Weeks after White House hype over the budget sequester fizzled as the policy went into effect, on Thursday's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams signaled a new media push to scare viewers about the modest reductions in government spending: "On the subject of air travel, sooner or later the so-called sequester in Washington is going to affect all Americans." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
Williams teased the news brief by warning: "The reason for major flight delays starting this weekend at a lot of the best known airports across this country." He later explained that "air traffic controller furloughs start" on Sunday and that "Officials warned today at airports like Atlanta, Chicago, O'Hare, Newark, JFK, Laguardia, delays will start to be felt."
The devastating impact? Williams: "[Delays] upwards of 50 minutes on some flights at O'Hare."
Here is a transcript of the April 18 report:
7:13PM ET TEASE:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: And later, the warning today from the FAA. The reason for major flight delays starting this weekend at a lot of the best known airports across this country.
7:22PM ET SEGMENT:
WILLIAMS: On the subject of air travel, sooner or later the so-called sequester in Washington is going to affect all Americans. Like starting this Sunday, when the air traffic controller furloughs start. Officials warned today at airports like Atlanta, Chicago, O'Hare, Newark, JFK, Laguardia, delays will start to be felt. Upwards of 50 minutes on some flights at O'Hare.
