Friday's NBC Nightly News played up that "V.P. speculation [was] swirling as Elizabeth Warren meets Hillary Clinton at her house." Lester Holt trumpeted Senator Warren as "a hero of the left," while Andrea Mitchell hyped that "the buzz about Warren [is] only growing." Mitchell later underlined that "the pros of picking Warren: she's a fiery speaker, who relishes attacking Trump....and [is] a progressive who could win back Bernie Sanders supporters." [video below]
Holt used his "hero of the left" label of Warren as he led into the correspondent's report, noting that the Massachusetts Democrat was "fresh off her big endorsement of Hillary Clinton." He also pointed out that Donald Trump was "also focused on Warren...launching a tirade against a woman who has shown no reluctance to tear into him." Mitchell continued that "the Clinton campaign [was] leaving no doubt about who their top-three surrogates are: President Obama; Joe Biden; and with equal billing to them: liberal firebrand Elizabeth Warren."
The NBC journalist touted a "newly energized" Clinton "unleashing" on Trump, and added that "the Vice President, having given up his own dream, [is] getting on board." Mitchell spent much of the segment on the apparent pros and cons of Warren acting as the former first lady's running mate:
ANDREA MITCHELL: Could Clinton now be eyeing Warren as a running mate? The two meeting today at Clinton's home — the pros of picking Warren: she's a fiery speaker, who relishes attacking Trump....And a progressive who could win back Bernie Sanders supporters. The cons: Warren and Clinton are not close — have disagreed on issues....And Clinton says her top priority is a vice president ready to take over if necessary. Some say Warren fails that test.
Mitchell concluded the report with her "buzz about Warren" line.
By contrast, correspondent Hallie Jackson spotlighted Trump's ongoing issues with prominent Republicans during the bulk of her report, which immediately followed Mitchell's:
HALLIE JACKSON (voice-over): ...Tonight, new questions about his tone from his own party, as he goes after Elizabeth Warren — calling her 'Pocahontas,' referring to her claims of Native American ancestry — Warren firing back on Twitter: 'No, seriously, delete your account.'JACKSON (on-camera): Any regrets on calling her 'Pocahontas,' Mr. Trump?
TRUMP: None whatsoever.
JACKSON (voice-over): But even some supporters want Trump to tone it down.
REPRESENTATIVE MARSHA BLACKBURN, (R), TENNESSEE: There are things I wish Mr. Trump would change — what he says, or change the tenor.
JACKSON: It's not just his tenor; it's his policy prowess, too. This stunningly-blunt assessment from the Senate's top Republican.
SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL, (R), KENTUCKY (from Bloomberg's "Masters In Politics" podcast): It's pretty obvious he doesn't know a lot about the issues.
JACKSON: None of it fazing his backers.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I love his tone. That's why I support him.
JACKSON: Still, inside the party, growing concern what's worked so far may not now.
MICHAEL STEELE, FORMER REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIR: Primary's over, baby — come on! You got to get with the game. And the game right now requires you to step into the role as presidential nominee for the GOP — period.
JACKSON (live): And late tonight, Mitt Romney, a 'never Trump' leader, is revealing he won't vote for either Trump or Hillary Clinton.
The full transcript of Andrea Mitchell's report from the June 10, 2016 edition of NBC Nightly News:
LESTER HOLT (teaser): V.P. speculation swirling as Elizabeth Warren meets Hillary Clinton at her house; and Donald Trump goes on a tirade about Warren's — quote, 'nasty mouth.'
LESTER HOLT: To politics now — and fresh off her big endorsement of Hillary Clinton, all eyes tonight focus on Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a hero of the left, meeting behind closed doors today with Hillary Clinton. Also focused on Warren today: Donald Trump, launching a tirade against a woman who has shown no reluctance to tear into him.
We have it all covered, starting with NBC's Andrea Mitchell in Washington. Andrea, busy day.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Good evening, Lester. It was a busy day. In a new fundraising e-mail tonight, the Clinton campaign leaving no doubt about who their top-three surrogates are: President Obama; Joe Biden; and with equal billing to them: liberal firebrand Elizabeth Warren — who I'm being told tonight by campaign sources is among those being considered for vice president.
[NBC News Graphic: "Veepstakes; V.P. Speculation Swirls Around Warren"]
MITCHELL (voice-over): Hillary Clinton, newly energized, surrounded by supporters at Planned Parenthood, unleashing on Donald Trump.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Do we want to put our health, our lives, our futures in Donald Trump's hands?
MITCHELL: And the Vice President, having given up his own dream, getting on board.
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Wherever the next president is — and, God willing, in my view, it will be Secretary Clinton—
MITCHELL: Clinton's cheeky response on Twitter tonight: 'Thanks, @VP Biden. Your support is a big deal.' Her other new ally: Elizabeth Warren — endorsing Clinton on Rachel Maddow's show.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN, (D), MASSACHUSETTS (from MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show): I am ready to get in this fight and work my heart out for Hillary Clinton to become the next president.
MITCHELL: Could Clinton now be eyeing Warren as a running mate? The two meeting today at Clinton's home — the pros of picking Warren: she's a fiery speaker, who relishes attacking Trump.
WARREN: You, Donald Trump, are a total disgrace.
MITCHELL: And a progressive who could win back Bernie Sanders supporters. The cons: Warren and Clinton are not close — have disagreed on issues. Here's Warren in 2004, charging Clinton as senator with switching sides on a bankruptcy bill to satisfy big banks.
WARREN (from 2004 interview on PBS): She has taken money from the groups; and, more to the point, she worries about them as a constituency.
MITCHELL: And Clinton says her top priority is a vice president ready to take over if necessary. Some say Warren fails that test.
FORMER GOVERNOR ED RENDELL (from interview on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT Philadelphia): Elizabeth Warren is a wonderful, bright, passionate person, but with no experience in foreign affairs; and not in any way, shape, or form, ready to be commander-in-chief.
MITCHELL: Asked if she could be commander-in-chief, Warren didn't hesitate.
RACHEL MADDOW: I want to know, if you think you could be?
WARREN: Yes, I do.
MITCHELL: But Clinton ducking the question about Warren as veep—
CLINTON: You guys have got to try the cold chai.
MITCHELL: The buzz about Warren only growing. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Washington.
