During the Trump era, the liberal media clamored to get their hands on any and all tell-all books that would help them tear down the Republican president. They would read passages from anti-Trump books written by liberals like Bob Woodward and Michael Wolff on-air like they were gospel. But this week, the broadcast networks threw pre-released passages from The Last Politician from liberal journalist Franklin Foer in the rhetorical burn pit because the book further exposed Biden’s faltering mental state.
During their Thursday evening newscasts, the broadcast networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC were more interested in focusing on Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (KY) and his recent speaking freeze than the damaging book that suggested Biden allegedly whined that his aides treat him “like a toddler.”
ABC’s World News Tonight did note that Biden was facing questions about his age as he stepped up to defend McConnell at a press conference. But despite their chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl publishing two anti-Trump books, ABC was not interested in giving publicity to one that would further damage the Democratic president.
While the liberal networks were trying to keep the anti-Biden book from best-seller lists, Fox News Channel’s Special Report didn’t hide it from viewers. “The Biden administration is dealing with potential fallout from an explosive new book about the President,” anchor Bret Baier announced. “He is also dealing with age and health concerns, not only about himself but about two longtime political colleagues.”
White House correspondent Peter Doocy reported that Foer had “interviewed more than 300 people in Biden World and learned that, quote, ‘in private he would occasionally admit that he felt tired.’”
The book also chronicles the internal administration chaos Biden caused when he called for regime change in Russia after dictator Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. Doocy informed viewers that “This book contradicts the President's claim” to Fox News that he never misspoke while on that trip to Europe.
Doocy read a passage: “He knew that he had erred. But then resented his aides for creating the impression that they had cleaned up his mess. Rather than owning his failure, he fumed to his friends about how he was treated like a toddler. Was John Kennedy ever babied like that?”
The report included a soundbite of former Clinton advisor Douglas Scheon admitting, “I think I would be ignoring reality if I did not see, as I think most people do, some impairment.”
It seems that the liberal broadcast networks wanted to keep their viewers from fully realizing that reality. But it might be all for naught since Biden’s advanced age and fitness for office had been showing up in polls as a concern for many Americans.
The omission of this anti-Biden book was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Liberty Mutual on ABC and NBC, and Ashley Homestore on CBS. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
August 31, 2023
6:03:50 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: The Biden administration is dealing with potential fallout from an explosive new book about the President. He is also dealing with age and health concerns, not only about himself but about two longtime political colleagues. White House correspondent Peter Doocy is live on the North Lawn with the latest. Good evening, Peter.
PETER DOOCY: Bret, President Biden says he doesn't think it's unusual that Mitch McConnell froze at the microphone because he says that is a normal part of the recovery after a severe concussion. And the President adds he has no concerns about McConnell’s ability to do his job.
[Cuts to video]
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: He was his old self on the telephone.
DOOCY: Is President Biden his old self? Franklin Foer, the author of a new book, The Last Politician, interviewed more than 300 people in Biden World and learned that, quote, “in private he would occasionally admit that he felt tired.”
DOUGLAS SCHOEN (former Clinton advisor): I think I would be ignoring reality if I did not see, as I think most people do, some impairment.
DOOCY: President Biden is a famous adlibber, including in a famous Warsaw speech shortly after Ukraine was invaded by Putin's Russia.
BIDEN: For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power.
DOOCY: Two days later, he told Fox reports that he misspoke multiple times that trip were all wrong.
And it sounded like you were calling for regime change in Russia. And we know.
BIDEN: None of the three occurred.
DOOCY: None of the three occurred?
BIDEN: None of the three.
DOOCY: This book contradicts the President's claim. Quote: “He knew that he had erred. But then resented his aides for creating the impression that they had cleaned up his mess. Rather than owning his failure, he fumed to his friends about how he was treated like a toddler. Was John Kennedy ever babied like that?”
(…)
