It may seem like a crude term, but despair porn seemed like the best way to describe Monday’s NBC Nightly News. Despite the fact that pharmaceutical company Moderna just announced their vaccine candidate was 95 percent effective, the network still couldn’t be happy. At the same time, they cheered more devastating lockdowns while simultaneously mourning (or possibly relishing) the economic pain on families and psychological toll on kids.
Anchor Lester Holt may have put aside the old media adage “if it bleeds, it leads” in favor of touting the Moderna breakthrough, but he still had to put a negative twist on it.
“As the country appears headed into a dark winter overwhelmed by a growing new wave of COVID infections, another hopeful ray of light appeared on the horizon today, a second COVID vaccine candidate, its makers say appears to be more successful than imagined,” he announced at the top of the program.
But that “hopeful ray of light” was immediately snuffed out by Holt’s next declaration:
Moderna announcing today its vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective and with last week's upbeat announcement of Pfizer about its shot there is building optimism about a way out of this pandemic, but one that experts warn sadly won't come before we face what may be the worst days of this crisis.
If that wasn’t enough, Holt appeared to again cast doubt on the safely of the vaccine with help of NBC contributor Dr. John Torres (Click “expand”):
HOLT: Joining me now is Dr. John Torres. Dr. John, the good news obviously is that these COVID vaccines appear to work quite well, but how safe are they?
DR. JOHN TORRES: Well Lester, both drug companies announced that their vaccine had minimal side effects, but they have to show the FDA two months of safety data before requesting emergency use authorization.
Now, I have been told by experts the FDA won't approve any COVID vaccine unless they have all the data on the trials and they're sure it is effectively and equally important, safe. And since pregnant women and young children were not tested, they’ll have to wait for further trials.
Despite the fact that the first set of coast-to-coast lockdowns left millions without jobs, small businesses forced to permanently close, millions to fall behind on bills, and struggle to put food on the table, NBC was happy to see states and cities bring them back.
“And let's not get ahead of ourselves. As the country waits for this vaccine, there's a new wave of shutdowns and restrictions we’re watching aimed at stopping the surge,” Holt boasted before handing it off to correspondent Gabe Gutierrez.
For his part, Gutierrez touted California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) “hitting what he calls an ‘emergency brake,’ dramatically rolling back reopenings for nearly the entire state amid an unprecedented COVID spike.”
Further, he hyped other states and cities shutting down businesses (Click “expand”):
GUTIERREZ: Today, more restrictions announced to stop the surge. Philadelphia is now closing gyms and banning indoor gatherings.
DR. THOMAS FARLEY (Philadelphia Health commissioner): If we do this right our businesses will recover faster because the epidemic wave will subside sooner.
GUTIERREZ: Also today, Chicago's stay-at-home advisory took effect. At least 35 states now have some sort of mask mandate after months of resisting one, North Dakota's governor relented.
Gutierrez also spoke with the mayor of Newark, New Jersey who wanted to shut down the entire city for a week after Thanksgiving.
With NBC touting the lockdowns out of one side of their mouth, the other side lamented the pain it caused. “Back at home, the pandemic and economic hardship have made it difficult for millions to put food on the table as the holidays approach,” Holt said.
While speaking about a massive food line in Wisconsin, correspondent Rehema Ellis gave the statistics for how many people were struggling to feed their families:
Nationwide, almost 24 million Americans reported food insecurity, an increase of 6 million because of the pandemic. Texas has seen long lines stretching up to three miles. In California, one food bank reported a 125 percent increase in demand. In New York, workers are scrambling to provide turkeys for Thanksgiving.
If you can’t figure out why the network saddened by food lines would call for more crippling restrictions that cause them, you’ll be more confused by their shock that it was traumatizing to young children.
In her report that featured a little girl crying about not being able to leave the house and another who’s distraught that she can’t go to school, investigative correspondent Cynthia McFadden reported on how the isolation was scaring developing kids (click “expand”):
And while children are resilient, the isolation and fear many are feeling is causing a significant uptick in three-to six-year-olds feeling overwhelmed, worried or sad. One recent survey found 70 percent of kids 5 or older have such feelings.
It's not just the kids want to play with other kids. Experts tell us they need that interaction to develop language, learn to separate from their parents, and defer gratification, cooperate with others, and a host of other social and emotional skills.
NBC had previously done reports on the pandemic isolation increasing rates of depression and suicide among teens and veterans, so one can’t help but wonder how the media narrative (like Holt being doom and gloom even when reporting on a new vaccine) and cheering lockdowns while lamenting the pain helps the situation.
NBC’s addiction to pushing despair was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Consumer Cellular and Liberty Mutual. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
November 16, 2020
7:01:45 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Good evening, everyone. As the country appears headed into a dark winter overwhelmed by a growing new wave of COVID infections, another hopeful ray of light appeared on the horizon today, a second COVID vaccine candidate, its makers say appears to be more successful than imagined.
Moderna announcing today its vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective and with last week's upbeat announcement of Pfizer about its shot there is building optimism about a way out of this pandemic, but one that experts warn sadly won't come before we face what may be the worst days of this crisis.
(…)
7:04:30 p.m. Eastern
HOLT: Joining me now is Dr. John Torres. Dr. John, the good news obviously is that these COVID vaccines appear to work quite well, but how safe are they?
DR. JOHN TORRES: Well Lester, both drug companies announced that their vaccine had minimal side effects, but they have to show the FDA two months of safety data before requesting emergency use authorization.
Now, I have been told by experts the FDA won't approve any COVID vaccine unless they have all the data on the trials and they're sure it is effectively and equally important, safe. And since pregnant women and young children were not tested, they’ll have to wait for further trials.
(…)
7:05:28 p.m. Eastern
HOLT: And let's not get ahead of ourselves. As the country waits for this vaccine, there's a new wave of shutdowns and restrictions we’re watching aimed at stopping the surge. With more, here's Gabe Gutierrez.
[Cuts to video]
GABE GUTIERREZ: Tonight, California's governor is hitting what he calls an “emergency brake,” dramatically rolling back reopenings for nearly the entire state amid an unprecedented COVID spike.
(…)
GUTIERREZ: Today, more restrictions announced to stop the surge. Philadelphia is now closing gyms and banning indoor gatherings.
DR. THOMAS FARLEY (Philadelphia Health commissioner): If we do this right our businesses will recover faster because the epidemic wave will subside sooner.
GUTIERREZ: Also today, Chicago's stay-at-home advisory took effect. At least 35 states now have some sort of mask mandate after months of resisting one, North Dakota's governor relented.
(…)
7:11:11 p.m. Eastern
HOLT: Back at home, the pandemic and economic hardship have made it difficult for millions to put food on the table as the holidays approach. Places families often turn to now face enormous stress themselves. Here's Rehema Ellis.
[Cuts to video]
REHEMA ELLIS: At this food bank in Milwaukee, people are lining up like never before.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: We're making ends meet with our bills but not with the groceries.
ELLIS: For the most vulnerable, the hunger task force program is a lifeline.
(…)
ELLIS: Nationwide, almost 24 million Americans reported food insecurity, an increase of 6 million because of the pandemic. Texas has seen long lines stretching up to three miles. In California, one food bank reported a 125 percent increase in demand. In New York, workers are scrambling to provide turkeys for Thanksgiving.
(…)
7:13:08 p.m. Eastern
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN: And while children are resilient, the isolation and fear many are feeling is causing a significant uptick in three-to six-year-olds feeling overwhelmed, worried or sad. One recent survey found 70 percent of kids 5 or older have such feelings.
It's not just the kids want to play with other kids. Experts tell us they need that interaction to develop language, learn to separate from their parents, and defer gratification, cooperate with others, and a host of other social and emotional skills.
(…)
MCFADDEN: Since last March, emergency rooms have seen an astounding spike of mental health visits for kids five to 11.
(…)
