Despite Huge Fuel Cost Increases, Networks Criticize Airfare Hikes

April 8th, 2011 10:36 AM
If you think it has gotten pricey to fill up your car's gas tank, imagine having to fill the 50,000 gallon or larger tank on a 747. Jet fuel costs 51.4 percent more than it did a year ago, according to IATA and that is taking a huge toll on the airlines.   But when the airlines raise prices or ad fees to make up for the increased cost of flying, the network news media respond with charges…

O'Reilly to Lauer: Have A 'Telethon on the Today Show' If You Want Fun

April 7th, 2011 5:41 PM
During his Talking Points Memo at the top of Wednesday's O'Reilly Factor on Fox News, host Bill O'Reilly called out NBC Today co-host Matt Lauer for denouncing Republican efforts to cut spending on things like "climate control": "Are you kidding me, Lauer? Funding for climate control? Nobody can control the climate but God. So give a little extra at mass or services." As NewsBusters reported…

For Second Day, NBC Touts Democrats Blaming Tea Party for Budget Fight

April 7th, 2011 4:12 PM
After NBC Today co-host Matt Lauer joined Senator Chuck Schumer on Wednesday in labeling the Tea Party as the cause of the budget stalemate in Congress, on Thursday, Capitol Hill correspondent Kelly O'Donnell again provided a platform for Democratic talking points in an interview with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. O'Donnell, who spoke with Reid Wednesday night, began with a challenge: "…

Media Mostly Ignore Bloody Pig's Foot, Anti-Semitic Message Sent to Re

April 7th, 2011 4:00 PM
On Monday evening, the AP reported that a suspicious package destined for Rep. Peter King's (R-N.Y.) Washington congressional office was intercepted at an off-site mail facility and "contained a pig's foot and a note laced with several anti-Semitic references, according to a person with knowledge of the incident who requested anonymity because of the ongoing police investigation." King, the…

Media Dust Off 1995 Shutdown Playbook of Cliches to Cover Current Budg

April 7th, 2011 12:26 PM
As a potential government shutdown looms the liberal media are filling their programs with stories about dire consequences of deep cuts that will lead to troops not getting paid, closed national parks, and late tax refunds. However, a review of MRC's coverage of the 1995 budget fight reveals the media are simply rerunning their tired old arguments from the last shutdown. On this Wednesday's…

Chuck Schumer Thrilled by Matt Lauer's Tea Party Bashing

April 6th, 2011 11:30 AM
In a softball interview with New York Senator Chuck Schumer on NBC's Today on Wednesday, co-host Matt Lauer recited Democratic talking points on the budget fight perfectly: "[For] the Tea Party and others on the far right....does it seem to you, Senator, that this is less about a fiscal debate or an economic policy debate and they are making an ideological stand here?" [Audio available here…

ABC Allows a Scant 65 Seconds of Coverage for Obama's Reversal on

April 5th, 2011 4:19 PM
Over two programs totaling two and half hours of air time, ABC allowed only 65 seconds of coverage for Barack Obama's decision to break a campaign promise and try 9/11 terror suspects at Guantanamo and not in a civilian court. In contrast, all the other network evening shows on Monday and morning shows on Tuesday provided full reports. On Tuesday's Good Morning America on ABC, Juju Chang…

NBC's Vieira to RNC Chairman: Doesn't Economic Recovery 'Throw a Monke

April 5th, 2011 1:03 PM
On Tuesday's NBC Today, co-host Meredith Vieira grilled Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on GOP criticism of the massive spending of the Obama administration: "...sixth consecutive month of job growth, unemployment numbers lowest in two years, it certainly appears that there is a recovery. So doesn't that throw a real monkey wrench into your argument?" Priebus pointed…

NBC Uses Obama Re-election Bid to Pressure GOP Candidates to Announce

April 4th, 2011 12:18 PM
At the top of Monday's Today on NBC, co-host Matt Lauer touted "breaking news" of President Obama announcing his re-election bid: "...the expected announcement comes with a prediction, he could become the first candidate ever to raise a billion dollars." Lauer then added: "Will Republican hopefuls sitting on the sidelines be compelled to dive in as well?" While fill-in co-host Ann Curry…

NY Mag's Heilemann: Obama's Got More Talent In His Little Finger Than

April 2nd, 2011 2:58 PM
The liberal media are on a full-court press to make the entire GOP presidential candidate field look hapless and unelectable. Doing his part Friday was New York magazine's John Heilemann who on "The Chris Matthews Show" said the Obama campaign thinks their guy has "more talent in his little finger than any of these Republicans" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

CBS Notices Obama Administration Playing Politics With Nuclear Waste D

April 1st, 2011 12:32 PM
Since Japan's earthquake and following nuclear crisis, the CBS Evening News has done two reports on the Obama administration blocking use of the Yucca Mountain storage facility in Nevada to safely dispose of U.S. nuclear waste. Meanwhile, NBC and ABC have ignored the controversy. The first CBS report on the issue came on March 22, when Evening News anchor Katie Couric declared: "The crisis…

Major Nets' Evening Newscasts All Ignore Poll Showing Lowest Obama Ap

March 31st, 2011 6:30 PM
The latest presidential approval poll shows Barack Obama's ratings at his lowest point of his tenure: 42 percent. But the three major broadcast networks took no notice whatsoever on their Wednesday evening newscasts. Neither CBS, NBC, nor ABC reported the Quinnipiac poll results on their respective evening news broadcasts. The results, released Wednesday, recorded 42 percent of respondents…

NBC's Refusal to Cover GE Tax Scandal Reinforces Perception of Liberal

March 31st, 2011 9:44 AM
NewsBusters and others have, on many occasions, pointed out the apparent conflict of interest in NBC-Universal and its various media affiliates (both news and entertainment) pushing for policies that would benefit General Electric, who until recently was the majority stakeholder in NBC-U, and still retains a large portion of ownership over the company. Recent events seem to vindicate that…

Chuck Schumer Caught on Tape Instructing Fellow Dems on How to Spin Me

March 30th, 2011 4:47 PM
New York Senator Chuck Schumer was caught on tape Tuesday instructing his Democratic colleagues on how to spin the media with regard to “extreme” Republicans and their budget cuts. "I always use extreme...That is what the caucus instructed me to use,” Schumer blurted. The liberal senator was apparently unaware his comments were being recorded (The remarks were made moments before a…