With Democrats winning control of the House of Representatives during Tuesday’s midterm elections, on Wednesday morning, NBC’s Today show was giddy over the prospect of liberal lawmakers using their “newfound political power” to “flex their muscles” and launch a series of investigations into the Trump administration.
“This morning, Americans and President trump are waking up to a new reality here in Washington, divided government. One-party rule is over...,”correspondent Peter Alexander proclaimed early in the show. Moments later, he excitedly declared: “...with a House in their hands, Democrats are poised to flex their muscles, taking over committees, including House Intelligence and Oversight, with the power to launch investigations into the President and subpoena top administration officials and documents.”
A full report was devoted to the Democrats’ investigative plans in the 7:30 a.m. ET half hour. While Capitol Hill Correspondent Kasie Hunt acknowledged that impeachment of the President was “likely off the table,” she predicted that “Democrats will likely look to spend their newfound political capital in other places,” with investigations into the White House being “at the top of the list.”
Hunt proceeded to list all of the lines of attack the Democratic House would pursue:
The public may finally get a look at President Trump’s personal tax returns, some three years after he promised repeatedly to release them. Democratic lawmakers are expected to use the House Oversight and the House Intelligence committees to take closer looks at the White House. And perhaps the most volatile issue, the Mueller probe, and a revival of the House’s Russia investigation...
The reporter applauded the fact that “controversial Congressman Devin Nunes” would no longer chair the House Intelligence Committee, teeing up a soundbite of MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow gleefully announcing Tuesday night: “Devin Nunes will now dissolve back into obscurity.” Appearing on the left-wing cable channel, the likely new Democratic chair of the committee, Congressman Adam Schiff, promised: “We’re going to look at the work the GOP obstructed on our committee.”
Hunt threw out some more investigation topics that Democrats – and the media – would love to examine:
As well as some of the administration’s most divisive actions, like the child separation policy at the border and the response to the devastation of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Also expect a more critical look at the President and his family’s private businesses, including their dealings with foreign countries, specifically those with heavy investment in Trump properties.
Wrapping up the segment, the correspondent reiterated that “we’re not going to see that impeachment conversation right away,” but emphasized: “I do think you’re going to see a lot of focus on the President’s tax returns.”
After Democrats were projected to win control of the House Tuesday night, Fox News Senior Political Analyst Brit Hume accurately predicted “adoring” media coverage of any investigations launched by the anti-Trump lawmakers:
Hume’s analysis was correct, but NBC didn’t even wait for any investigations to begin before it lavished such “adoring” coverage.
Here is a full transcript of Hunt’s November 7 report:
7:32 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Alright, back to the midterm elections. Some key questions this morning, what will Democrats do with their newfound power in the House and with this divided Congress and politics so divisive, is anything actually going to be accomplished? Well, we put that question to our Capitol Hill Correspondent Kasie Hunt. She’s back with that. Good morning again.
HODA KOTB: Hi, Kasie.
KASIE HUNT: Good morning again to you. With bipartisanship really currently at an all-time low, legislation could grind to a halt. But what can Democrats get done with one half of Congress?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: What’s Next for Divided Nation?; House Dems Expected to Launch Investigations]
This morning, campaign rhetoric meets congressional reality. While some candidates discussed impeachment on the campaign trail.
REP. MAXINE WATERS [D-CA]: The American people must stand up, and I say they must call for his impeachment.
HUNT: That’s likely off the table for the House. With the Republican-held Senate unlikely to remove the President from office, Democrats will likely look to spend their newfound political capital in other places. At the top of the list, investigations with their newly earned subpoena power. The public may finally get a look at President Trump’s personal tax returns, some three years after he promised repeatedly to release them.
Democratic lawmakers are expected to use the House Oversight and the House Intelligence committees to take closer looks at the White House. And perhaps the most volatile issue, the Mueller probe, and a revival of the House’s Russia investigation, which controversial Congressman Devin Nunes will no longer chair.
RACHEL MADDOW: Devin Nunes will now dissolve back into obscurity.
REP. ADAM SCHIFF [D, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE]: We’re going to look at the work the GOP obstructed on our committee.
HUNT: As well as some of the administration’s most divisive actions, like the child separation policy at the border and the response to the devastation of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Also expect a more critical look at the President and his family’s private businesses, including their dealings with foreign countries, specifically those with heavy investment in Trump properties.
One big question is, who will lead all of this? Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the party the last time the Democrats held the majority. But according to NBC News exit polling, she’s one of the least popular figures in U.S. politics. But for now, she’s enjoying a victory lap for her party.
REP. NANCY PELOSI [HOUSE MINORITY LEADER]: The American people want peace. They want results.
HUNT: And so, while she may be unpopular, she has been effective as a leader. And there’s not really any indication that Democrats are gonna pick anyone else to be the Speaker of the House. And I do think it’s important to underscore that we’re not going to see that impeachment conversation right away, but I do think you’re going to see a lot of focus on the President’s tax returns.
GUTHRIE: Kasie, thank you.
