In a fawning segment on NBC’s Today show on Tuesday, the network marked Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell’s 40 years of liberal bias. Co-host Savannah Guthrie even proclaimed: “As far as I’m concerned, this should be a national holiday.” Other hosts and correspondents chimed in to praise Mitchell’s career during the glowing five-minute montage that followed.
As the clip reel began, Guthrie announced: “She’s just a legend, she’s a total legend. She’s a trail blazer, she’s a pioneer.” A soundbite then ran of Hillary Clinton applauding Mitchell during a press conference in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign: “I love you, Andrea, you are indefatigable. You’re my kind of woman.” MSNBC loved that quote so much it actually used it in a promo for the cable channel.
White House Correspondent Kristen Welker thought working with Mitchell was like a wonderful dream: “Sometimes I just pinch myself that I get to work with Andrea Mitchell. She’s one of the people who inspired me to get into this career. She has become such a mentor to me, I’ve learned so much.”
Many of the supposed highlights from Mitchell’s career that were included in the piece showed her either bashing Republicans or tossing softballs to Democrats.
Those sections would then be briefly interrupted by colleagues heaping even more sycophantic praise on the veteran reporter. Guthrie compared Mitchell to a rock star: “Seeing Andrea Mitchell around the Washington bureau was like probably how some people feel about running into Bruce Springsteen or Muhammad Ali. I mean, I was afraid to even look her in the eye.” NBC News Executive Producer Libby Leist gushed: “I started working with Andrea in my early 20s. Just being with her every day was like a graduate degree in journalism.”
Guthrie chimed back in: “I still to this day think, what would Andrea do? Would Andrea ask that question? I still call her before I have a big interview and I still crave her respect.”
After the montage, Guthrie and rest of the Today show cast offered a champagne toast to Mitchell, who joined them on set: “Can we raise a glass to Andrea Mitchell, who is one of the most generous colleagues, friends, humans, she shows all of us how it’s done every single day....We are honored to sit next to you, Andrea, and we love you.”
Filling in for Megyn Kelly in the 9:00 a.m. ET hour, Guthrie brought Mitchell on once again to be honored. During that segment, Mitchell reflected on her career and declared: “I have so many stories I still want to cover. We’re right in the middle of the biggest Washington story that we’ve ever – any of us have ever covered, so many challenges. And to get it right and to make sure we don’t mess up because all eyes are on us, and of course, the attention of the White House on any mistake.”
Appearing alongside Mitchell, Jenna Bush Hager wondered: “So that doesn’t make you want to retire, no?” Mitchell assured her: “Not in one little bit.” Hager noted: “Fight harder.” Mitchell agreed: “You got it.”
After Guthrie asked what keeps her going, Mitchell replied:
I just think there’s so much to learn. And we also have a big responsibility. You know, every day when I used to walk through those gates at the White House, I used to think, “Wow, I am the person communicating something to the people out there, to all of the citizens and all of the voters and the young people.” And now, when we think about the kids and children at the border, I just am – I’m passionate about all these issues.
Guthrie affirmed: “You are.”
Transitioning to another topic, Guthrie asked: “And I think you would say that you’re a feminist, right?” Mitchell enthusiastically responded: “Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.” Guthrie observed: “You’re not afraid of the F-word.” Mitchell assured her: “No, no.”
The Media Research Center has thoroughly documented how much Mitchell’s liberal political views have influenced her reporting over the past four decades at NBC. Despite the overwhelming evidence, during a 2017 interview, Mitchell laughably claimed she “can’t think of” ever showing any bias, except maybe being “too aggressive” on Hillary Clinton.
Here are excerpts of the July 31 Today show segment celebrating Mitchell:
8:42 AM ET
HODA KOTB: This is a big day. We are back on this Tuesday morning and it is a special day for our dear, dear friend Andrea Mitchell.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: As far as I’m concerned, this should be a national holiday. Today our Andrea is celebrating, get this, 40 years with NBC News. She is amazing, and we want to celebrate you. Take a look.
[VIDEO MONTAGE]
(...)
GUTHRIE: She’s just a legend, she’s a total legend. She’s a trail blazer, she’s a pioneer.
HILLARY CLINTON: I love you, Andrea, you are indefatigable. You’re my kind of woman.
(...)
RACHEL MADDOW: The great Andrea Mitchell was not having it.
ANDREA MITCHELL [SHOUTING AT FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON]: What about the Russian investigation?! Can you assure us that Russia –
KRISTEN WELKER: Sometimes I just pinch myself that I get to work with Andrea Mitchell. She’s one of the people who inspired me to get into this career. She has become such a mentor to me, I’ve learned so much. I think a lot of people would be surprised, we laugh a lot, too.
(...)
MITCHELL: NASA risked losing it’s last landing opportunity so that the president [Reagan] could get an extra hour of sleep.
MITCHELL [TO REAGAN]: What do you say to those who feel that there is somehow a perception that America is weakened?
RONALD REAGAN: I’m as frustrated as anyone.
MITCHELL [TO GEORGE H.W. BUSH]: You were asked at the first debate what new weapons systems you would cut. You mentioned three that had already been canceled?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH: Do you want one now?
MICHAEL DUKAKIS: May I disagree with the premise of your question.
MITCHELL: For the sake of argument, no.
MITCHELL: NBC News has learned that Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill, and the Senate will all be on trial.
MITCHELL: Fulfilling his promise of hope will be Clinton’s greatest challenge.
MITCHELL: Unlike larger Whitewater case.
MITCHELL: Sex with young intern.
MITCHELL: Iraq may be taking advantage of Bill Clinton at a time when the president is busy with Lewinsky matter.
GUTHRIE: Seeing Andrea Mitchell around the Washington bureau was like probably how some people feel about running into Bruce Springsteen or Muhammad Ali. I mean, I was afraid to even look her in the eye.
(...)
LIBBY LEIST [NBC NEWS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER]: I started working with Andrea in my early 20s. Just being with her every day was like a graduate degree in journalism. Andrea was one of the first people I wanted to call when I got named executive producer. And we had a little cry.
MITCHELL: Isn’t there the appearance that the U.S. has backed down?
GEORGE H.W. BUSH: The U.S. must not back down.
MITCHELL [TO BILL CLINTON]: A lot of people perceive you as another politician. How did that happen?
MITCHELL [TO BARACK OBAMA]: What would reassure you that the surge is worth it?
MITCHELL: The nitty-gritty work of –
SARAH PALIN: The nitty-gritty, like, you mean the fish slime.
MITCHELL: Can Hillary win this one?
BILL CLINTON: Sure.
(...)
GUTHRIE: I still to this day think, what would Andrea do? Would Andrea ask that question? I still call her before I have a big interview and I still crave her respect.
(...)
KOTB: Wow.
GUTHRIE: Can we raise a glass to Andrea Mitchell, who is one of the most generous colleagues, friends, humans, she shows all of us how it’s done every single day.
KOTB: Yes, every day.
GUTHRIE: We are honored to sit next to you, Andrea, and we love you.
MITCHELL: I just want to raise a toast to NBC News and my NBC family. All the women, and, yes, Al, all the men who have mentored me and befriended me. I love you all.
KOTB: We love you, Andrea.
GUTHRIE: We adore, you, Andrea.
KOTB: Cheers!
GUTHRIE: Enjoy today. To 40 more!
MITCHELL: And all of our people behind the cameras!
GUTHRIE: Absolutely.
