Over the weekend, Kansas state lawmakers and other officials started receiving “suspicious” and “cryptic” letters containing an unknown white power at their homes, at least one featured the name of a dead trans person. Key to the mystery was the fact they seemed to be sent exclusively to Republicans.
Since the story broke on Saturday, neither CBS nor NBC has dedicated a single second of airtime to the threatening letters. Meanwhile, ABC ran four reports but mentioned the political affiliations of the recipients only once.
Instead of covering the disturbing threat against Republicans, on Monday, CBS Mornings and NBC’s Today each spent time still talking about the indictment of former President Trump. CBS also whined about West Virginia’s attempt to get people vaccinated for COVID and NBC hyped King Charles’s birthday. They didn’t touch the story all weekend long.
In sharp contrast, ABC had dedicated airtime on four airings of its flagship newscasts: Saturday’s World News Tonight, Sunday’s Good Morning America and World News Tonight, and Monday’s GMA.
Unfortunately, only Sunday’s World News Tonight admitted that it was Republicans who were the targets of the letters. Likely because they spoke with two of the recipients. Correspondent Jay O’Brien said “the motive [was] unclear” but admitted, “the vast majority of letters … appear to be sent to Kansas Republicans.”
“It was just in your typical letter envelope. And at the very bottom, you could feel that it was very thick,” Republican state Representative Tory Marie Blew told ABC. “I didn't pick up my mail yesterday. Now, I'm a little worried. I don't know what could be in there.”
O’Brien also recounted the experience of Republican representative Stephen Owens: “Owens said the envelope had the fake address for a local church a ploy he believes designed to make lawmakers think it was from a constituent.”
“They were methodical and very thoughtful. This was very intentionally meant to get lawmakers to open this letter,” Owens added.
Despite mentioning the party affiliations of those targeted on Sunday, Monday’s GMA was back to using vague terms. “Now to the mystery over who's sending letters with suspicious white power to officials in Kansas,” anchor Lindsey Davis announced (she was also the anchor for Sunday night).
Correspondent Aaron Katersky also used more general terms, such as “90 Kansas lawmakers and public officials” and “one recipient” (other prominent Republican recipients included House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Attorney General Kris Kobach). He did note at least one letter “used the name of a transgender woman murdered in 2021,” but he didn’t reuse any of the soundbites for Blew and Owens they showed the previous evening.
Further, neither CBS nor NBC has online reports about the letters. ABC does have an online report, but it too failed to emphasize the targets being Republican. It did not use any of the quotes Blew and Owens gave to ABC.
ABC’s local affiliate, KMBC also noted the letters targeted Republicans.
ABC’s Monday refusal to admit Republicans were targeted was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Crest and Procter and Gamble. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
June 19, 2023
7:13:30 a.m. EasternLINDSEY DAVIS: Now to the mystery over who's sending letters with suspicious white power to officials in Kansas. More than 90 of these envelopes have shown up and the FBI is now involved in the investigation.
Aaron Katersky is here with the very latest. Good morning, Aaron.
AARON KATERSKY: Lindsey, good morning. It's now more than 90 Kansas lawmakers and public officials who have received these letters with a mysterious white powder. So far, there's nothing hazardous or combustible but the FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are now working to determine who's behind these letters.
They were mainly sent to home addresses. At least one letter had a return address of a church and used the name of a transgender woman murdered in 2021. One recipient posted a photo of a letter she received that said, “it is important not to choke on your ambition.” But one lawmaker who received an envelope called the message inside “cryptic” with no clear point.
Even if these letters turn out to be harmless, Michael, sending them may be a crime. Federal law takes aim at conveying false information about the presence of a biological agent. Michael.
MICHAEL STRAHAN: Aaron Katersky, thank you so much.
