Networks Finally Admit Hong Was Nuts, Continue ‘Moderate’ vs. ‘Progressive’ Word Games

On Wednesday, the “Big Three” networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC each covered on the flagship morning newscasts the results of Tuesday’s primaries in six states, focusing specifically on contests in Minnesota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. This led to more labeling chicanery with 12 combined uses of “progressive” and “socialist” versus nine for “centrist,” “establishment,” or “moderate.”

Of course, there was none for “far-left” or “communist.” But most egregiously, ABC and CBS conveniently chose to wait until Wisconsin communist Francesca Hong lost to let their viewers know about a few of her radical positions.

ABC’s Good Morning America started its coverage with fill-in co-host Rachel Scott tossing to correspondent Jay O’Brien by saying Tuesday “was a big test not only for progressives but also for the President.” ABC used “progressive” four times, “socialist” once, and “establishment” twice.

O’Brien said there was “a major upset” in the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary as “Democratic socialist” Hong failed to continue riding the “progressive wave,” instead losing to “the establishment-backed David Crowley...even as polls showed Hong with a comfortable lead.”

Only then did he footnote Hong’s absurd positions, but those were even made with an attempted excuse:

But many of the country’s top progressives distanced themselves from Hong, who previously called to defund the police. And in a 2020, since-deleted social media post, wrote “cancel Thanksgiving,” saying it promoted colonialism. She has since said her views have changed.

O’Brien had a single sentence about Minnesota: “Meanwhile, in neighboring Minnesota, the progressive candidate, Lieutenant Governor Penny Flanagan, capturing the Democratic nomination for Senate, a victory for the party’s left-wing heading into the midterms[.]”

There was no mention of Flanagan’s own radical positions, such as demanding parents listen to children (no matter how young) if they want to be transgender.

O’Brien devoted nearly the rest of his piece to the South Carolina Republican special primary to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham. He did conclude, however, on the GOP primary for Minnesota’s governor in which Mike Lindell lost.

CBS Mornings had White House and campaign correspondent Ed O’Keefe on the bump, telling viewers there was “another tick-tock tight contest in the Midwest between a moderate and progressive Democrat” as “Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, appeared to have all the attention against Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, but Crowley just eked it out” with a “margin of victory about as thin as supermarket-sliced cheese.”

After explaining why the race was so close (because so many candidates had dropped out after early voting started), O’Keefe brought up Hong’s radicalism (click “expand”):

But Crowley earned the support of popular, outgoing Governor Tony Evers, who spent the last few weeks warning Wisconsinites that Hong would cost the party the governorship. She had expressed opposition to things like fireworks and Thanksgiving, and called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and once called for defunding the police. She’s backed off most of these positions, but for now, Crowley now set to face Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany in a race CBS News considers a toss-up[.]

(....)

Then, up in Minnesota, Democrat Peggy Flanagan will face Michelle Tafoya, maybe a familiar face to some of you. She’s a former sportscaster who literally came off the sidelines to run for the Senate. The GOP would like to make this a competitive contest. CBS News currently rates it as a seat leaning to the Democrats[.]

Concerning the labeling writ large on CBS Mornings, O’Keefe used the “progressive” and “socialist” label once each, and “moderate” twice.

At least NBC’s Today had mentioned Wong’s bonkers hot takes before Thursday. They kept up the ideological charade, however. They dropped the “progressive” label three times, “socialist” three times, “moderate” or “centrist” four times, and “establishment” once.

“NBC News projecting Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won the Democratic primary for governor, defeating Francesca Hong. Her loss seen as a setback for progressives, who have seen big wins in other high-profile primaries this election season,” announced co-host Savannah Guthrie.

Congressional correspondent Ryan Nobles called “moderate” Crowley’s win “the big surprise” over “Democratic socialist Francesca Hong.”

Nobles kept repeating the “moderate” moniker to emphasize Crowley isn’t crazy tacitly:

It is a major win for moderate Democrats and what has become a very competitive primary season. This morning, an upset in Wisconsin with national implications. Establishment-backed candidate David Crowley defeating Democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the race for governor. The race, a much-needed win for moderate Democrats as the party debates its future with multiple recent victories from very progressive candidates ahead of the key midterm elections that could shape Congress.

As he did the day prior, he said Hong had “draw[n] controversy over some past positions, including calls to abolish the police, and to cancel Thanksgiving, though she recently backtracked under pressure.”

Before shifting to South Carolina, and a longtime Connecticut Democrat losing (and, like O’Keefe, closing on Lindell’s loss), he brought up Minnesota. Notice Nobles’s fumble in referring to Congresswoman Angie Craig as an “incumbent” (click “expand”):

NOBLES: But the Democrats’ ideological divide continuing, on display elsewhere in the Midwest with Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, another progressive, defeating moderate incumbent [sic] Angie Craig in a Senate primary.

FLANAGAN: This campaign was about the many versus the money. [CHEERS] [SCREEN WIPE] Well, guess what? The many just won.

NOBLES: She’ll face off in November against former NFL sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya.

While it could have been argued Craig was the presumptive incumbent since she was already in Congress (albeit in the House), that still was not quite correct in the literal sense.

To see the relevant transcripts from August 12, click here (for ABC), here (for CBS), and here (for NBC).