On Thursday, while ABC’s Good Morning America completely ignored Attorney General Merrick Garland being grilled during a contentious Wednesday Senate hearing about the Department of Justice treating concerned parents of schoolchildren like criminals, the network broadcast did find time to hype an upcoming congressional hearing in which Democrats were set to demonize oil companies for “poisoning the environment.”
“And we’re going to turn now back to Washington....Top oil company executives will be on Capitol Hill facing questions over accusations the industry has misled the public about how fossil fuels contribute to climate change,” co-host Robin Roberts proclaimed early in the 7:00 a.m. ET hour. Correspondent Faith Abubey excitedly followed:
This morning, a first here on Capitol Hill, big oil executives will be in the hot seat, accused of deliberately knowing – or actually knowing that their products are poisoning the environment and still spent millions of dollars and spent years just trying to mislead the public and hide that from the public. They’ll be grilled about their attempts to cover up fossil fuel’s impact on climate change.
Moments later, the reporter dismissed any objections from the fossil fuel industry: “Of course, this morning all the oil executives are denying that they deliberately misled the public about climate change, however, Democrats leading this inquiry still want to question all of them under oath to try to get to the truth.”
Despite multiple calls for Garland to resign during Wednesday’s fiery Senate hearing over the DOJ complying with a now-withdrawn letter from the National School Board Association labeling parents speaking out at local school board meetings “domestic terrorists,” ABC was uninterested.
Wrapping up the segment promoting the Democrats’ planned public flogging of oil executives, Roberts teased: “And we’re going to have much more on the climate emergency facing our planet, some of the steps being taken to combat it, and Ginger [Zee] is gonna share how ABC News will cover it all.”
Later, in the 8:00 a.m. ET hour, the anchor gushed to Zee: “And ABC News is also launching a new climate unit and you, my friend, will be managing editor. Congratulations. I know how excited you are about that.” The network meteorologist responded: “Thank you. I’ve been passionate about this my entire career, my commitment is to the atmosphere, but mostly to the people....And that’s what you’re gonna see on top of environmental justice and just explaining the basics.”
Zee added: “I’m so honored that ABC is allowing us and pushing us to want to tell these stories.” Roberts noted how much her colleague pleaded for the leftist propaganda effort: “Well, you have been right in there with the executives, really wanting this to happen, and you have made it happen.”
Roberts promised viewers:
And you can tune in to ABC News’ unprecedented climate change coverage throughout November. The month-long series, Climate Crisis: Saving Tomorrow, will span seven continents and we’re kicking it off Monday. World News Tonight anchor David Muir will be in Glasgow with the global climate summit.
She marveled: “Wow, that’s really great that we’re doing that.” Fellow co-host George Stephanopoulos chimed on Zee: “She’s committed, passionate. She knows her stuff.”
Shorter ABC: Oil companies are evil, climate change is an “emergency,” and there’s no controversy swirling around the Biden Justice Department.
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Here are full transcripts of both October 28 reports:
7:07 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: And we’re going to turn now back to Washington, Michael. Top oil company executives will be on Capitol Hill facing questions over accusations the industry has misled the public about how fossil fuels contribute to climate change. Faith Abubey has the latest for us. Good morning, Faith.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Oil Executives Face Grilling on Capitol Hill; Accused of Spreading Climate Change Disinformation]
FAITH ABUBEY: And good morning to you, Robin. This morning, a first here on Capitol Hill, big oil executives will be in the hot seat, accused of deliberately knowing – or actually knowing that their products are poisoning the environment and still spent millions of dollars and spent years just trying to mislead the public and hide that from the public. They’ll be grilled about their attempts to cover up fossil fuel’s impact on climate change.
Lawmakers claim that though the companies have acknowledged a negative environmental impact and promised to change, that they’ve barely invested in greener energy. In 2010, Shell made a pledge to transform into a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner. And yet, according to the documents released from the company, little action took place, Robin.
ROBERTS: So, Faith, what sparked this investigation?
ABUBEY: Well, this investigation comes after the release of a secret recording of an ExxonMobil executive, Keith McCoy, admitting to undercover activists posing as job recruiters that the company actively worked to undermine some environmental legislation. Exxon’s CEO condemned McCoy’s statements, insisting that the company stands by its commitment to work on finding solutions to climate change. Of course, this morning all the oil executives are denying that they deliberately misled the public about climate change, however, Democrats leading this inquiry still want to question all of them under oath to try to get to the truth, Robin.
ROBERTS: We’ll see what happens today. Faith, thank you. And we’re going to have much more on the climate emergency facing our planet, some of the steps being taken to combat it, and Ginger [Zee] is gonna share how ABC News will cover it all. She’s gonna join us in our next hour with that.
(...)
8:03 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: Now to the climate crisis. As we know, world leaders are set to gather starting this weekend for that global summit in Scotland. Ahead of that, Ginger is in the Maldives, where the emergency is all too real for that beautiful, beautiful nation of islands. Great to see you, Ginger, good morning to you.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Shining A Light On the Climate Crisis; World Leaders Set to Gather for Global Summit]
GINGER ZEE: I miss you all. It is great to see you and good morning or good night or whatever we are here, but it is a critical story. I cannot wait to share this with you. Next week you’re gonna see my entire report on the Maldives. And I realize most of us, when we hear Maldives, we think about luxury resorts, over aqua water, those little huts, right? Well, that’s not really the big part of the nearly 1,200 coral islands and the people that live here.
They are rich in culture and they are in big trouble. Eighty percent of these islands could be gone if greenhouse gas emissions do not pause or go down by 2050. The problem, the sea is rising way too rapidly and more rapidly than it naturally would. They’re losing their water sources, 97% of them have lost their wells because the saltwater intrudes. And we met people here – oh, they are lovely. Muba, his daughter Sara, you can see them in the video there. They invited us into their home.
They used to flood once a year, now they flood two to three times a month. They don’t know how long they'll be able to live here. Migration is a word they don’t want to use but they may have to. And it would feel desperate unless we didn’t bring you some amazing adaptations and technology. They are going to have the world’s first true floating city, which you’ll see as well next week.
ROBERTS: Oh, my goodness. I know before you were left you were talking to me about that, Ginger. And ABC News is also launching a new climate unit and you, my friend, will be managing editor. Congratulations. I know how excited you are about that.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: “Climate Crisis: Saving Tomorrow”; ABC News Launching Month-Long Coverage Spanning Seven Continents]
ZEE: Thank you. I’ve been passionate about this my entire career, my commitment is to the atmosphere, but mostly to the people. Because let’s be honest, the planet’s gonna be fine, it’s the people and our diversity we have to protect. And that’s what you’re gonna see on top of environmental justice and just explaining the basics.
Like next week, you’re gonna see me on top of a wind turbine in Pennsylvania. You know that on shore wind now is cheaper than nuclear and coal and the same price as natural gas? We also go to offshore wind farms and talk about the exploding nature of that and all of the jobs that are gonna be with it.
Then I’m gonna take you to Iceland, to the world’s largest carbon capture machine. This is where it’s kind of like a vacuum in the sky taking out greenhouse gas emissions and keeping the carbon. It’s what they’re made into that could be the next step in how we find solutions.
I always say it’s not too late and I genuinely believe that. I’m so honored that ABC is allowing us and pushing us to want to tell these stories.
ROBERTS: Well, you have been right in there with the executives, really wanting this to happen, and you have made it happen. Safe travels back from the Maldives. I was there at the end of 2019, it is beautiful and the people there, as you have experienced, are something special. Glad that you’re there. Safe travels.
ZEE: Are you sure I come back though? They may need my help for a couple more days then maybe I’ll come back.
ROBERTS: I wouldn’t blame you, we wouldn’t blame you at all. Thank you so much, Ginger. And you can tune in to ABC News’ unprecedented climate change coverage throughout November. The month-long series, Climate Crisis: Saving Tomorrow, will span seven continents and we’re kicking it off Monday. World News Tonight anchor David Muir will be in Glasgow with the global climate summit. Wow, that’s really great that we’re doing that. And, Ginger, I’m telling you, and others, they have –
STEPHANOPOULOS: She’s committed, passionate. She knows her stuff.
MICHAEL STRAHAN: She’s very passionate about it, fighting for it.
ROBERTS: And rightfully so.
