James Hoffa Threatened 'Civil War' on CNN, Yet Fox News Covered It Mor

Teamsters Union president James Hoffa warned on CNN Tuesday that there would be "civil war" in Michigan over thepassage of right-to-work legislation, but after anchor Brooke Baldwin made two brief mentions of it the CNN blackout began. In contrast, on the next day Fox News hammered the "civil war" threat as an example of radical rhetoric. How bad was CNN's blind spot to the controversy?…
Matt Hadro
December 13th, 2012 12:45 PM

NBC Poll Shows Pessimism About Obama 2nd Term, Lauer Spins it as Pessi

Following a report on Thursday's NBC Today in which political director Chuck Todd touted a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, co-host Matt Lauer tried to spin one finding: "...only 53% say they're optimistic about a second term for Obama and 47% say they are pessimistic. Is this really more pessimism about Washington in general?" Todd accepted the characterization: "It is. You know, you…
Kyle Drennen
December 13th, 2012 12:41 PM

Chris Matthews Absurdly Claims: Unbiased Media Was Too 'Even-Handed' W

  Chris Matthews has found the problem with how the media covered the 2012 election: Unbiased journalists were simply too focused on being "even-handed" and treating Republicans fairly. Yes, really. The Hardball anchor on Wednesday began his program by declaring, "Did you get the impression during the presidential campaign that the press was trying too hard to be even-handed?" [See video…
Scott Whitlock
December 13th, 2012 12:23 PM

Coulter Column: How About We Tax Rich Liberals

Republicans have been forced into a Hobson's choice of either letting the Bush tax cuts expire for everyone or agreeing to a tax hike on the top 2 percent of income earners (not to be confused with "the rich," who have already made, inherited or married their money). If Republicans object to the Democrats' hitting job creators with a tax hike, three things will happen: Taxes will go up for…
Ann Coulter
December 13th, 2012 12:04 PM

Washed-up Singer Harry Belafonte Blasts GOP ‘Infestation’ of Ameri

During an appearance on the program of MSNBC’s race-baiter-in-chief Al Sharpton, entertainer Harry Belafonte lashed out at Republicans, saying that their continued presence in Washington, DC constituted an “infection” of sorts. He also told his host that the only thing left for Obama to do with opposition figures who continue to disagree with him was to “Work like a Third World dictator and just…
Matthew Sheffield
December 13th, 2012 11:33 AM

NB Publisher Bozell to NYT's Publisher: What Did CEO Mark Thompson Kno

The shocking developments in the Jimmy Savile child sex abuse scandal at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) raise disturbing questions about Mark Thompson, the former BBC director general who was named the new president and CEO of The New York Times Company in August.  Given what has come to light thus far, Thompson is at the very least "guilty of gross professional incompetence" and at…
NB Staff
December 13th, 2012 11:25 AM

Open Thread: Fixing the Presidential Debate Mess

Today's starter topic: In an interview with National Review, RNC chairman Reince Priebus discloses that he has set up a committee designed to examine and fix what he believes to be problems within the Republican Party. One of the topics under review is the so-called presidential debates. Priebus believes there were too many of them:
Matthew Sheffield
December 13th, 2012 10:36 AM

NYT's Kim Severson Fears 'Controversial' Conservatives Are Shifting No

New York Times Atlanta bureau chief Kim Severson sounded worried about the "controversial" conservatives taking over the North Carolina governorship in "G.O.P.'s Full Control in Long-Moderate North Carolina May Leave Lasting Stamp," seeing "an increasingly conservative agenda" since Barack Obama won the state in 2008. With a Republican newly elected as governor and a Republican-controlled…
Clay Waters
December 13th, 2012 8:28 AM

WashPost's War on Women: Congressman Moran's Son's Brutal Assault on G

Patrick Moran – the same embarrassing son of liberal Democrat Congressman Jim Moran who drew some national attention in October for being caught on camera by Project Veritas encouraging voter registration fraud – has now brutalized his girlfriend in an alcoholic rage. A police officer saw “Moran grab a woman by the back of her head and slam it into a trash can about 1:23 a.m. in front of the…
Tim Graham
December 13th, 2012 8:05 AM

AP Fails to Tell Readers November's $172 Billion Deficit Is Worst Nove

Back in the days when journalists practiced journalism, they would be on the alert for record-breaking news, whether positive or negative. These days, at least when it comes to the economy, it seems that they struggle to find positive records and ignore obvious negative ones right in front of their faces. A case in point is today's Associated Press report on November's Monthly Treasury…
Tom Blumer
December 12th, 2012 11:41 PM

Coherence on Right to Work Law Not Ezra Klein's Strong Suit

Rachel Maddow is often absent from the MSNBC show which bears her name, thereby allowing one of her alternating guest hosts to serve up unintended comic relief. Providing the hilarity last night was Washington Post blogger and Bloomberg columnist Ezra Klein, who predictably spun the story about Michigan legislators passing a right to work law (video after page break)
Jack Coleman
December 12th, 2012 8:55 PM

MSNBC's Hall Annoys Lib Senator By Asking Tough Questions Re: Intern S

Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey seemed absolutely shocked and appalled Tuesday afternoon, when MSNBC anchor Tamron Hall kicked off their interview on comprehensive immigration reform by asking him about breaking news from the Associated Press regarding the arrest and deportation order against an intern in the senator's office who is a registered sex offender. According to the…
Ken Shepherd
December 12th, 2012 6:42 PM

'Democratic Underground' Users Claim Steven Crowder Caused Michigan Un

Shame on Steven Crowder for brutally smashing his face down upon the tender closed fist of union member Tony Camargo. Although the network news shows are carefully avoiding committing themselves to real journalism by not reporting on union violence in Michigan, those of us who have access to the censored news via the Web are well aware of what is actually happening. And in order to keep up…
P.J. Gladnick
December 12th, 2012 5:04 PM

NBC Medical Editor Denounces 'Religion Part' of Christmas That 'Mucks

During a panel discussion on Tuesday's NBC Today about hiring people to do Christmas chores like decorating the tree or buying gifts, the network's chief medical editor Nancy Snyderman suddenly broke into an anti-religious rant: "I don't like the religion part. I think religion is what mucks the whole thing up....I think that's what makes the holidays so stressful." [Listen to the audio or…
Kyle Drennen
December 12th, 2012 5:03 PM