A NewsBusters study out Thursday afternoon showed that the broadcast networks loved slapping the “extreme” label on Alabama’s pro-life law, and the same for the heartbeat bills being enacted around the country, while completely ignoring New York’s extreme abortion protections. Well, NBC Nightly News broke the drought later that evening by completely embracing New York’s barbarism.
Following a report about the “sweeping challenge to abortion rights in this country” that was “picking up traction,” anchor Lester Holt looked for some good news from correspondent Stephanie Gosk. “What do we know specifically about these states that are trying to move and protect abortion rights?”
Gosk first championed the State of New York which “has already passed a law that protects abortion in the third trimester under certain circumstances.” What Gosk failed to mention was that the law even allowed abortions on what would be the baby’s birthday.
“[B]ut there are ten other states that are looking at proposals to protect abortions. One of them is Massachusetts where the legislation proposes removing certain obstacles and expanding access,” she further assured him.
Actually, as Gosk began her report, she huffed about how “with the ink barely dry on Alabama's new abortion law, the strictest in the nation, the movement to push anti-abortion legislation in other states is gathering steam.” Of course, the supporters of such laws weren’t considered “pro-life” by the network. Thursday’s edition of ABC’s World News Tonight called them the “anti-abortion community.”
To Gosk’s credit, she did speak with people who called themselves “pro-life.” “It safe to come out and say I want to be a voice for the unborn. And I think we're just seeing more and more people stepping out and doing that,” one woman told her.
But Gosk also touted those sharing their stories supporting the killing of their unborn children:
BUSY PHILIPPS: Maybe you're sitting there thinking I don't know a woman that would have an abortion, well, you know me.
GOSK: Actress Busy Phillips revealing she had an abortion at 15.
PHILLIPS: I'm telling you this because I'm genuinely really scared for women.
GOSK: Now, thousands of women are sharing their own stories with the #YouKnowMe.
After Gosk championed New York, White House correspondent Kristen Welker cheered for how the Alabama law was “becoming a rallying cry nationally for 2020 Democrats alarmed by a growing number of state laws restricting abortion.”
Welker highlighted the comments from 2020 Democratic presidential candidates and Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Kamala Harris (CA):
GILLIBRAND: It's nothing short of an attack on women's basic human rights and civil rights.
HARRIS: Women's health care is under attack and we will in the stand for it!
Meanwhile, immediately after ABC railed against the passage of pro-life laws, the network told the tragic story of a pregnant teen who was murdered and her “unborn child” stolen from her and thus proving the convenience of labels when pushing a political narrative.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
May 16, 2019
7:01: 39 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Good evening everyone. The sweeping challenge to abortion rights in this country is picking up traction tonight and rallying activists on both sides. Alabama's newly minted abortion ban, not the first nor the last as Missouri today moved a step closer to its own crackdown. The map of states that have recently introduced or enacted abortion restrictions along with those moving to protect abortion rights outlining the emotionally charged battle lines. Our Stephanie Gosk has the latest.
[Cuts to video]
STEPHANIE GOSK: With the ink barely dry on Alabama's new abortion law, the strictest in the nation, the movement to push anti-abortion legislation in other states is gathering steam.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 1: This is a very backwards step for women's rights.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 2: I think life should be protected.
GOSK: In Missouri today, the state Senate voted 24-10 to ban the procedure after eight weeks. Following governor Mike Parson's call to “make Missouri the most pro-life state in the country”. In Louisiana, a so-called “heartbeat” bill, that bans abortions after roughly six weeks, has passed the Senate and being rapidly pushed at the House. The wave of new laws that began after conservative Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court last fall is reigniting a debate that has riled this country for generations.
BUSY PHILIPPS: Maybe you're sitting there thinking I don't know a woman that would have an abortion, well, you know me.
GOSK: Actress Busy Phillips revealing she had an abortion at 15.
PHILLIPS: I'm telling you this because I'm genuinely really scared for women.
GOSK: Now, thousands of women are sharing their own stories with the #YouKnowMe.
(…)
GOSK: But in Ohio where a heartbeat ban was signed last month, Stephanie Criter is feeling inspired.
STEPHANIE CRITER: Now is our time to speak up.
GOSK: Criter has been fighting to overturn Roe v. Wade for a decade.
CRITER: It safe to come out and say I want to be a voice for the unborn. And I think we're just seeing more and more people stepping out and doing that.
[Cuts back to live]
HOLT: Stephanie joining me now. What do we know specifically about these states that are trying to move and protect abortion rights?
GOSK: Sure, Lester, well the state of New York has already passed a law that protects abortion in the third trimester under certain circumstances, but there are ten other states that are looking at proposals to protect abortions. One of them is Massachusetts where the legislation proposes removing certain obstacles and expanding access.
HOLT: All right, Stephanie, thank you. And that Alabama law is just one of the many battle lines already being drawn going into the 2020 election, NBC's Kristen Welker with a look at how this contested issue could have a big impact on the race for president.
[Cuts to video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight, could the culture wars now make a comeback as a top issue in 2020? Alabama's new law making virtually every abortion a crime even in cases of rape and incest sparked an intense debate there.
(…)
WELKER: Now, the measure is becoming a rallying cry nationally for 2020 Democrats alarmed by a growing number of state laws restricting abortion.
SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: It's nothing short of an attack on women's basic human rights and civil rights.
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS: Women's health care is under attack and we will in the stand for it!
WELKER: Alabama lawmakers have acknowledged their goal is to get the Supreme Court to overturn Roe versus Wade, it's something candidate Trump predicted.
(…)
WELKER: The President's anti-abortion agenda has energized his conservative supporters. But there are critics, of the Alabama law one top Republican telling Kasie Hunt it’s too restrictive.
KASIE HUNT: Do you think that law goes too far?
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY: It goes further than I believe, yes.
[Cuts back to live]
WELKER: While the Alabama measure a political flashpoint, legal experts say it’s almost certain the law would be struck down by lower courts and the Supreme Court could choose not to weigh in. Lester.
HOLT: All right, Kristen, thank you very much.
