On Monday, both and ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS This Morning adopted Democratic Party talking points as reporters spun a congressional spending deal to avoid a government shutdown as a win for liberal lawmakers.
ABC Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce noted that the budget agreement “ends any suspense over a government shutdown and delivers victories for both parties.” After mentioning that “Republicans are likely to tout a big boost in military spending,” Bruce declared: “Democrats are going to be pleased that they were able to hold off cuts to popular domestic programs, including for medical research and infrastructure.”
The journalist fairly concluded that the legislation “will be the first major bipartisan legislative victory for the President so far during his administration.” However, co-host George Stephanopoulos jumped in to offer this positive headline for Democrats: “And, Mary, the other big victory Democrats are claiming is refusing to fund President Trump’s border wall, but there is money in there for border security.”
Bruce replied: “Yeah, George, perhaps what’s more interesting than what is in the bill is what is not in the bill. There is no funding for the President’s border wall.”
CBS’s morning show also touted the deal as a Democratic success story, as correspondent Nancy Cordes announced: “Both parties are calling this a good agreement, with Democrats in particular crowing about the fact that they managed to block some of President Trump’s key demands.” She eagerly told viewers all that Democrats had supposedly won:
For instance, the deal includes $1.5 billion for more border security, but the bill specifically states that the money cannot be used to build a new border wall. The bill keeps funding for Planned Parenthood in place through September and Democrats say that it keeps 99% of funding for the EPA, an agency that Trump – Mr. Trump had vowed to gut.
Moments later, she observed: “This is the first big bipartisan piece of legislation moving forward since President Trump took office...”
While NBC’s Today covered the spending bill, it did not portray the deal as a victory for one side or the other. Though correspondent Kristen Welker did make sure to emphasize what the President failed to get:
Congress reached that funding deal overnight and after President Trump dropped his demand that spending for the border wall be included. Mr. Trump aiming to jump start the next 100 days of his presidency after a somewhat rocky start. Overnight, progress on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers reaching a deal to fund the government until the fall, averting a potential government shutdown. The bill will include billions in defense spending and border security, but none of that money goes to funding a border wall or hiring I.C.E. agents.
Here are full transcripts of May 1 reports on the ABC and CBS morning shows:
GMA
7:08 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re going to get the latest now from Washington, where the President has started his second hundred days taking on the tensions of North Korea. He says the U.S. might be forced to strike North Korea’s nuclear weapons and called Kim Jong-Un “a pretty smart cookie.”
The White House hoping for a health care vote this week. President Trump says ObamaCare is dead, promises to guarantee coverage of pre-existing conditions, but that provision absent from the latest GOP plan.
And overnight, Congress did reach a deal to prevent a government shutdown and fund the government through September. Our Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce on Capitol Hill with the details. Good morning, Mary.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, George. A rare moment of agreement here on Capitol Hill late last night. Republicans and Democrats agreeing on a spending bill. Nearly $1 trillion to fund the government through September.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Congress Reaches Budget Deal; Set to Approve Trillion Dollar Spending Bill]
Now, this ends any suspense over a government shutdown and delivers victories for both parties. Republicans are likely to tout a big boost in military spending, more than $12 billion. While Democrats are going to be pleased that they were able to hold off cuts to popular domestic programs, including for medical research and infrastructure.
Now, this catch-all spending bill, which is expected to pass later this week, will be the first major bipartisan legislative victory for the President so far during his administration.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And, Mary, the other big victory Democrats are claiming is refusing to fund President Trump’s border wall, but there is money in there for border security. What’s it going to cover?
BRUCE: Yeah, George, perhaps what’s more interesting than what is in the bill is what is not in the bill. There is no funding for the President’s border wall. Now, this does include $1.5 billion for border security, but none of that will go towards construction of an actual physical barrier. Despite the President’s insistence that that funding be included, the fight over the border wall will now have to wait at least until the fall. George?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Until September. Mary Bruce, thanks very much.
CBS This Morning
7:12 AM ET
NORAH O’DONNELL: Republicans and Democrats in Congress announced overnight that they reached an agreement on a massive spending bill. Some of President Trump’s key policies are not included. The $1 trillion bill would fund the government through September. Nancy Cordes is on Capitol Hill. Nancy, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: $1 Trillion Deal; Congress Agrees on Plan to Avert a Gov’t Shutdown]
NANCY CORDES: Good morning. Both parties are calling this a good agreement, with Democrats in particular crowing about the fact that they managed to block some of President Trump’s key demands. For instance, the deal includes $1.5 billion for more border security, but the bill specifically states that the money cannot be used to build a new border wall. The bill keeps funding for Planned Parenthood in place through September and Democrats say that it keeps 99% of funding for the EPA, an agency that Trump – Mr. Trump had vowed to gut.
On defense, there is a bump in military spending of $14.8 billion, about half of the $30 billion that the White House had been asking for.
Other notable features of this spending package, it permanently extends health care coverage for coal miners and it provides $68 million to help reimburse local police forces for their role in protecting President Trump when he travels to his homes in New York and Florida.
This is the first big bipartisan piece of legislation moving forward since President Trump took office and we’re expecting, Charlie, that the House and Senate will vote on it early this week.
CHARLIE ROSE: Nancy, thanks.
