Embarrassing news broke on Capitol Hill Thursday that House Minority Leader, and former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi was being challenged for leadership. NBC Nightly News was the only network evening news program to report the development, with Andrea Mitchell stating, “And in another sign of democratic disarray after their losses, longtime House Leader Nancy Pelosi is now being challenged for the first time by an Ohio congressman, Tim Ryan, from the kind of rustbelt district Donald Trump won overwhelmingly.”
But there is far more to the story than the Hillary Clinton super fan let on. According to Fox News Chief Congressional Correspondent Mike Emanuel on Special Report, “Congressman Tim Ryan, is challenging Nancy Pelosi saying Democrats will never be the majority party if they only win New York and California.”
A letter Ryan released to the public explains the desperate situation House Democrats find themselves, Emanuel reading from it:
Under our current leadership, Democrats have been reduced to our smallest congressional minority since 1929. This should indicate to all of us that keeping our leadership team completely unchanged will simply lead to more disappointment in future elections.
Ryan’s challenge comes the day after Pelosi fired a warning shot at potential challengers, claiming she had the support of two thirds of the caucus. “Leadership elections were supposed to be held today,” reported Emanuel, “They were bumped back. Now, Congressman Ryan has about two weeks to make his case to be the next Democratic leader.”
In stark contrast to their competitor, the superficial ABC decided to dedicate 20 whole seconds on World News Tonight to singer Adele being freaked out by a flying bat during her performance in Mexico City, Mexico. While on CBS Evening News, they reported on the country’s largest buffalo roundup and auction for over two minutes. A clear demonstration of how twisted their priorities are and who they’re looking out for.
Transcripts below:
NBC Nightly News
November 17, 2016
7:06:01 PM Eastern…
ANDREA MITCHELL: And in another sign of democratic disarray after their losses, longtime House Leader Nancy Pelosi is now being challenged for the first time by an Ohio congressman, Tim Ryan, from the kind of rustbelt district Donald Trump won overwhelmingly. Lester?
LESTER HOLT: Andrea Mitchell. Thank you, Andrea.
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FNC's Special Report
November 17, 2016
6:00:16 PM EasternBRET BAIER: This is a Fox News alert. I'm Bret Baier in Washington. We will have the latest news on the Trump transition process, for President-Elect Trump, in just a moment. But first, there's some news on the Democratic side of the House. There might be changes, some signals for House Democrats, a change perhaps coming. The headline here, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is being challenged by a relatively little known Ohio congressman. So what does that mean? Let's get the latest from Chief Congressional Correspondent Mike Emanuel on Capitol Hill. Hi Mike.
MIKE EMANUEL: Bret, good evening. Ohio Democrat, Congressman Tim Ryan, is challenging Nancy Pelosi saying Democrats will never be the majority party if they only win New York and California. Ryan's letter to colleagues saying, quote, “Under our current leadership, Democrats have been reduced to our smallest congressional minority since 1929. This should indicate to all of us that keeping our leadership team completely unchanged will simply lead to more disappointment in future elections.” Ryan sounded like he was ready to challenge Pelosi in an interview with Fox yesterday.
[Cuts to video]
TIM RYAN: Well, I don't know if I'm the solution. But, I think we need to have the conversation about who may be the solution. And maybe it's Nancy Pelosi, maybe it's not.
[Cuts back to live]
EMANUEL: [inaudible] returning to Capitol Hill, Pelosi has been chased by reporters asking her about her future. She said the problem in this election was at the presidential level and not with her. Pelosi has been a Democratic Party leader for more than a dozen years and yesterday fired a warning shot saying to colleagues, she has the support of two-thirds of the Democratic caucus. Today, Pelosi acknowledged the tension with her members.
[Cuts to video]
NANCY PELOSI: There's a lot of unease. I don't see anything about what is being suggested now as anything but the friendship of all of us. We are family. I never said unanimity, but I did say unified. And I know we will be.
[Cuts back to live]
EMANUEL: Leadership elections were supposed to be held today. They were bumped back. Now, Congressman Ryan has about two weeks to make his case to be the next Democratic leader. Bret?
BAIER: Mike Emanuel, live on the Hill. Mike, thank you.
