As COVID-19 hospitalization rates hit record highs, along with the number of children testing positive, all three networks on Tuesday avoided the obvious elephant in the room: Joe Biden. The President’s name — and his administration's culpability — were never mentioned during ABC, CBS and NBC's segments on the skyrocketing cases.
On CBS Mornings, Gayle King opened the show with the bad news: “The number of kids with COVID hits an all-time high as parents and teachers struggle with this surge.” She explained, “More than 142,000 Americans were in hospitals as of Sunday with the Coronavirus.” She added, “The American Academy of Pediatrics says more than 580,000 children tested positive for the virus last week. That is also an all-time high. This is not good.”
Over on Good Morning America, co-host Robin Roberts similarly began the show with the disturbing new numbers: “Also this morning, hospitalizations hitting a pandemic high nationwide. This morning, the states resorting to emergency measures to keep hospitals staffed.” She added, “This as a record number of children tested positive last week as testing ramped up after the holiday break.”
On the Today show, co-host Hoda Kotb warned that “cases and hospitalizations soar to new records.”
The only hint that there might be some sort of government in charge of all this came in mentions to “the White House.” On Good Morning America, reporter Stephanie Ramos explained, “The White House says they will mail 500 million at-home COVID tests across the country.” On Today, reporter Miguel Almaguer noted, “The White House says Americans with private health care insurance won't need to pay for those rapid at-home COVID test kits.”
As Biden prepares to enter year two of his presidency, isn’t it time the networks start focusing some serious scrutiny on his handling of COVID?
The Biden protection on CBS was sponsored by Stanley Steemer, on ABC by GoDaddy and on NBC by T-Mobile. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Partial transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS Mornings
1/11/20227 AM tease
GAYLE KING: The number of kids with COVID hits an all-time high as parents and teachers struggle with this surge.
...
7:03:49 to 7:06:55: 3 minutes and 6 seconds
KING: We’re going to begin with this. Where we hope we never again have to be in the struggle against this pandemic but here we are. More than 142,000 Americans were in hospitals as of Sunday with the Coronavirus. That’s according to the federal government. The vast majority unvaccinated. Now, that was more than we'd ever seen before. The American Academy of Pediatrics says more than 580,000 children tested positive for the virus last week. That is also an all-time high. This is not good. Pediatric cases have almost tripled since the start of December.
...
Good Morning America
1/11/2021
7 AM TEASE:ROBIN ROBERTS: Also this morning, hospitalizations hitting a pandemic high nationwide. This morning, the states resorting to emergency measures to keep hospitals staffed and what the CDC is saying about masks versus Omicron.
7:05:45 to 7:08:30: 2 minutes and 45 seconds
ROBIN ROBERTS: Turning now to COVID hospitalizations hitting a record high nationwide. This as a record number of children tested positive last week as testing ramped up after the holiday break. Stephanie Ramos is at a hard hit hospital in New Jersey with more. Good morning, Stephanie.
...
9 secondsSTEPHANIE RAMOS: As for COVID tests, getting one might be a little easier. The White House says they will mail 500 million at-home COVID tests across the country and as of this weekend Americans can buy up to eight at-home COVID tests per month and get reimbursed by their insurance, Robin.
Today
1/11/20227 AM tease
ABC graphic: Crisis mode
HODA KOTB: Back to school. Overnight, teachers and officials in Chicago reach a deal to return to the classroom, despite COVID concerns, as cases and hospitalizations soar to new records.
7:10:23 to 7:13:23: 3 minutes
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Breaking overnight, a deal has now been reached to reopen Chicago schools for in-person learning, this amid the ongoing record surge in COVID cases and word that omicron specific booster shots are in the works.
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9 secondsMIGUEL ALMAGUER: With cases at record levels, 1.3 million new infections yesterday alone, people may be getting some relief when it comes to testing. The White House says Americans with private health care insurance won't need to pay for those rapid at home COVID test kits.
