Tuesday’s CBS Mornings had a maddening end to its segment about the increasing threats to the lives of Supreme Court justices for striking down (or at least weakening) Roe v. Wade as congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane claimed intelligence shared with CBS views “extremists” (meaning the far-right) as the group to worry about amid tensions surrounding the issue.
Why, you ask? According to MacFarlane, such “extremists” could be looking to carry out attacks on “abortion clinics and government officials.” If all that sounded familiar, it is as CNN spent Friday telling its viewers the same thing.
Co-host Nate Burleson began the segment by dispassionately noting the harassment justices and, for some of the, their young children have faced:
The Senate has moved to increase funding for the security of Supreme Court justices amid growing concerns about their safety. Abortion rights demonstrations continue nationwide. In the D.C. area., protesters gather outside some of the justices’ homes to make their voices heard before Congress debates the issue tomorrow.
MacFarlane first addressed the barricades outside the Supreme Court, noting “[c]rews have erected these tall, black, metal fences around the entirety of this complex” for “an added layer of security in an area that’s accustomed to protests but it's now the homes of Supreme Court justices where protesters have gathered.”
Citing the protests outside Justice Samuel Alito’s home in Fairfax County, Virginia, MacFarlane framed the White House as against the protests (even though they support them) by reading a Jen Psaki tweet that, along with condemning violence, insisted judges “must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety.”
The former NBC Washington reporter footnoted the Senate measure to increase security for the justices and their families, but stopped there and refused to elaborate on which side of the aisle participated in the protests.
Instead, he hinted that pro-lifers are the ones people need to worry about before concluding with an allusion to how the fencing around the Supreme Court was reminiscent of the Capitol after January 6):
The U.S. Marshals say they’ve increased security help to the high court, and last night, the U.S. Senate passed a bill extending additional security not just to the justices, but to their families. Meanwhile, an intelligence bulletin reviewed by CBS News warns extremists could be mobilizing during this powerful debate nationwide, potentially targeting abortion clinics and government officials.
MacFarlane should share this with Wisconsin Family Action out in Madison, Wisconsin after their headquarters was terrorized, a Northern Virginia pregnancy center whose building was defaced, and Concerned Women for America, whose building was vandalized with someone urinating on it.
MacFarlane’s spin campaign was brought to you by advertisers such as Progressive and Subaru. Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page.
To see the relevant CBS transcript from May 10, click “expand.”
CBS Mornings
May 10, 2022
7:01 a.m. Eastern [TEASE]UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Senators have passed a bill to expand security for Supreme Court justices after protests outside justice's homes.
JEN PSAKI: Violence, threats and intimidation have no place in political discourse.
(....)
7:09 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: SCOTUS Security Concerns; Senate Votes to Increase Security Funding Amid Abortion Protests]
NATE BURLESON: The Senate has moved to increase funding for the security of Supreme Court justices amid growing concerns about their safety. Abortion rights demonstrations continue nationwide. In the D.C. area., protesters gather outside some of the justices’ homes to make their voices heard before Congress debates the issue tomorrow. Scott MacFarlane is outside the high court this morning. Scott, what more can you tell us?
SCOTT MACFARLANE: Hey, Nate, good morning. Crews have erected these tall, black, metal fences around the entirety of this complex. It’s an added layer of security in an area that’s accustomed to protests but it's now the homes of Supreme Court justices where protesters have gathered. Last night, it was outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito, the author of the draft leaked Supreme Court opinion on abortion rights. The protesters have found the homes of other justices, the chief justice included. In a statement, the White House press secretary says protests “should never include violence, threats or vandalism,” and that judges should be free “to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety.” The U.S. Marshals say they’ve increased security help to the high court, and last night, the U.S. Senate passed a bill extending additional security not just to the justices, but to their families. Meanwhile, an intelligence bulletin reviewed by CBS News warns extremists could be mobilizing during this powerful debate nationwide, potentially targeting abortion clinics and government officials. As for this black fencing, this is very reminiscent to what we saw across the street outside the Capitol after the January 6th attack. No one likes the looks of it, but the belief is, Gayle, it could deter attacks.
GAYLE KING: You’re right, Scott. Unfortunately, it looks very familiar. Thank you very much.
(....)
8:01 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREN HEADLINE: Supreme Security]
TONY DOKOUPIL: The Senate increases spending on Supreme Court security amid rising tensions over Roe v. Wade.
MACFARLANE: Crews have erected tall, black, metal fences around the entirety of the complex, but it's now the homes of Supreme Court justices where protesters have gathered.
