The broadcast networks are allergic to finding a "far left" within the Democrat Party, so every far-left candidate is hailed as a "progressive" (or a "populist"), or even "capitalist." The label is "moderate" if you oppose the socialist in a primary. If you like Thanksgiving and deplore 9/11? "Moderate."
MRC Director of Media Analysis Geoff Dickens and NewsBusters Associate Editor Nick Fondacaro joined the show to discuss our latest research efforts, beginning with the midterms.
Bill D'Agostino looked at the labeling on ABC, CBS, and NBC newscasts from August 1 to 11. When discussing radical left-wing candidates, they relied on vague, euphemistic labels like “progressive” 80% of the time. Journalists actually denied Abdul El-Sayed’s socialist leanings more often than they acknowledged them. They said he identified as a "capitalist" -- while he stood between AOC and Bernie Sanders. Without exception, every Democrat running against a socialist or DSA-backed candidate was described exclusively as “moderate,” "establishment," or both.
That pattern continued into Wednesday, ABC, CBS, and NBC each covered the results of Tuesday’s primaries in six states on their morning shows. This led to more labeling slant, with 12 combined uses of “progressive” and “socialist” versus nine for “centrist,” “establishment,” or “moderate.” Of course, there was none for “far-left” or “communist.” But most egregiously, ABC and CBS conveniently chose to wait until Wisconsin’s Francesca Hong lost to let their viewers know about a few of her radical positions.
Then there's the bias by omission on defrauding the federal government. On August 5, Vice President J.D. Vance announced at a roundtable meeting that the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force had uncovered and halted more than $200 billion of taxpayer dollars that could have been wasted on fraudulent spending. Network coverage? Zero. That’s odd, since they will tell you about millions being “wasted” on reflecting pools and ballrooms and National Guard patrols in the nation’s capital. This is going to be an issue in the Minnesota Senate race, where Democrat Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan let it all happen.
Tuesday’s CBS Evening News shattered the bias by omission seen across the flagship morning and evening newscasts of ABC, CBS, and NBC regarding pandemic text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci. It showed Fauci privately showing initial concern about pregnant women and the Covid-19 vaccine while voicing full-throated support for taking it in public. All told, anchor Tony Dokoupil covered it for a healthy two minutes and 52 seconds across two segments. This must be why the Left hates CBS now.
Nick, as someone who covers Second Amendment issues, explains the bias by omission on the disabling of the National Firearms Act.
Enjoy the show below.
