The networks on Tuesday left out a HUGE detail as they covered Mitch McConnell agreeing to a power sharing deal in the Senate with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. McConnell dropped his demand that Democrats agree to maintain the filibuster.
But the Today show, the CBS This Morning and ABC's Good Morning America ignored breaking news from Monday that prompted the Republican’s move: Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced she is against eliminating the filibuster and is “not open to changing her mind.”
Instead, NBC reporter Kristen Welker spun the news as McConnell caving: “The Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell, was fighting to keep the maneuver, known as the filibuster, that basically requires 60 senators to act for most bills to be passed. But Democrats, who hold a one-vote majority, with 51, refused.” She added, “So McConnell ultimately agreed to drop his filibuster fight overnight, paving the way for a power-sharing system.”
No mention, whatsoever, of Sinema’s move. There are now 50 Republicans, plus Democrats Sinema and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who have vowed not to eliminate the filibuster. A third Democrat, Jon Tester of Montana, is what could be called a soft no. But a Sinema spokesperson flatly stated, “Kyrsten is against eliminating the filibuster, and she is not open to changing her mind about eliminating the filibuster.”
That’s pretty definitive. And it's not a new position for her. In October of 2019, Politico reported:
“They will not get my vote on [nuking the filibuster],” Sinema said in her office.... “In fact, whether I’m in the majority or the minority I would always vote to reinstate the protections for the minority. … It is the right thing for the country.”
But NBC didn’t tell viewers any of that. CBS This Morning on Tuesday did the same thing. Reporter Nikole Killion left out any mention of WHY McConnell dropped his demand the filibuster be preserved. The point is moot. Democrats don’t have the votes. Instead, Killion skirted around the issue:
Last night, a hurdle was cleared when Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell agreed to move forward with a power-sharing agreement with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Work had been stalled here in the Senate during the impasse. But now, the chamber can organize based on the new 50/50 split.
ABC’s Good Morning America offered a quick, bland report from reporter Rachel Scott. It echoed the other two networks with no mention of Sinema's move:
[Senators] had to come up with a power-sharing agreement because the senate is split 50/50. The major sticking point here, whether or not to get rid of the filibuster. This would require Republican support for a bill to move to the floor. Both sides agreeing to move forward and get to work on legislation for the American people.
(The propaganda on NBC was sponsored by Value City Furniture. On CBS, it was Xfinity. Ford sponsored the propaganda on ABC. Click on the links to let them know what you think.)
Over on Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough, no conservative, understood the politics well enough to mock lefties who are excoriating Sinema: “These comments from people attacking Kristen Sinema. ‘Well, she can just leave the party.’ And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘What? Are you a Republican in Georgia?’ It’s like, seriously? When are people going to grow up?”
Transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
1/26/2021
7:09NIKOLE KILLION: Last night, a hurdle was cleared when Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell agreed to move forward with a power-sharing agreement with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Work had been stalled here in the Senate during the impasse. But now, the chamber can organize based on the new 50/50 split.
Today
01/26/21
7:15 AM(...)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And back to Capitol Hill. There was a breakthrough overnight. There had been a days-long standoff over the rules, the nuts and bolts of how power will be shared in the Senate between Democrats and Republicans. What happened?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: McConnell Drops Filibuster Demand; GOP Leader Lets Democrats Assume Full Power]
KRISTEN WELKER: That’s right, Savannah. Well, this was standoff between Republicans and Democrats over how many votes it will take to pass a bill. So the Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell, was fighting to keep the maneuver, known as the filibuster, that basically requires 60 senators to act for most bills to be passed. But Democrats, who hold a one-vote majority, with 51, refused. So McConnell ultimately agreed to drop his filibuster fight overnight, paving the way for a power-sharing system. Bottom line, Savannah, the Senate can get to work.
GUTHRIE: Alright. Kristen, thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Good Morning America
1/26/2021
7:05AMY ROBACH: Rachel, news from overnight. The Senate leaders agreed to move forward with the power-sharing deal. Tell us about it.
RACHEL SCOTT: Yeah, this is something that lawmakers were grappling with for just about a week. They had to come up with a power-sharing agreement because the Senate is split 50/50. The major sticking point here, whether or not to get rid of the filibuster. This would require Republican support for a bill to move to the floor. Both sides agreeing to move forward and get to work on legislation for the American people, Amy.
