Monday was day one of the new session of the Supreme Court and the liberal media were absolutely terrified by what ruling could come from the conservative majority when it came to the right to life and Second Amendment rights. CBS and NBC both attempted to stir their viewers into sharing their fright as they warned that abortions could be outlawed and people could carry a firearm for self-defense outside the home.
“Tonight, the Supreme Court began its new term, one that could be the most consequential in a generation, with abortion rights topping the agenda,” announced CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell at the top of the segment as legal correspondent Jan Crawford delivered the story.
Both networks invoked the same fearmongering tactic of declaring “what's at stake” this session with the conservative majority:
CRAWFORD: As the Supreme Court returned to the bench for its new session --
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS: And the October 2021 term is now convened.
CRAWFORD: -- Protesters left no doubt what's at stake. The most significant challenge to Roe v. Wade in a generation. The case asking the justices to uphold Mississippi's ban on abortions after 15 weeks.
“With Justice Amy Coney Barrett replacing liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, abortion opponents are hoping that’s exactly what happens,” Crawford said after commiserating with an abortion provider in Jackson, Mississippi.
And after warning that conservative states were prepping their own laws that defended the right to life, she touted the “polls showing public opinion of the court has declined.”
Of course, these polls have been driven by the liberal media’s relentless attacks and smears against the conservatives on the court, which came after they suggested President Trump’s criticisms of the court were a threat to democracy.
Over on NBC Nightly News, Justice correspondent Pete Williams also wanted to fret about “what’s at stake.” “In a dramatic show of what's at stake, demonstrators took to the streets nationwide over the weekend, most of them urging the Supreme Court and Congress to protect existing abortion rights,” he said.
After doing his own fearmongering about what could happen to Roe v. Wade, Williams noted: “The court will also decide whether the Second Amendment provides a right to carry a gun outside the house, and whether states can block giving public tuition money to schools offering religious education.”
And if his intentions weren’t clear enough, Williams also included a soundbite from the court’s first session of an unidentified woman declaring “God save the United States and this honorable court,” with the sound of a gavel following.
And while ABC didn’t do a segment directly about the Supreme Court, correspondent Linsey Davis sought out Shelly Thornton, or “Baby Roe” to get her opinion on the issue of abortion. But unfortunately for Davis, Thornton will not share her position so as not to be used by either side.
This fearmongering and animus for the conservative justices was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Neutrogena on CBS and Progressive on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
October 4, 2021
6:43:56 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Tonight, the Supreme Court began its new term, one that could be the most consequential in a generation, with abortion rights topping the agenda. The justices met in person for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. CBS's Jan Crawford is at the court for us tonight.
[Cuts to video]
JAN CRAWFORD: As the Supreme Court returned to the bench for its new session --
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS: And the October 2021 term is now convened.
CRAWFORD: -- Protesters left no doubt what's at stake. The most significant challenge to Roe v. Wade in a generation. The case asking the justices to uphold Mississippi's ban on abortions after 15 weeks.
Shannon Brewer is director of the only abortion clinic in the state, in Jackson.
If the court says we're overturning Roe v. Wade, it's up to the states to decide what to do.
SHANNON BREWER: They would definitely ban abortion in Mississippi immediately, yes, and several other states, too.
CRAWFORD: With Justice Amy Coney Barrett replacing liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, abortion opponents are hoping that’s exactly what happens.
Mostly conservative states are ready to outlaw or greatly restrict abortion if the court sides with Mississippi, while some liberal states have passed laws to guarantee that in their states abortions still would be available.
The case to be argued in December comes with polls showing public opinion of the court has declined. And there are other contentious cases that surely will divide the justices, including gun and religious rights.
[Cuts back to live]
Now, the justices are all fully vaccinated but Justice Sonia Sotomayor has some underlying health conditions, and so she wore a mask today on the bench. And Justice Brett Kavanaugh tested positive for COVID last week, asymptomatic, but participated remotely. Norah.
O’DONNELL: It’s going to be a busy year, Jan Crawford, thank you.
NBC Nightly News
October 4, 2021
7:13:18 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: On this first Monday in October, the U.S. Supreme Court started its new term, one that will be dominated by abortion, gun rights, and religion. And it began with one absence on the bench. Here's Pete Williams.
[Cuts to video]
PROTESTERS: My body, my choice!
PETE WILLIAMS: In a dramatic show of what's at stake, demonstrators took to the streets nationwide over the weekend, most of them urging the Supreme Court and Congress to protect existing abortion rights.
CAROL FREEMAN (abortion rights demonstrator): And that it’s not anybody else's business what we do with our bodies and our reproductive rights.
WILLIAMS: The court will take up a Mississippi law that would ban virtually all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The state says the landmark Roe v. Wade decision should be overruled as out of date. And the new Texas law shutting down abortions after just six weeks is bound to be back, too.
The court will also decide whether the Second Amendment provides a right to carry a gun outside the house, and whether states can block giving public tuition money to schools offering religious education.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: God save the United States and this honorable court.
WILLIAMS: The justices were back in their own courtroom today for the first time since the pandemic forced them to work from home 18 months ago, but one seat was empty. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was absent.
[Cuts back to live]
He's listening to this week's cases remotely after testing positive for COVID four days ago. He’ll likely be back next week. All the justices are fully vaccinated. Lester?
HOLT: All right. Pete Williams, thank you.
