CBS Blames Trump for Wisconsin Town Struggling After Tornado

“MAGA-coded” CBS News has been on quite a run as of late, doing everything to argue to viewers that little to nothing has changed under David Ellison and Bari Weiss. Whether it’s blaming Ken Paxton for a pregnant woman’s death, both-sidesing October 7, cheering those who undermined DOGE, or peddling the latest Trump hoax, CBS Mornings in particular has been the same old liberal newscast.

On Tuesday’s show, they sent chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook to Menasha, Wisconsin, to blame President Trump for the town’s lack of recovery following a devastating July 27 tornado, suggesting FEMA aid was intentionally being withheld because the state has a Democrat governor.

Hilariously, the study LaPook cited came from the far-left Urban Institute. But worse yet, the discussion later ended with a veiled act of electioneering for voters to back Democrats.

Nate Burleson had two of an absurd three teases, declaring CBS “visit[ed] a Wisconsin town devastated by a tornado where some locals say politics are holding up FEMA relief” as they’ve “received no federal aid.”

Co-host Norah O’Donnell had the ominous set-up about “the story of a Wisconsin community ravaged by a tornado back in July still waiting for help from FEMA” after “[m]ore than 1,000 homes and other buildings in Menasha were damaged or destroyed.”

“[T]he Trump administration still hasn’t responded to requests for money to help rebuild. The agency is caught in the crosshairs of a political battle over FEMA’s role. Chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook went to Menasha to see how it affects people trying to pick up the pieces,” she added.

Days after the piece aired, FEMA did, in fact, approve disaster relief. That said, the story made little sense as a day prior, a local news report made no mention of blaming Trump. Instead, it was focused on an online survey about how best the city can rebuild smarter and stronger.

LaPook framed a local music festival to raise money for disaster relief as something that shouldn’t have been necessary (click “expand”):

LAPOOK: Usually, music is a sign of celebration.

RALLY FOR THE VALLEY SPEAKER: We commend you for all of the ways that you are working together.

LAPOOK: This is a call to action, and musicians from Hollywood to New York City have answered that call. In a modest Wisconsin town, nestled along Lake Winnebago —

JOHNSTON: It’s not a small endeavor, it turns out.

LAPOOK: — filmmaker Phil Johnston and a team of volunteers organized a fundraiser in response to the devastating tornado that struck Menasha on July 27.

JOHNSTON: It’s benefitting charities locally that are helping directly with the rebuilding, and in some cases, just literally handing checks to people who can’t pay their rent, who can’t buy diapers, who can’t put food on the table.

“The tornado carved a 14-mile path through the town, with peak winds reaching 140 miles per hour. Miraculously, no one died. On August 26, Democratic Governor Tony Evers asked President Trump to grant federal aid. Menasha is still waiting for an answer,” LaPook fretted.

The festival organizer also told LaPook that Wisconsinites “are upset that the government isn’t helping out a whole lot,” and that there “shouldn’t...be a fundraising concert that is giving you the basic needs to live your life.”

With only an on-screen credit from the partisan think tank, LaPook strongly implied partisan games were afoot:

An analysis of FEMA data shows Trump has approved 85 percent of requests from states that voted for him in 2024 and only 46 percent from states that voted for Harris. States with Democratic governors also have fared worse, like Wisconsin, which voted for Trump, but where Governor Evers has been an outspoken critic of the President.

LaPook went to a House Democrat to back him up before concluding with a sobbing mother who hasn’t been able to rebuild (with the implication being it’s Trump’s fault) (click “expand”):

CONGRESSMAN RICK LARSEN (D-WA): Should be 100 percent, or 99 percent, or 98 percent of all requests getting approved.

LAPOOK: Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen is co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill that would reform federal disaster response.

LARSEN: Politicizing disaster relief is a horrible approach to helping communities throughout the country.

LAPOOK: In a statement to CBS News, a White House spokesperson said, “there is no politicization to the President’s decisions on disaster relief,” and the President responds to each request with “great care and consideration.” Kelly Leery is hoping for more than consideration.

KELLY LEERY: I keep thinking it’s going to get easier, but it is not.

LAPOOK: Five years ago, she bought this dream house she shares with her daughter Addie. Leery received money from her insurance to rebuild, but it is $125,000 short of builder estimates. Leery said she and so many of her neighbors have no plans to leave town. They’re sticking together, Menasha strong.

LEERY [CRYING]: I think there’s a lot of people in my position. We don’t know; we’re just living on a wing and literally a prayer. Like, I did everything right, and I just want to rebuild my tiny little house, and I feel like we just need help.

Back live, LaPook argued the federal government — not the state or local governments (and certainly not insurance) — should be the ones to provide families full funding to rebuild their homes as they were:

Now, you might be asking: What about state assistance? Wisconsin state disaster fund doesn’t provide money directly to residents to cover their losses. That help comes from local governments, which don’t have a lot to give. Now, if you want to find out more about this, about the Rally for the Valley, you go to...rallyforthevalleywi.com.

O’Donnell seethed at Trump and the GOP, “This is so infuriating. People need help, and I think people are going to vote with their feet at the polls because they’re fed up with government. Why is it taking so long to get them help?”

Who, Norah, currently represents “government?” Republicans and President Trump. So, whom are you saying they should be voting for?

LaPook joined in: “That’s what the people I spoke to, they were furious about and really frustrated.” He explained the bill to reform FEMA aid hasn’t reached the House floor, adding: “And so, you wonder why people are frustrated? That’s one reason.”

Co-host, Democrat donor, and Obama family friend Gayle King agreed: “Well, it’s frustrating. You do everything right, as she said, and you still feeling you’re getting screwed. That’s what is so upsetting and painful.”

To see the relevant CBS transcript from October 6, click here.