a stack of Monopoly money. Downsizing‚ AI‚ civil unrest‚ or home insurance bankruptcies could jeopardize the exceedingly fragile mechanism by which most people keep a roof over their heads. And even if one's brother or friend might have a guest room‚ the social realities of "crashing" at a buddy's house are often far more complicated than most imagine‚ quickly straining even the closest loyalties to their outermost limits. Accept your fate Then: The first night comes. You've tried to bargain with it‚ to deny it‚ to imagine it was all some kind of sick cosmic joke — that the hurricane didn't really come‚ that no one would really let someone so indispensable fall to such a humiliating state — but alas‚ it's begun to rain and the sun has been down for hours. Your cell phone plan has been shut off. Your suit is looking dingy‚ and there are some exceedingly colorful characters looking right at you from the other side of the street. Police lights go by‚ and you're on your last cigarette. What now? Well‚ for the first‚ buck up. Any student of military history can tell you that morale matters on the battlefield — and it matters as much or more on the street. The minute you stop feeling sorry for yourself is the minute that you'll work up the gumption to rise to the challenge you've been faced with. In fact‚ it shouldn't even be seen as a challenge so much as a fabulous opportunity. Like the great flaneurs of old Europe and the famous vagabond-poets of auld‚ so long as you can master the art of illegal camping and have enough hustle in you to put together a meal or two every day‚ you've suddenly entered an aristocracy of self-owning men who have the sort of agency over their time that most rich men dream of. The library‚ the waterfront‚ the prettiest streets in the city — or even of other cities‚ should you decide that traveling homeless is your flavor — all of it is now for you. Take an inventory of your resources. Are you wearing warm clothing? Do you have a pocketknife? Are your shoes suitable for muddy‚ forested terrain? Wherever you left‚ you probably took a bag with you — did you have the foresight to bring a steel pot‚ a tarp‚ a length of cord‚ a good sleeping bag? Or did you fail to do these things because you presumed that this could not happen to you? Whatever the case‚ take a good inventory of your personal effects and your money situation‚ and keep it memorized for clear decision-making. Get a bike The first task is to get a bicycle. Nothing else matters more than this‚ not calling Mom‚ not finding cigarettes‚ not finding a place to sleep. Power through every adversity in service of obtaining a bicycle — even if it requires your last dollar. It would be a dollar well spent. This is because the bicycle is the only way to dramatically increase your power as a lone wolf in any environment in America. To walk 20 miles might take all day‚ but to bike it might take an hour and a half. When on a dangerous street‚ the pedestrian can only evade threats by outrunning them; with a bike‚ you are the fastest thing on the street. If a job offer comes two towns over‚ the walker cannot take it‚ but the cyclist can. But most of all‚ by riding a bicycle you can transport yourself outside the range of other homeless people. This is a massive advantage. Wherever large groups of homeless people congregate‚ police presence — which is not a great boon to you now — will be high‚ and many highly dysfunctional people will be on the prowl. If you've ever read nice stories about the surprisingly warm brotherly love of the homeless encampment‚ forget them. And if you have any ideas about going to a shelter‚ forget them too. The others are not your friends‚ and the institutions designed to help the homeless more often than not entrap them in a web of bureaucracy and stagnation. Get on that bicycle and ride more miles than a person high on methamphetamine could reasonably walk. Once you've done this‚ you are now as safe as you can hope to be‚ and you've entered a league within the world of homelessness that positions you for success. The bicycle effectively removes you from the threats posed by other homeless‚ which is the first and most important basic need to secure. Get some shelter But there are other needs that will immediately rear their heads. Hunger‚ cold‚ and wet will quickly bring you to your knees if inadequately addressed. A soaking-wet‚ sleep-deprived‚ half-starved homeless person is going to have a hard time getting hired anywhere. You're going to need‚ at the barest minimum‚ a tarp and a blanket. A dollar-store shower curtain can suffice as a tarp‚ and one can often obtain blankets from thrift stores for a dollar or two. A bootlace tied between two trees can lift the tarp up off your blanket; failure to do this could result in condensation soaking through the blanket and leaving you chilled to the bone. Beneath you‚ a few lengths of cardboard will insulate your body from the cold‚ heat-sapping ground. Employing this method at the far edges of cities along riverbeds‚ drainage ditches‚ interstate medians‚ and bridges where there is no sign of other homeless will allow you to get through a couple of weeks of nights while you seek work. Think like an illegal immigrant Work is not hard to find for a homeless person: Think like an illegal immigrant. Report to the contractor bay at Home Depot at 5 a.m.‚ offering workingmen a hand with loading their materials onto their trucks as a way to begin a conversation about whether they'd hire you for a day's labor or more. If other migrantes are around‚ simply say the word "trabaja" and they will understand what you are doing. Or‚ if construction labor is not something you can do‚ use the computers at a public library to make a list of restaurants to visit. Find the roughest-looking line cooks — preferably on a smoke break out behind the building — and ask if they'd pay you same-day cash for a shift as a dishwasher or potato-peeler. It should not take long to get one who'll nod and motion you into the kitchen. Though it may appear humiliating‚ the mentality of the industrious homeless person is made of the same stuff that built America Work as consistently as you can‚ building up a sum of cash. Defend it with your life — keep the bills in your boots or your underwear if you have no access to a bank. Spend money only on your daily bread — and stay away from alcohol. If you smoke‚ hang out outside law offices and courts‚ where moneyed lawyers often drop cigarettes from which they've taken only a puff or two on their way into trials and meetings. When it comes to cooking‚ keep in mind that most gas stations have free hot water with which you can make cheap noodles; look for a red handle on the coffee machine. A coffee cup with some ramen will be enough to keep you alive while you work up a few hundred more dollars. Bootstrap your way out As you find your bankroll begins to grow‚ you can improve your camp. Get a real sleeping bag that will be good for chillier weather. Get baskets and bags for your bike — and a bike lock. Find a decent tent‚ preferably with a bug net and a floor — but cheap enough to where if it gets stolen‚ it wouldn't be a devastating setback. Look for a white gas camp stove at Walmart or any outdoor supplier‚ as well as a small metal pot — now you can cook more substantial meals with items from the grocery. Without refrigeration you can't keep meats and perishables‚ but with a stove‚ you can fry up steaks in a park near the grocery store for more substantial sustenance to keep you focused at work. And with a pour-over coffee filter‚ you can start making that morning cup that comes in handy for early-morning wake-ups. This routine is the definition of "bootstrapping" one's way out of the most dire economic calamity that can befall an American citizen. Though it may appear humiliating‚ the mentality of the industrious homeless person is made of the same stuff that built America. Our forefathers had to be every bit as resourceful as they settled the Western plains or started from nothing as immigrants to the shores of Plymouth or Brooklyn. The entrepreneurial mentality of the resourceful survivor is not a distant piece of history; it is still the living essence of survival for many homeless Americans today. One can continue in this fashion for several months and build up sums in excess of several thousand dollars; this can prove sufficient for either an efficiency apartment or for a small piece of rural acreage in the hinterlands where a man can build a house. I've seen numerous people do the latter — searching the internet for a parcel in backwoods counties lacking building codes and finding them for less than $5‚000. Arrive by Greyhound bus‚ buy a bicycle‚ and start over until one's income proves sufficient to build a small cabin and eventually buy a truck. This is the American dream in its most primitive and ancient form. This article is by no means an exhaustive account of how to be homeless in America. It is only the barest introduction to how one must think to survive on the street. Pray that you never have to do it‚ but never think that it could not happen to you. Homelessness is‚ after all‚ the default state of man. You are only protected from it today by a shockingly fragile network of economic and social factors that can easily wear thin.

Illegal immigrants were reportedly caught on surveillance video dragging a woman on a New York City street after stealing her phone.The Daily Mail reported that the horrific clip — which shows the woman sliding along a sidewalk‚ crashing into a pole‚ and then lying motionless on the street before the moped that dragged her disappears — shows one example of a larger criminal operation. — (@) The Daily Mail said migrants have stolen property from at least 62 women across the city and that the NYPD arrested three migrants believed to be from Venezuela in a Bronx safe house after executing a search warrant.Here's a clip from NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry explaining the broader aspects of the police investigation; a portion of the above surveillance video is included in the clip: — (@) The migrants are expected to be charged with multiple robberies and grand larcenies‚ and police are looking for more suspects‚ WABC-TV reported.The station said detectives believe the suspects snatch phones to access Apple Pay and then use credit cards linked to the phones to purchase items.NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban during a Monday news conference called the suspects "ghost criminals" who have no information that police can use to track and that they've been running an "extremely sophisticated" operation.NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny added in the news conference that those involved in the operation live primarily in the "migrant shelter system." He also noted that the leader of the criminal enterprise blasts a message via WhatsApp saying he's "looking for phones" and that the moped riders make $100 per day‚ and the phone snatchers earn between $300 and $600 per stolen phone. The phones are then brought to the leader's residence‚ where a "tech guy" hacks into the phones and accesses the owners' banking and financial information‚ Kenny said. The crooks use that information to make purchases‚ and when accounts are drained‚ the phones are shipped to Columbia to be reprogrammed‚ Kenny added. — (@) WABC added that the news of the arrests comes as criticism grows against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg after only one of the migrants believed to have attacked two police officers in Times Square was put behind bars while four others were released without bail. 3 migrants arrested in the Bronx for citywide crime spree youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!