While both ABC's Good Morning America and CBS This Morning on Thursday offered brief reports on seventeen states suing the Obama administration over the President's executive order granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants without congressional approval, NBC's Today completely skipped the legal challenge to the controversial action.
Good Morning America news anchor Amy Robach informed viewers that "the first major lawsuit has been filed against President Obama's executive order on immigration." After noting the number of states involved, she added, "It accuses the President of failing to enforce laws enacted by Congress. The President insists he is acting within his legal authority."
On CBS This Morning, fill-in co-host Jeff Glor described the suit this way: "States want to block his plan to protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation. They say his executive action tramples on the Constitution."
While not one word on immigration was mentioned on Today, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams did make it the subject of "slow-jamming the news" on Tuesday's Tonight Show – making sure to scold Republicans for not giving in to Obama's demand to pass comprehensive legislation.
Ironically, during the comedy skit, Williams told the audience: "For more on all of this, join us on NBC Nightly News..." However, his broadcast did not report on the lawsuit Wednesday night (which NBCNews.com first reported in the 3 p.m. ET hour that afternoon) and ignored Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson being grilled on illegal immigration during a Tuesday congressional hearing.
It remains to be seen whether any of Thursday's network evening newscasts will mention the lawsuit.
Here are transcripts of the December 4 news briefs on the ABC and CBS morning shows:
Good Morning America
7:12 AM ET
AMY ROBACH: Well, the first major lawsuit has been filed against President Obama's executive order on immigration. Texas is leading that suit, joined by these sixteen other states, challenging the President's order, which will allow up to 5 million undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Obama Immigration Lawsuit; 17 States Fight to Stop Executive Action]
It accuses the President of failing to enforce laws enacted by Congress. The President insists he is acting within his legal authority.
CBS This Morning
7:31 AM ETJEFF GLOR: The Austin American-Statesman says Texas is leading seventeen states in a lawsuit challenging challenging President Obama's immigration order. States want to block his plan to protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation. They say his executive action tramples on the Constitution.
