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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 https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/liberal-media-scream-joy-behar-would-exile-trump-to-saudi-arabialiberal media.)
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â– New on November 27: Liberal Media Scream:Â Post reporter says ‘sources’ fret public’s lack of credit for Biden ‘succceses’
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– 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.
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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 in 1960‚ and that was the third straight record year‚ all under Biden.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
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â– October 30: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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.
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â– October 23: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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.
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â– October 16: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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.
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â– October 9: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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.
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â– October 2: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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.
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â– September 25: No Liberal Media Scream this week.
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â– September 18: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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.
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â– September 11: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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.
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â– September 4: Liberal Media Scream:Â 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‚ there has been a "desire on the part of the press to reassert its standards of objectivity.”
But‚ he added‚ Biden has continued to complain about his press‚ just like every other president. “He has been covered probably tougher than he deserves‚” Foer said.
That line prompted our partner Brent Baker‚ the Media Research Center's vice president of research and publications‚ to grade it five out of five screams.
From Sunday’s Meet the Press on NBC:
CHUCK TODD: You write: “Biden considered his poor approval rating a failure of the media‚ which someone neglected to note all the ways in which his administration was superior to Trump’s. It was also a failure of his own White House to effectively communicate. He complained that there weren’t enough surrogates on television defending him.” I’m shocked to find out that a White House believes they have a communications problem‚ not a substance problem.
FRANKLIN FOER: Right. So I think that Biden has — of course‚ every president who suffers an upside-down approval rating is going to moan about the media‚ and I think that there is some truth to it in his case where Trump caused the media to become so emotional‚ to get so engaged in covering all of the high drama. And I think‚ with the Biden administration‚ there’s been this desire on the part of the press to reassert its standards of objectivity. So I think‚ on certain measures‚ he’s probably right. He has been covered probably tougher than he deserves. But it also —
TODD: There’s no curve? He’s not being graded on a curve?
FOER: No.
TODD: No.
Baker explains our weekly pick: “To channel what President Biden would say‚ ‘not a joke.’ Foer was seemingly quite serious. But it’s a ludicrous assessment to anyone but the most enthused Biden sycophants or Democratic partisans. To contend that Biden is the subject of media ‘objectivity’ and has received ‘tougher’ coverage than he ‘deserves‚’ does not pass the laugh test.”
Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– August 28: Liberal Media Scream:Â Dour Dana bashes Ramaswamy over KKK reference
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features CNN anchor Dana Bash repeatedly beating GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s comparison of liberal "Squad" member Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) to "a modern grand wizard of the KKK."
Over more than five minutes‚ the anchor harangued Ramaswamy‚ who said he made the comparison to spark a debate over the lawmaker’s suggestion that candidates of color should be in lockstep with liberals.
After four minutes of her bashing‚ an exasperated Ramaswamy said: “Dana‚ I think you’re doing‚ with due respect‚ what many in the media do‚ picking on some fringe comment in the context of a broader context that I was offering in a speech‚ avoiding the meat of the issue.”
Here’s a sampling from CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday:
DANA BASH: You took issue with comments from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). She reportedly said‚ quote‚ “we don’t need any more brown faces that don’t want to be a brown voice.” About that‚ you said‚ “These are the words of the modern grand wizards of the modern KKK.” You know‚ I’m sure‚ the KKK was responsible for more than a century’s worth of horrific lynchings‚ rapes‚ murders of black people. How in any way are the views you’re talking about comparable to the views and atrocities committed by the KKK?”
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: What I said is: The grand wizards of the KKK would be proud of what they would hear her say‚ because there’s nothing more racist than saying that your skin color predicts something about the content of your viewpoints or your ideas.
BASH: No‚ you didn’t just say that. You didn’t just say that they would be proud. You said‚ “These are the words of the modern grand wizards of the modern KKK.”
RAMASWAMY: It is the same spirit. You’re right about that‚ Dana. I think it is the same spirit to say that I can look at you and‚ based on just your skin color‚ that I know something about the content of your character‚ that I know something about the content of the viewpoints you’re allowed to express.
....
BASH: But can you have an intellectually honest conversation when you accuse her of being a grand wizard of the KKK? Can you have that intellectually honest discussion with that kind of rhetoric?
....
BASH: If you want to have an intellectual question‚ do you think that maybe comparing her to the grand wizard and the notion of what she said to being a modern leader of the KKK was maybe a step too far‚ or you stand by what you said?
....
BASH: What I did was explain to our viewers that you were asked a question and you took it to a point where you called a sitting member of Congress who is black‚ who was having discussions about race‚ calling her the modern grand wizard of the KKK. And I’m just not sure how that’s open and honest discussion.     Â
Brent Baker‚ the vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Bash’s constant harping was not good television. Ramaswamy explained his point and she should have moved on. But she so vehemently disagreed with him that she wouldn’t let go. In doing so‚ she helped prove Ramaswamy’s point about the elite who won’t countenance any contrary views on race relations‚ not even from the target of a racist attack.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– August 21: No Liberal Media Scream this week
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â– August 14: Liberal Media Scream:Â Media rage at MAGA ‘alternative reality’
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the latest example of the sputtering anger Washington journalists have at the support former President Donald Trump has from his MAGA millions.
Appearing Sunday on ABC’s This Week‚ Susan Glasser‚ Washington reporter for the New Yorker and a veteran of the Washington Post and Politico‚ coughed up a word salad to the storyline that a growing list of indictments is good for Trump while the building criminal focus on first son Hunter Biden is bad for President Joe Biden.
From the roundtable on Sunday’s This Week on ABC:
Susan Glasser: “Part of this is the incredible distortion field where we are all somehow living in Donald Trump’s alternate reality‚ right? We are talking about‚ ‘Well‚ it’s a great benefit to him‚’ according to‚ you know‚ the big story in the New York Times today that he’s been indicted criminally‚ what‚ three times — and it looks like a fourth coming up this week — because we’re living in this warped distortion field of a Republican primary in which Donald Trump is stampeding? It’s a minority of a minority in the country‚ and so then‚ you have something like these series of abortion rights referenda in the wake of the Roe v. Wade decision.
“And you realize that in this country‚ even in deep-red states‚ there are solid majorities that don’t think‚ you know‚ Donald Trump should be the president again‚ who defeated him in the popular vote in 2016 and in 2020‚ who support‚ by actually record numbers‚ abortion rights‚ and yet we live in this world where it’s somehow good that Donald Trump is a criminal defendant but somehow bad electorally for the president that his son is being investigated for something‚ that as far as we know‚ does not directly concern Joe Biden.”
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “What an incredible lack of inquisitiveness for a journalist. Glasser is living in her own ‘alternate reality‚’ one inhabited by virtually all of her Washington press corps colleagues who are enraged by everything Trump but have put on blinders when it comes to President Joe Biden. They don’t want to give legitimacy to anything which could harm Biden’s reelection fortunes.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– August 7: Liberal Media Scream:Â Joy Behar would exile Trump to Saudi Arabia
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the ladies of The View jumping to a whole new level of "Trump derangement syndrome" following the third criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump.
Led by Trump Hater in Chief Joy Behar‚ they talked up a plea deal that prosecutor Jack Smith could offer that sends the former president away for good — but not jail. Instead‚ and due to concerns that the Secret Service might not allow a former president to live in a jail cell if he’s convicted‚ Behar suggested exile in Saudi Arabia.
“Wouldn’t that be good?” she said to some audience laughter. “I don’t even care if he goes to jail. I don’t have it in my heart to punish the guy. I just want him to go away and stop ruining my country."
From Thursday’s The View on ABC:
JOY BEHAR: "Well‚ what about making a deal? What about‚ Sunny‚ if he makes a deal with [special counsel Jack] Smith?"
SUNNY HOSTIN: "Without jail time?"
BEHAR: "Without jail‚ and he says‚ “I’m going away and moving to Saudi Arabia”?
Wouldn’t that be good? Just go away. We don’t — I don’t even care if he goes to jail. I don’t have it in my heart to punish the guy. I just want him to go away and stop ruining my country."
HOSTIN: "I think there are certain prosecutors that would offer him a plea agreement without time if he would agree to never run for public office again anywhere."
BEHAR: "And go away. I don’t want to even see him in the Enquirer."
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “Presumably‚ The View does not air in Saudi Arabia‚ so this idea might have some appeal to Trump — and many of us — who wouldn’t mind never again hearing Joy Behar’s voice‚ but I’d recommend flipping this and exiling the entire crew of The View to Saudi Arabia so none of us have to hear their discombobulated daily rantings.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– July 31: Liberal Media Scream:Â Chuck Todd still trying to downplay Hunter Biden scandals
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features a Sunday network public affairs show host that President Joe Biden and his cronies are really going to miss when he finally leaves his perch.
It’s NBC Meet the Press host Chuck Todd‚ of course‚ playing “D” on the Hunter Biden scandals exploding in the news today.
On his Sunday show and while interviewing yet another Democratic politician‚ he sounded almost apologetic for having to address the first son who is facing tax and gun charges and has been linked to bribery allegations along with his father.
Said Todd to his guest‚ Sen. Chris Coons‚ a Democrat from Biden’s home state of Delaware‚ “Republicans are gonna accuse” the president of misdeeds‚ “they’re going to make the accusation‚ whether they have the evidence or not‚” because they “have an information ecosystem that helps amplify it.”
Todd recently announced that he was leaving his show in September to become the network's "long form" political analyst.
From Sunday’s Meet the Press on NBC:
CHUCK TODD: Let me start with the Hunter Biden situation and I understand that‚ you know‚ you believe this is all being emphasized due to politics‚ the Republican — the House Republicans are doing. Let me ask you this‚ do you think it would behoove the president for him to come out and say‚ “Hey‚ I had no business dealings with my son. My son’s issues are my son’s issues”? Do you think he needs to say that more directly because there’s a lot of people that believe something else happened here?
SEN. CHRIS COONS: Let’s be clear about that point‚ Chuck. There’s been a five-year investigation. Five years by a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney. This investigation started during the Trump administration and they’ve come forward with not one shred of evidence tying President Biden to any of this. I am encouraged that‚ in sharp contrast to President Trump‚ you’ve just detailed his mountain of legal problems where President Trump is fighting‚ and pushing back and obstructing‚ Hunter Biden’s come forward‚ taken responsibility‚ paid his late taxes. As you just discussed with Chuck Rosenberg‚ I think the hiccup in the Delaware District Courthouse will get ironed out pretty quickly and I don’t think President Biden needs to say anything more than he has.
TODD: House Republicans are gonna accuse him. They’re going to make the accusation —
COONS: They’re going [to] accuse him of all sorts of stuff.
TODD: — whether they have the evidence or not.
COONS: Correct.
TODD: The question — and they may have an information ecosystem that helps amplify it to a point where you don’t think he needs to just — “Hey‚ despite what you hear‚ just so you know‚ I don’t do business with my son or my brother"?
COONS: I think he’s been perfectly clear.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “If only Chuck Todd had shown such reluctance to promote accusations against President Trump about ‘Russian collusion’ made by Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and others‚ which turned out to be baseless‚ when they were on his program. We’d be in a whole different political-media environment. But no‚ Todd is only upset by publicity for revelations that may hurt the Democratic president‚ not the Republican one. And he wonders why so many see him as more of a liberal political operative than any kind of respectable journalist.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– July 24: Liberal Media Scream:Â CBS pushes for Hunter Biden media cover-up
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features the latest example of how the networks are covering up the escalating Hunter Biden sex‚ gun‚ drugs‚ and taxes scandal.
Not only have most ignored the scandal going all the way back to dissing reports on the first son’s laptop full of dirty deeds‚ but now some in the media are urging the GOP to “move on.”
Exhibit A is CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan‚ who this weekend said the plea deal Hunter Biden has cut should be the trigger for Republicans to end their investigation into the president’s son.
Her guest‚ former federal prosecutor and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie‚ dismissed her question. “No‚ I wouldn’t‚ Margaret‚ and here’s why. The conduct here by the U.S. attorney in Delaware and by the Justice Department just can’t be justified‚” he said.
She also rolled out the standard Democratic talking point to make her case: “You know that the U.S. attorney in Delaware was appointed by former President Trump.” It’s typical for senators to suggest prosecutors in their state and U.S. Attorney David Weiss was endorsed by Delaware’s two Democratic senators at the time.
From Sunday’s Face the Nation on CBS:
MARGARET BRENNAN: There are so many legal issues in this campaign‚ and I want to ask you about one involving the president’s son Hunter Biden who’s going to appear in court this week to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and will enter into an agreement that could avert conviction on a gun-related charge. The deal has infuriated many congressional Republicans‚ who were holding their own hearings‚ and I wonder after this plea happens if you would advise your party to move on?
CHRIS CHRISTIE: No‚ I wouldn’t‚ Margaret‚ and here’s why. The conduct here by the U.S. attorney in Delaware and by the Justice Department just can’t be justified. It doesn’t take five years‚ Margaret. As you mentioned‚ I was the U.S. attorney in the fifth-largest office in the country for seven years during the Bush administration. It does not take five years to investigate two misdemeanor tax counts and to dismiss a gun charge‚ and we need to know what they were investigating and why these are the charges they concluded to. This is not just any person. This is the son of the president of the United States. And while justice needs to be equal‚ it needs to be equal‚ and it doesn’t appear to me that this is the way to do it. And I would say one thing on the gun charge. I mean‚ this is a case where Democrats yell and scream for more new gun laws in the country‚ and yet you hear no Democrat yelling about the fact that Hunter Biden intentionally lied on his gun permit application‚ mishandled the gun after he received it with a false permit application‚ and faces absolutely no penalty. Guess what? The guy who sponsored that law was his father‚ Sen. Joe Biden‚ and that charge carries a 10-year sentence‚ Margaret. We need to explain — they need to explain to the public why that was done.
So no‚ I don't think it’s time to move on.
BRENNAN: And you know that the U.S. attorney in Delaware was appointed by former President Trump.
CHRISTIE: Incompetent‚ Margaret. It doesn’t matter‚ Margaret. It doesn’t matter whether you’re appointed by a Republican or a Democrat‚ if your work appears to be incompetent and inexplicable‚ you need to explain it so we can have confidence in our justice system‚ and I don’t care whether Mr. Weiss is a Republican or a Democrat. He owes the American people an explanation.
Brent Baker‚ vice president of research and publications for the Media Research Center‚ explains our weekly pick: “It takes a lot of chutzpah for Brennan to suggest Republicans ‘move on’ from a topic the broadcast news networks and much of the rest of the news media have done all they can to avoid in their quest to protect President Biden. Numerous revelations about Hunter and his dad have gone unreported‚ or get one story on one night‚ and then nothing more. What kind of ‘journalist’ pushes for cover-up and suppression over pressing for more coverage three days after two IRS whistleblowers detailed federal efforts to benefit Hunter and not pursue leads which could hurt the president?”
Rating: FIVE out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– July 17: No Liberal Media Scream this week
Â
â– July 10: Liberal Media Scream:Â CNN’s Zakaria tells Biden‚ 'You've been a great president'
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream features a rare one-on-one interview of President Joe Biden and a hint of what it takes to get a sit-down with him.
In the case of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria‚ the payback came in a phrase of praise: “You've been a great president.”
The line was part of a long setup on his Sunday show to a question about some Democrats calling for Biden to step aside.
From Fareed Zakaria GPS:
Zakaria to Biden: “You've often said when people ask you about your age‚ just watch me. And I think a lot of people do watch you and are impressed‚ and they think you've been a great president. You've brought the economy back. You've restored relations with the world. But many of these people do say‚ and these are hardened supporters of yours‚ the next thing he should do is step aside and let another generation of Democrats take the baton.”
Kevin Tober‚ a news analyst &; staff writer at the Media Research Center’s NewsBusters‚ explains our weekly pick: “Zakaria displayed a masterclass in professional gaslighting Sunday when he told Biden that ‘a lot of people’ watch him and are ‘impressed.’ In reality‚ even many Democrats have expressed their concern about Biden's age and cognitive decline. Kissing Biden's ring is not ‘facts first’ despite what CNN wants you to think.”
Rating: FOUR out of FIVE SCREAMS.
Â
â– July 3: No Liberal Media Scream this week
Â
â– June 26: Liberal Media Scream:Â MSNBC historian declares GOP hopefuls insurrectionists
(Washington Examiner post)
This week’s Liberal Media Scream highlights the latest example of the conventional liberal media’s view that all Republicans are deplorable and‚ thus‚ dismissible.
MSNBC “historian” Jon Meacham‚ an author and former Newsweek Washington bureau chief‚ wrote off the large and historically diverse collection of Republican presidential candidates as insurrectionists and seditionists because all have been supportive at times of former President Donald Trump.
“We have a pretty clear choice in this political season. We can choose a constitutionalist‚ a party that has been pretty faithful to the Constitution‚ which is the party of the incumbent president‚ or we can favor a party that has been shockingly but persistently supportive of an insurrectionist or a seditionist‚” he said on Friday’s Morning Joe show.
“It’s not simple‚ but it is straightforward. That’s the choice before the country‚” said Meacham‚ who punctuated his analysis with declarations of “right?!”
From Friday’s Morning Joe on MSNBC:
JOE SCARBOROUGH: We were talking about the Supreme Court‚ the Supreme Court who‚ again‚ out of control‚ running roughshod over the will of the overwhelming majority of Americans. And now‚ we have this president‚ again‚ unprecedented‚ but here we are moving towards‚ I believe‚ I think‚ the most serious charges and the one that I think historians are going to be grappling with long after we are all gone. That is a president charged with conspiracy to commit sedition against the United States of America.
JON MEACHAM: You’re right‚ historians will be wrestling with it as we all do all the time. I think citizens have to wrestle with it now‚ right? This is‚ it’s so central‚ and I just really believe that we have a pretty clear choice in this political season. We can choose a constitutionalist‚ a party that has been pretty faithful to the Constitution‚ which is the party of the incumbent president‚ or we can favor a party that has been shockingly but persistently supportive of an insurrectionist or a seditionist.
That’s not a sentence we would have said about Eisenhower and Stevenson‚ right? That was not something that a lot of people grew up with. But it’s pretty vital. And yet that's the question: Is any policy so important that you would want to favor someone that you think is a vehicle for that policy‚ even if they don’t and
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