The major evening network newscasts each melted down over former President’s “Day One Dictator” joke during a town hall event with Fox News host Sean Hannity, seizing on the remarks to further push a “threats to democracy” narrative. Only one of these networks was honest enough to show that the purpose of such coverage was to pushing Biden taking points.
The award for transparency in propaganda goes to ABC, which made these disclosures both at the start and finish of their report:
DAVID MUIR: We turn now to the race for president, and amid Donald Trump's threats of retribution while on the campaign trail, if he's elected president again, the former president was asked about the warnings from some that Trump would act like a dictator if elected. Asked, would he promise Americans he would never abuse his power for retribution? Tonight, his answer. The Biden campaign arguing, do not take this answer lightly. And will Trump's Republican opponents address this in the debate? Here's Rachel Scott.
…
RACHEL SCOTT: The Biden campaign seizing on those comments, saying that Donald Trump is going to behave and act like a dictator and that he just confirmed that, challenging his Republican rivals to address it on the debate stage tonight here in Alabama, David.
MUIR: Rachel Scott reporting on the campaign trail. Rachel, thank you.
All three networks, to wit: ABC, CBS and NBC, did some manner of this report. There is the anchor’s nervous framing of the story as an ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY!!11!!11!, a replay of the same portion of the Trump-Hannity town hall, and a correspondent’s close with brow that is furrowed.
But, as we learned, the report is merely a conveyance with which to push Team Biden’s talking points. ABC were the only ones to do so transparently and with full disclosure.
Click the respective links to view transcripts of the full aforementioned reports as aired on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023, as aired on ABC, CBS, and NBC.
