On Wednesday, NBC’s Today was beside itself as the Iowa legislature approved a six-week limit on abortions with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, so NBC naturally threw a pit party for Hawkeye State baby killers in, bemoaning the new “battle lines” and “intense debate” resulting from the move.
As our Bill D’Agostino wrote back in 2019, for example, the networks didn’t do this with New York’s radical abortion measure.
“Breaking overnight, battle lines. Lawmakers in Iowa pass a bill banning most abortions after just six weeks. That state, the latest flash point in the nationwide showdown over the hot button issue,” co-host Hoda Kotb fretted in a tease.
Later, co-host Craig Melvin opened the segment: “Now to that breaking news overnight tied to the nationwide battle over abortion. Republican lawmakers in Iowa passing a near total ban after hours of intense debate and protests there as well.”
Correspondent Shaquille Brewster reported from Des Moines that the Iowa legislature’s special session lasted 15 hours, “but had one goal, to add abortion restrictions across the state of Iowa” and, “[f]or Republicans here, it was mission accomplished as legal access to abortion nationwide continues to fall.”
Brewster’s soundbites were dominated by angry protesters supporting baby killing.
Along with screaming, Brewster had soundbites of “shame on you,” one ironically screeching to Iowa Republicans that “blood is on your hands” (in that women will die), and one Iowa House Democrat stating “women will die in Iowa” as “[c]ommon sense” in allowing people to kill their children “has walked out the door.”
Brewster’s own framing was also slanted, bemoaning the “new restrictive ban on abortion” and the six-week ban being a heartbeat bill, which comes “before most women know they're pregnant.”
He also puffed up two abortionists, using the term “abortion care” (click “expand”):
BREWSTER: What kind of impact would this have on the abortion care you provide?
FEMALE IOWA ABORTIONIST: It would a huge impact. This would affect almost all the patients we see.
BREWSTER: The bill includes exceptions to protect the life of the mother and for rape and incest if reported to law enforcement, public health authorities, or a doctor.
(....)
BREWSTER: Iowa's governor promising to sign the bill into law on Friday. Iowa would be the 16th state restricting abortion access to six weeks or less. 14 of those states currently ban the procedure will few exceptions.
(....)
ABORTIONIST DR. AMY BINGAMAN: I want to continue practicing medicine and I think the language is so vague that I need to know when I can intervene to save a woman's life.
Only near the end did he have a short snippet from a pro-life demonstrator: “And as soon as that child is conceived, it is a child. It’s a life and it matter.”
To further prop up his case, he used a loaded poll to claim Iowans support even late-term abortions:
A March poll showed most Iowans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, including 70 percent of women. But this morning, the limited providers across the state are scrambling, saying they're unsure of what happens next.
Before tossing back to Melvin, Brewster again made sure to frame abortion as necessary with abortion “clinics...already making arraignments, moving up appointments and making — or looking for out of state options for women seeking care.”
Exit question: When will the liberal media actually use negative framing to describe late-term abortions?
Wednesday’s abortion propaganda was made possible thanks to advertisers such as Citi and Hyundai. Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page.
To see the relevant NBC transcript from July 12, click “expand.”
NBC’s Today
July 12, 2023
7:01 a.m. Eastern [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking Overnight; Battle Lines]
HODA KOTB: Breaking overnight, battle lines. Lawmakers in Iowa pass a bill banning most abortions after just six weeks. That state, the latest flash point in the nationwide showdown over the hot button issue.
(....)
7:10 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Breaking Overnight; Iowa Passes Six-Week Abortion Ban]
CRAIG MELVIN: Now to that breaking news overnight tied to the nationwide battle over abortion. Republican lawmakers in Iowa passing a near total ban after hours of intense debate and protests there as well. NBC’s Shaquille Brewster has the details for us on this one. Shaq, good morning to you.
SHAQUILLE BREWSTER: Good morning, Craig. Well, that 15-hour special session went into the night but had one goal, to add abortion restrictions across the state of Iowa. For Republicans here, it was mission accomplished as legal access to abortion nationwide continues to fall.
[PRO-ABORTION WOMEN SCREAMING]
PRO-ABORTION FEMALE PROTESTER #1: Shame on you!
PRO-ABORTION FEMALE PROTESTER #2: Blood is on your hands!
BREWSTER: This morning Iowa on the verge of enacting a new restrictive ban on abortion.
[PRO-ABORTION WOMEN SCREAMING]
MALE PASTOR: Back away from me!
BREWSTER: Despite hours of intense protests and strong debate —
UNIDENTIFIED IOWA LAWMAKER: The bill is declared to have passed the Senate and the title was agreed to.
BREWSTER Iowa lawmakers overnight passing legislation blocking the procedure after the detection of cardiac activity, banning abortion at roughly six weeks, before most women know they're pregnant.
IOWA STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRAD SHERMAN (R): If not prepared to have a baby they shouldn't have sex.
BREWSTER: Iowa passed a nearly identical version in 2018 that was quickly blocked by the courts, but that law came before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Republicans hope a more conservative state Supreme Court will let this stand. [TO ABORTIONIST] What kind of impact would this have on the abortion care you provide?
FEMALE IOWA ABORTIONIST: It would a huge impact. This would affect almost all the patients we see.
BREWSTER: The bill includes exceptions to protect the life of the mother and for rape and incest if reported to law enforcement, public health authorities, or a doctor.
IOWA STATE REPRESENTATIVE BETH WESSEL-KROESCHELL (D): If this bill becomes law, women will die in Iowa. Common sense has walked out the door.
BREWSTER: Iowa's governor promising to sign the bill into law on Friday. Iowa would be the 16th state restricting abortion access to six weeks or less. 14 of those states currently ban the procedure will few exceptions.
PRO-LIFE SUPPORTER: And as soon as that child is conceived, it is a child. It’s a life and it matter.
BREWSTER: A March poll showed most Iowans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, including 70 percent of women. But this morning, the limited providers across the state are scrambling, saying they're unsure of what happens next.
ABORTIONIST DR. AMY BINGAMAN: I want to continue practicing medicine and I think the language is so vague that I need to know when I can intervene to save a woman's life.
BREWSTER: That ban goes into effect immediately after being signed by the governor on Friday. Clinics saying they’re already making arraignments, moving up appointments and making — or looking for out of state options for women seeking care. Many of the lawmakers yesterday said they expect this to end up right back in the courts. Craig?
MELVIN: Alright. Shaq Bruster for us there. Shaq, thank you.
