The GOP tax cuts scored yet another win on Wednesday when tech giant Apple cited the cuts as a driving factor for their newly announced plans to build a new campus, create 20,000 new jobs, and invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy among other exciting announcements. But despite the great news, NBC Nightly News and Spanish-language networks Univision and Telemundo failed to cover the story at all during their evening newscasts while CBS Evening News left out their praise for the tax cuts.
The only mention of Apple’s massive investment on CBS came from a 20-seconds long news brief by anchor Jeff Glor. “Apple said today it plans to open a new corporate campus somewhere in the United States, location to be announced later this year,” he reported. “Apple also said it will create 20,000 new jobs over the next five years, and that it plans to bring about $250 billion in offshore cash back into the U.S. and pay $38 billion in taxes.”
Glor’s sole mention taxes was regarding how much Apple stood to pay through the repatriotization of its overseas finances, which has been reported to be roughly $250 billion.
In stark contrast, ABC News actually sent a reporter to interview Apple CEO Tim Cook at the company’s facility in Reno, Nevada and the tax cuts were a key part of their conversation. “The new lower corporate tax rate allowing Apple to write a check $38 billion to the U.S. government,” noted reporter Rebecca Jarvis during World News Tonight.
“Without these policy changes, would you be able to announce today the creation of 20,000 new jobs,” Jarvis asked Cook. “No, there are clearly -- let many be clear -- there are large parts of this that are a result of the tax reform, and there's large parts of this that we would have done in any situation,” he explained.
After Jarvis pressed Cook again on the role of the GOP tax cuts, Cook admitted they had an influence. He also predicted they would be great for America. “Well, there are two parts of the tax bill, right? There's a corporate piece and an individual piece. I do believe the corporate tax side will result in job creation and a faster-growing economy,” he told her.
It’s disappointing that NBC wouldn’t share Apple’s good news with its viewers and it highlighted their long-standing vendetta against the tax cuts. Especially since their sister network CNBC actually wrote up a report on the story where they say: “Apple on Wednesday made a slew of announcements about its investment in and contribution to the U.S. economy in part because of the new tax law.”
Transcripts below:
CBS Evening News
January 17, 2018
6:43:35 PM Eastern [20 seconds]JEFF GLOR: Apple said today it plans to open a new corporate campus somewhere in the United States, location to be announced later this year. Apple also said it will create 20,000 new jobs over the next five years, and that it plans to bring about $250 billion in offshore cash back into the U.S. and pay $38 billion in taxes.
(...)
ABC
World News Tonight
January 17, 2018
6:43:29 PM Eastern [1 minute 37 seconds]DAVID MUIR: We turn next tonight to an ABC News exclusive. Our one-on-one this evening with Apple CEO Tim Cook, who made a major announcement today when it comes to American jobs. 20,000 new jobs. And Apple writing a check to the U.S. taxpayer for $38 billion. From cash, sitting overseas, it's coming back. And he promises investments in the U.S. that will hit $350 billion over five years. Tonight, where are the jobs coming? And we also ask, will there be a cheaper iPhone? And what about those batteries that slowed down? Here's Rebecca Jarvis.
[Cuts to video]
REBECCA JARVIS: Tonight, the biggest company in the world announcing a $350 billion investment in the United States. Apple saying it will create 20,000 new jobs and build a new corporate campus in an American city still unnamed. Apple CEO Tim Cook exclusively taking us inside the tech giant's massive data center in Reno, Nevada.
TIM COOK: We’re walking on the cloud right now.
JARVIS: The new lower corporate tax rate allowing Apple to write a check $38 billion to the U.S. government. Without these policy changes, would you be able to announce today the creation of 20,000 new jobs?
COOK: No, there are clearly -- let many be clear -- there are large parts of this that are a result of the tax reform, and there's large parts of this that we would have done in any situation.
JARVIS: So, it sounds like President Trump's tax bill has been a huge windfall for Apple.
COOK: Well, there are two parts of the tax bill, right? There's a corporate piece and an individual piece. I do believe the corporate tax side will result in job creation and a faster-growing economy.
(…)
