Filling in for Geoffrey Dickens this week, I’m here to reveal the winner of the Worst Media Quote of the Week. As a refresher, this interactive series is where you – our loyal NewsBusters readers and MRC supporters – have a say as to which elite liberal journalist or deranged celebrity had the hottest take – otherwise known as the worst media quote of the week. Thank you to all who voted last week via NewsBusters and the MRC’s various social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, X, and Truth Social). Without any further ado, the results have been tabulated and the winner for the Worst Media Quote of Week is… Sunny Hostin! ABC’s The View co-host won in an absolute landslide with 90 percent of the vote! Hostin won with a whopper from July 6 about feeling “unsafe” anytime she “walk[s] into a community” and “see[s] American flags all over” because she equates “an American flag with white supremacy.” Behind Hostin, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and NBC’s Chuck Todd were both tied at five percent. In Stephanopoulos’s case, he declared on July 5 America’s constitutional system is “under stress” because of Trump while Todd screeched he “feel[s] betrayed” by Trump’s supposed cheapening of the country. Check out the following clip (via the MRC Video team) to see the nominees in action:   Watch the Worst Quotes here from George Stephanopoulos, @chucktodd and Sunny Hostin Video by @Schineman pic.twitter.com/lS5ahbFfXa — Media Research Center (@theMRC) July 9, 2026   WINNER (95 percent of the vote)   Sunny Hostin: I Feel Unsafe Whenever I See American Flags All Over a Community  “I said this on this show many, many years ago. Because this is my tenth year on the show and I said there are times; when I walk into a community, and I see American flags all over the community, and I suddenly feel unsafe, because there’s a section of this country that has co-opted the American flag and they equate being an American or an American flag with white supremacy.”— Co-host Sunny Hostin on ABC’s The View, July 6.   TIED-SECOND PLACE (5 percent of the vote)   George Stephanopoulos: Constitutional System “Under Stress,” From Trump  “The Declaration of Independence, signed 250 years ago this week, broke America free of rule by a British monarch. The Constitution that followed was designed to ensure that our country would not be governed by a monarch. The President would be constrained by the courts, in Congress, ethical norms, and elections every four years. 250 years later, that system is under stress, tested by a President determined to wield power and buck norms in a way his predecessors did not.”— Moderator George Stephanopoulos opening ABC’s This Week, July 5.    TIED-SECOND PLACE (5 percent of the vote)   Chuck Todd: “I Feel Betrayed” by Trump’s Cheapening of America “For some people, the central text in their lives is religious, and I respect that. For me, the Constitution has always carried that kind of weight. So that’s why I’m so angry and feel betrayed. I do. I feel betrayed as an American by him [Donald Trump] on this. The Constitution is not perfect, but it gives us a way to keep going. It gives us structure for disagreement. It gives us a method for repair. It gives us the possibility of becoming better without pretending we were always good. Maybe it makes some of the same promises that some religious texts do for people. And this is why I’m so pissed off. Not because I love the country less, but because I love the idea of America enough to resent seeing it cheapened by this man. America deserved better at 250.” — Former NBC’s Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd on The ChuckToddCast, July 4. 

Hollywood and the MSM assume Americans share their narrow liberal worldview, then act stunned when conservatives like Trump win elections. The box office tells the same story. Critics boost woke flops like Supergirl and sneer at hits like Young Washington, while audiences show up for the latter and the former loses billions. Produced by Angel Studios, Young Washington focuses on the early life of America's first president: Liberal critics are in full anti-patriotism meltdown over the movie, but it keeps doing what the founding father did best- persevering against its foes. In The Wrap, William Bibbiani sneered that the film is "jingoistic" and downplays Washington's slaves: George Washington is motivated, we learn, by the inequities of his birth. It’s a cruel injustice that he isn’t allowed to go to school or join the British military, just because he wasn’t born with privilege. So he fights to right these wrongs, which would be inspiring were it not for the fact that, by the film’s own admission, he owns ten slaves. And it sure is telling that not only are Washington’s slaves never depicted on-screen, but when they are briefly acknowledged in dialogue — once — they’re described as recipients of his family’s charity. Washington inherited slaves as a teenager in a world where slavery had existed for millennia across Africa, the Ottomans, and the Americas. But he changed. He restricted the slave trade and freed his slaves in his will, more than most contemporaries did. The Wrap also raged over a scene depicting a Native leader calling Washington mystically protected after he miraculously survives battle: And when George Washington is told, point blank, that the Indigenous Peoples of America think he was chosen by the gods to be their land’s savior, you’ll be forgiven for yelling curse words at the screen, or even for throwing up. (Well, I’ll forgive you. The ushers at your local theater may feel differently.) As for Native Americans, conquest, migration, and divide-and-conquer shaped history long before Europeans arrived, and tribes warred among themselves, too. Variety was another vocal critic, portraying the film as grade-school "great-man" propaganda: “Young Washington” is like one of those great-man biographies you read in grade school. Released by Angel Studios for the Fourth of July, the movie is intended as a bit of likably square, neo-traditional, right-wing-adjacent counterprogramming. But say this much for it: In its life-of-an-American-plaster-saint way, Jon Erwin’s coming-of-age military adventure film doesn’t make being George Washington look easier than it was… “Young Washington” is just competent enough to create that crisp tug of schoolkid patriotism the books we read as children provided. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you’re not an adult confusing feel-good heroism with the lessons of history. Nothing wrong with that as long as you’re not an adult who wants to erase the good in America’s history just because flaws existed. The left’s fixation on past mistakes is just an attempt to delegitimize our republic. Who’s a threat to democracy again? The Chicago Tribune dismissed Young Washington as faith-based fluff: “Young Washington” is produced and distributed by Angel Studios, the faith-based movie studio that churns out films based on true stories that either feature freak accidents, strange illnesses, or more recently, unique stories from the past in which faith in God is a factor. Apparently, our nation’s founding also falls under this umbrella… Wait… “Apparently” God was a factor in our nation’s founding? Have modern history books been tampered with to the degree that even this basic, indisputable fact is no longer recognized? The review went on to demand more “nuanced” stories for middle schoolers (code for tearing down the Founders) and labeled the film “propaganda”: Audiences, including the middle school social studies students, deserve better and more nuanced stories about this country and the values it was built upon… But what else can you expect from “Young Washington”? It’s propaganda in the form of a history lesson in the shape of a summer blockbuster. If only it were even slightly entertaining — maybe they’ll tackle that in the inevitable sequel. The values it was built on? You mean Christian values? Yes, students should definitely be taught more about that. The Chicago Tribune shockingly awarded Young Washington only 1.5 out of 4 stars. Yet audiences strongly disagree, as proven with a tremendous 92% viewer score on Rotten Tomatoes, an impressive A from CinemaScore, excellent reviews on IMDb, and $33 million in box-office revenues in its first ten days Even younger generations are enjoying it as these students demonstrated with chants of “Washington” after viewing it: Students ERUPT into chants of "Washington!" after watching "Young Washington" at Mount Vernon. pic.twitter.com/xD1SlP10Qv — Ocean Rasso (@OceanRasso) July 12, 2026 Actor Chris Pratt raved with enthusiastic praise, as well: Celebrate America’s 250th birthday at the box office!!! There’s a lot of great choices this weekend. But considering it’s July 4 weekend I humbly suggest “Young, Washington.” I was actually blown away. The movie is incredible. Like Braveheart for Americans. Jon Erwin crushed it.… pic.twitter.com/dl1a3Uy39o — Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt) July 3, 2026 Critics may wish we’d all feel shame for our country, but Americans are clearly showing their patriotism and love of the grit, bravery, liberty and self-rule that created this great nation. Young Washington is a rousing summer flick reminding us why America remains history's greatest experiment.

High-profile liberals publicly cheered Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) death over the weekend – and, their callousness and hypocrisy were quickly exposed and condemned by online posts. “Good riddance,” executive producer and host of The Young Turks Ana Kasparian, wrote in a social media post Sunday after it was reported that Sen. Graham died suddenly on Saturday evening. But, as a post by Libs of TikTok responding to Kasparian reveals, she once declared that it is never acceptable to gloat over a person’s death – and that only a “monster” would do so: “What kind of monster thinks gloating about dead people is ever okay? I guess apologists for ethnic cleansing.” Kasparian later responded by doubling down on – and escalating – her joy over Sen. Graham’s death: “Are you offended? “Let me clarify: I’m elated he’s dead. Overjoyed…. “Just like he was elated at seeing countless dead children throughout Middle East.” There is no evidence to support the claim that Sen. Graham was ever pleased, much less “elated,” to see children die in the Middle East, the X.com platform states when questioned about Kasparian’s post. On Sunday, progressive social media influencer Brian Krassenstein also appeared to take pleasure in Graham’s death in a post to his million followers on X.com: “Lindsey Graham just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!” But, Krassenstein didn’t stop there, attempting to excuse his comment by blaming President Donald Trump for having made a similar remark about the death of former FBI director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Unlike Graham, however, Mueller did hurt people by leading the politically-motivated, thoroughly-discredited Russia collusion investigation hoax of Pres. Trump in 2016. Libs of TikTok contrasted Krassenstein’s take on Sen. Graham’s death with a previous post of Krassenstein saying that celebrating an opponent’s death lowers the celebrator to the level of the person they despise: “People who celebrate another person’s death like some are, are no better than those they criticize.” “Actress Margaret Cho mocks Lindsey Graham’s death and appears to wish Trump is next,” Libs of TikTok noted in a separate post, embedding video of the leftist entertainer’s comments. “Bye Lindsey. Bye Lindsey Graham: from the closet to the coffin,” Cho says, going on to say she has “hope” that Republican Senator Mitch McConnell – and another unnamed person – soon bring the death toll to three of her political opponents: “Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham – it does happen in threes – hope.” Apparently, Libs of TikTok couldn’t find any comments by Cho saying that it’s wrong to wish death upon people you don’t like. Actress Margaret Cho mocks Lindsey Graham’s death and appears to wish Trump is next pic.twitter.com/hQ2shOppXt — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 12, 2026  

Tensions with Iran remain high, but on Saturday's edition of MS NOW’s The Weekend, former Time editor turned Obama State Department official turned MS NOW analyst [the revolving door whirrs!] Richard Stengel found the real villain: President Trump’s blunt deterrent threat. Stengel denounced Trump’s warning that the U.S. would respond forcefully if Iran succeeded in assassinating him. According to the New York Post, Trump said he has left standing instructions to “just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.” He reiterated the point on Truth Social, declaring “1,000 missiles are locked and loaded” should Iran act on its threats against the sitting president. Stengel’s verdict? That amounts to “threatening genocide.” He called the language “incredibly vulgar and undiplomatic,” adding that it was “more than unseemly” for an American president to issue such a threat “in case he’s assassinated.” You know what else is vulgar, undiplomatic and maybe just a tad "unseemly," Richard? Assassinating the sitting President of the United States. Stengel did slip in a concession: “The Iranians aren’t good guys," and are long-time leaders of global terrorism. The fanatics in Tehran aren't "good guys?" Bold diplomatic démarche there, Richard! Under Obama and Stengel, the bad guys in Iran were treated like good guys.  We don't recall Stengel — or his former bosses — ever branding as “genocide” the civilian-targeted bombings ordered by Democratic presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. The firebombing of Dresden and the atomic strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed an estimated quarter-million civilians. Yet Trump’s warning of devastating retaliation against a terror-sponsoring regime killing the sitting U.S. president somehow crosses a bright line for Stengel.   MS NOW's Stengel: Trump's Retaliation For Iran Assassination Attempt Would Be 'Genocide' pic.twitter.com/HYifX5eBKR — Mark Finkelstein (@markfinkelstein) July 11, 2026 What would Stengel consider an appropriate American response if Iran actually managed to assassinate the President of the United States? Recalling our negotiators—strongly worded letter to follow? For Stengel and his MS NOW colleagues, tough deterrence is apparently more frightening than the very real Iranian threats that prompted it. President Trump, true to form, is making clear that America will not absorb the killing of its Commander-in-Chief with polite restraint—seemliness be damned!

Last week, a Utah judge convened an evidentiary hearing to possibly set the stage for trial in the murder of conservative icon and Turning Point USA Founder and CEO Charlie Kirk, allegedly by now-23-year-old Tyler Robinson. It served as the first opportunity for Utah prosecutors to unveil interviews as well as forensic and surveillance evidence against Robinson, but NBC’s lead newscasts couldn’t have cared any less. In fact, NBC’s Today never covered it, and Nightly News only mentioned it on Thursday with a one-minute-and-41-second story. NBC was certainly aware of it, but buried it on lesser-watched shows such as reports Tuesday and Wednesday on the overnight show Early Today and Monday through Friday on the mid-day show, NBC News Daily. “We're going to turn now to dramatic moments today in a Utah court in the case of the man accused of assassinating public activist Charlie Kirk. Never-before-seen photos of the alleged weapon and what the suspect's former roommate in a recorded interview revealed,” declared Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas on Thursday. WILD: This 101-second report on Thursday's 'NBC Nightly News' was the first time NBC News mentioned on their lead morning or evening newscasts there was even an evidentiary hearing against Tyler Robinson in connection to Charlie Kirk's assassination ABC and CBS have covered it… pic.twitter.com/ZEmc2GhFDl — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 10, 2026 Dangerous, unhinged conspiracy theories exploded in the months leading up to the hearing, but Comcast-owned NBC chose not to utilize public airwaves granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to serve the public by airing the evidence. ABC was only marginally better with seven minutes and 45 seconds. However, they at least provided ample mentions, with Good Morning America having covered it last Monday (news brief), Tuesday (full story), and Wednesday (news brief). Last week, World News Tonight had full reports on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. “A never-before-seen interview with [a] witness alleging Tyler Robinson expressed regret the day after Charlie Kirk was gunned down...Lance Twiggs, the suspect's former roommate and romantic partner, received messages from Robinson that prosecutors say contained a confession,” correspondent Kayna Whitworth said Wednesday from outside the courthouse. The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk allegedly expressed regret after the shooting, according to the suspect's former roommate and romantic partner in a never-before-seen interview. @KaynaWhitworth has more on what unfolded in the Utah courtroom. https://t.co/c2hmv4srTk pic.twitter.com/dj3NDl55VZ — World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) July 10, 2026 In a finding that would surely trigger the Status team led by Oliver Darcy and other so-called media reporters, the Bari Weiss-led CBS News had extensive coverage, tallying 20 minutes, even taking the time to outline the legal basics of the hearing. CBS Mornings covered it every day last week except for Thursday and, in the case of Tuesday, had two full segments with correspondent Carter Evans in Utah and legal analyst Caroline Polisi back in the studio for analysis, including an explanation of what an evidentiary hearing is even about (click “expand”): In contrast, CBS took the Charlie Kirk evidentiary hearing seriously, giving it 20 minutes between Monday and Friday mornings. On Tuesday, they had two segments, including one with @CarolinePolisi explaining what this even means (quirk of Utah law) and how the week would unfold pic.twitter.com/FWhmEfh1do — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 10, 2026 [T]his is not a trial, I mean, it is being dubbed as a mini trial, but it’s sort of a unique feature of Utah law. What we’re essentially seeing is like a grand jury process where you get to that probable cause to move forward with a trial. So, all the prosecutors need to do here is show that there’s enough probable cause to move on to an actual trial. We all just get to see it, the benefit of seeing it, because of Utah law. And so, what I’m watching for, really, is we’re getting just the beginning of the glimpses of the defense’s potential arguments here. They are pushing back on the authentication of the evidence. They won a motion yesterday to keep out this video compilation of the day of the shooting because they said it was altered. They said it gave the impression that it was one person, so there’s a clue there. She questioned, Kathryn Nester, the lead defense attorney, she questioned one of the law enforcement officers about a gun holster that was left at the scene. She questioned, you know, just the overall security, trying to point out how it was sort of lax, so you can see where they are going which I find – (….) [T]he evidence is overwhelming, and I think what we will see – remember this is five days – some of the most compelling evidence does come from his roommate/romantic partner, Lance Twiggs. We supposedly are going to hear a recorded audio of Lance Twiggs getting in all of those text messages. Remember, we essentially have a confession through those text messages. There was a letter left underneath his computer. (….) Look, this is a really difficult case to watch. You saw the judge even flinch there when watching the video recorded images of what happened. You also have Tyler Robinson’s parents who were in attendance as well, in a closed courtroom. The CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil recorded a similar output with full stories on Monday through Thursday, but surprisingly skipped Friday. Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graff inexplicably ruled Friday morning that, while the hearing would end Friday, he wouldn’t issue a ruling on whether there was probable cause to greenlight a full trial. Surprisingly, ABC and CBS ignored this development on their Friday night and Saturday morning newscasts. Nonetheless, it was an important week in the Kirk family’s pursuit of justice in Charlie’s untimely murder that shook the country. But over at NBC, they barely found it worth of anyone’s time.