On Monday, the network morning shows were eagerly awaiting President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration as hosts and correspondents touted his laundry list of leftist agenda items he planned to enact by fiat in his first few days in office. Of course none of the broadcasts actually labeled the proposed executive actions as liberal, but merely as an effort “aimed at reversing some of President Trump’s most controversial policies.”
“President-Elect Biden lays out an ambitious agenda. What Americans can expect in his first 100 days in office,” co-host Robin Roberts proclaimed at the top of ABC’s Good Morning America. Minutes later, correspondent Mary Bruce excitedly announced that Biden’s series of controversial unilateral orders were “intended to sort of shock the political system”:
Joe Biden will be launching a blitz of executive actions intended to set the tone for his new administration, much of this will be aimed at undoing some of President Trump’s most controversial moves, but also jump-starting Biden’s agenda. So starting on day one, you’re going to see, among other things, Biden taking steps to undo the so-called Muslim ban, rejoin the Paris climate accord, and make masks mandatory on all federal lands.
The enthusiasm on CBS This Morning was palpable as co-host Anthony Mason opened the show by declaring: “President-Elect Biden has ambitious plans on everything from the coronavirus to the economy. We’ll show you what he’ll do on day one to undo some of President Trump’s policies.”
Introducing the segment that followed, fellow co-host and Democratic donor Gayle King happily noted: “We are learning new details about what President-Elect Joe Biden plans to do in his first days in office. They include rolling back some of President Trump’s best-known policies.” She then turned to correspondent Weijia Jiang and gushed: “Weijia, they have a lot planned on the very first day.”
Jiang agreed: “They do, Gayle. They’re going to get right to work....you’re right, he has announced an aggressive plan for his first ten days in office.”
“President-Elect Biden reveals an ambitious agenda for his first ten days in office,” co-host Craig Melvin non-critically heralded at the start of NBC’s Today show. In the later report, chief White House correspondent Kristen Welker similarly marveled at the “ambitious” plans:
The challenges he is facing, daunting. Everything from the economic crisis, national security, and COVID-19. Crises not seen in generations. With just two days until he takes office, President-Elect Joe Biden is poised to inherit a country grappling with a cluster of crises. Biden now unveiling new details about the major issues he’ll tackle, vowing that within the first 10 days, he’ll take a series of executive actions aimed at reversing some of President Trump’s most controversial policies.
Wrapping up the segment, Welker made sure to parrot Biden team talking points: “Biden has also said he will aim to unify a deeply divided nation and work with Republicans. Aides tell NBC News Biden’s inaugural address will draw on themes of unity and healing.”
How exactly will forcing through several unilateral left-wing executive actions foster “unity and healing” in the nation? Neither Welker, nor any of her other lapdog media colleagues, bothered to ask that question.
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Here is a full transcript of the January 18 report on ABC’s GMA:
7:14 AM ET
T.J. HOLMES: Let’s turn now to President-Elect Joe Biden, he’s set to be sworn in as the nation’s 46th President, and that happens in just over 48 hours. Our Mary Bruce is in Washington for us with the very latest on what to expect on Inauguration Day, it’s gonna look a little different. Also what to expect in his first 100 days.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning to you, Mary. Good morning, T.J. Well, yeah, this is going to be an inauguration like we have never seen before. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in before an empty National Mall. There will be no packed crowds here, no big parade, and no fancy galas or balls. And, of course, no involvement whatsoever from the outgoing president in this handoff.
Now, we always knew that the celebration was going to have to be scaled back because of the pandemic. But after the siege two weeks ago, they had to re-imagine this entire thing. Now, Joe Biden will still be sworn in, in front of the Capitol, outside, in that same spot where exactly two weeks before, that mob of violent Trump supporters tried to storm the building. And there will be other history made. Kamala Harris, the first woman of color to ever be vice president, will be sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first woman of color to ever sit on the Supreme Court. T.J.?
HOLMES: And Mary, the soon-to-be President Biden is going to get right to work. We can expect a lot of executive action.
BRUCE: Yeah, this is intended to sort of shock the political system. Joe Biden will be launching a blitz of executive actions intended to set the tone for his new administration, much of this will be aimed at undoing some of President Trump’s most controversial moves, but also jump-starting Biden’s agenda. So starting on day one, you’re going to see, among other things, Biden taking steps to undo the so-called Muslim ban, rejoin the Paris climate accord, and make masks mandatory on all federal lands. But of course, Biden’s biggest ticket items, like that massive stimulus bill and immigration reform, T.J., those are going to require congressional action.
HOLMES: Alright, Mary Bruce for us, thank you so much. And folks, I need to let you know that George, that guy, will be anchoring ABC News complete coverage of the 59th presidential inauguration, starting with a special edition of GMA, including George, Strah, and Robin, they’ll all be here for that. And they’ll continue the coverage throughout this historic day. This is all Wednesday, right her on ABC.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Amazing day.
ROBIN ROBERTS: It’s gonna be an amazing week. It really is.
Here is a full transcript of the report on CBS This Morning:
7:12 AM ET
GAYLE KING: We are learning new details about what President-Elect Joe Biden plans to do in his first days in office. They include rolling back some of President Trump’s best-known policies. Weijia Jiang is covering the Biden transition in Wilmington, Delaware, and joins us from there. Good morning to you, Weijia, they have a lot planned on the very first day.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Biden’s Big Plans; Announces Ambitious Agenda for His First 10 Days in Office]
WEIJIA JIANG: They do, Gayle. They’re going to get right to work. This weekend, President-Elect Biden spent it working on his inaugural address, which will aim to tackle bridging the gap of a deeply divided nation. And you’re right, he has announced an aggressive plan for his first ten days in office. On day one as president, Mr. Biden plans to reverse the Trump administration’s ban of travelers from some Muslim-majority countries, rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, and mandate mask-wearing on federal property and during interstate travel, among other policies.
He also plans to extend the pause on federal student loan payments and continue protecting people from evictions and foreclosures. All those actions Mr. Biden can do unilaterally, but he does need Congress to achieve other goals. Namely, passing a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package and getting cabinet nominees approved. But senators will likely also be juggling President Trump’s second impeachment trial. Tony?
TONY DOKOUPIL: Weijia, thank you very much.
Here is a full transcript of the report on NBC’s Today show:
7:10 AM ET
CRAIG MELVIN: As for President-Elect Joe Biden, he’s beginning inauguration week by laying out an ambitious agenda for his first 10 days in office. NBC’s other chief White House correspondent Kristen Welker is on Capitol Hill with that part of the story. Kristen, good morning to you.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Biden Releases Plan for First 10 Days; Set to Reverse Muslim Ban and Mandate Some Mask-Wearing]
KRISTEN WELKER: Hi, Craig, good morning to you. President-Elect Joe Biden will mark this Martin Luther King Day by volunteering in Philadelphia as he prepares to become the nation’s next president. The challenges he is facing, daunting. Everything from the economic crisis, national security, and COVID-19. Crises not seen in generations. With just two days until he takes office, President-Elect Joe Biden is poised to inherit a country grappling with a cluster of crises. Biden now unveiling new details about the major issues he’ll tackle, vowing that within the first 10 days, he’ll take a series of executive actions aimed at reversing some of President Trump’s most controversial policies. Among them, ending the Trump travel ban on Muslim-majority countries, rejoining the Paris climate agreement, extending the pause on student loan payments, mandating mask-wearing on federal property and interstate travel. Speaking out overnight at a virtual event aimed kicking at off the inaugural week.
JOE BIDEN: We know that times are tough. But because of you, we’re filled with hope and we’re filled with hope for America’s future.
WELKER: Biden also proposing a sweeping $1.9 trillion relief package that would include an extra $1,400 in direct payments to families, billions in aid to state and local governments, and for the distribution of the COVID vaccine, promising 100 million doses of the vaccine in the first 100 days. Some GOP lawmakers are already balking at the price tag.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM [R-SC]: So, $1.9 trillion is way too much. We just did $900 billion.
WELKER: Further complicating Biden’s agenda, the impeachment trial of President Trump, which could begin in just days. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.
KAMALA HARRIS: But the American people deserve that in their president and vice president coming into office that we address the things that are weighing on them and implement a plan.
WELKER: Biden has also said he will aim to unify a deeply divided nation and work with Republicans. Aides tell NBC News Biden’s inaugural address will draw on themes of unity and healing. And aides tell me that Biden worked on his inaugural address with family and top advisers over the weekend. Meanwhile, Vice President-Elect Harris will resign her Senate seat today, set to be replaced by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. He, along Georgia’s two newly elected Democratic senators set to be sworn in later this week. Craig?
MELVIN: Kristen Welker for us this morning. Kristen, thank you.
