During ABC’s World News Tonight on Tuesday, anchor David Muir and congressional correspondent Rachel Scott were President Biden’s personal cheer team as they praised him for releasing 50 million barrels of oil from the strategic reserves; after he had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do it. Meanwhile, on the CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News, they warned it was just a “drop in the bucket” and would be used up in less than three days.
Calling it a “major move” by Biden, Muir led into the segment by touting how, “This afternoon, President Biden revealing the administration will now tap into the strategic petroleum reserves, the nation's emergency supply, to help bring down gas prices.”
Scott parroted Muir’s adulation for Biden’s late move driven by plummeting poll numbers:
SCOTT: With Americans preparing for what could the most expensive Thanksgiving yet, President Biden taking action today to blunt some of the pain at the pump.
(…)
SCOTT: For drivers, relief can't come soon enough. In just the past year, the average price for a gallon of gas has soared to $3.40. That's $1.29 higher than this time last year.
The only knock – more of love tap, really – against Biden came when she noted it would take time for prices to come down. But when pressed my Muir, she cleaned up the messaging.
“Well, David, it will take 13 days for that oil to be released from the emergency reserves, but economists say the markets are already feeling the effect of the President's decision. So, Americans can expect to see those prices come down at the pump in a matter of days,” she said.
But CBS and senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe were more honest with their viewers. “50 million barrels of oil will be released from the nation’s strategic reserves. That’s a drop in the bucket since the U.S. uses 18 million barrels a day,” he informed them.
He also called out the Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm by saying “that was news” to her and played a clip of the Secretary not knowing that important figure:
O’KEEFE: How many barrels of oil does the U.S. consume per day?
GRANHOLM: I don't have that number in front of me.
It was a similar story on NBC where Tom Costello reported that “50 million barrels is roughly the equivalent of what Americans go through every two and a half days.” Although, he did boost Biden’s accusation that oil companies were “price gouging.”
But on a humorous note, at one point in the video portion of her report, Scott misspoke and said: “Today, the President tapping into the nation's emergency reserve to help, releasing 50 million gallons of crude oil.”
This massive spin job for President Biden by ABC was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Amazon and Liberty Mutual. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the bias news they fund.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
November 23, 2021
6:35:51 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: And we're going to turn next here this evening to the major move from President Biden tale, knowing full well millions of Americans have hit the road for Thanksgiving. Many driving, of course, and facing those gas prices along the way.
This afternoon, President Biden revealing the administration will now tap into the strategic petroleum reserves, the nation's emergency supply, to help bring down gas prices. The President saying it's just one step in a larger plan, also speeding up action at key ports.
Americans paying on average $3.40 a gallon, $1.29 more than a year ago. The question tonight, how long before prices fall? ABC's Rachel Scott now from the White House.
[Cuts to video]
RACHEL SCOTT: With Americans preparing for what could the most expensive Thanksgiving yet, President Biden taking action today to blunt some of the pain at the pump.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: The bottom line, today, we're launching a major effort to moderate the price of oil. An effort that will span the globe in its reach and ultimately reach your corner gas station, God willing.
SCOTT: For drivers, relief can't come soon enough. In just the past year, the average price for a gallon of gas has soared to $3.40. That's $1.29 higher than this time last year.
(…)
SCOTT: Today, the President tapping into the nation's emergency reserve to help, releasing 50 million gallons of crude oil.
BIDEN The fact is, we always get through those spikes, but we're going to get through this one as well and hopefully faster. But it doesn't mean that we should just stand by idly and wait for prices to drop on their own.
SCOTT: I pressed the energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm on when Americans will feel the impact.
So, bottom line, how soon will Americans see prices at the pump drop and how long do you expect that to last?
SEC. JENNIFER GRANHOLM (Department of Energy): It won't happen tomorrow, but it'll happen over the next few weeks that people hopefully will start to see the difference.
SCOTT: The administration acutely aware that inflation combined with shipping delays is hitting families hard.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: Americans following all of this very closely. Rachel, of course, the question everyone wants to know tonight, how soon will President Biden's announcement late today effect prices at the pump?
SCOTT: Well, David, it will take 13 days for that oil to be released from the emergency reserves, but economists say the markets are already feeling the effect of the President's decision. So, Americans can expect to see those prices come down at the pump in a matter of days. David?
MUIR: Rachel Scott at the White House. Rachel, thank you.
