After Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News devoted an entire report to elevating the racist views of a white nationalist, on Thursday’s Today, correspondent Gabe Gutierrez claimed the network wanted to avoid promoting such offensive extremists: “Experts who track these groups say that they feel emboldened and are not going away. And while we don’t want to provide a platform for these fringe voices, it’s important to understand who they are.”
On Nightly News, correspondent Jacob Soboroff invited white supremacist William Johnson to spew his hateful rhetoric: “And do you believe that Donald Trump saying things like that will ultimately bring America closer to your goal of a white ethno-state?” During his report for the Today show, Gutierrez similarly highlighted: “Self-proclaimed white nationalist Matthew Heimbach helped organize the Charlottesville rally and is planning one in Lexington.”
Gutierrez went on to note: “Richard Spencer, speaking on Israeli TV, says the movement has grown since President Trump’s election.” Spencer proclaimed: “No doubt, our movement is winning.”
Introducing the segment, co-host Matt Lauer wondered: “So who’s leading the movement and why are they gaining traction?” Perhaps the answer is in the amount of air time provided by national news networks like NBC, giving such hate groups exactly what they crave most – attention.
The segment was brought to viewers by Walmart, Chevy, and Folgers.
Here is a portion of Gutierrez’s August 17 report:
7:31 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Despite the growing backlash, extremist groups are planning more rallies like the one that ended in violence in Charlottesville last weekend. So who’s leading the movement and why are they gaining traction? NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez has a closer look at that. Gabe, good morning.
GABE GUTIERREZ: Matt, good morning to you again. Experts who track these groups say that they feel emboldened and are not going away. And while we don’t want to provide a platform for these fringe voices, it’s important to understand who they are. A warning, some of language you are about to hear is disturbing.
This morning, a growing number of cities across the country are bracing for far-right rallies like this one in Charlottesville. From Boston to San Francisco to Lexington, Kentucky, where white supremacists are fighting city officials who plan to vote tonight on a resolution to remove two confederate statutes. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying, “Their message of hate and bigotry are not welcome in Kentucky and should not be welcome anywhere in America.”
MATTHEW HEIMBACH: We will engage in peaceful, legal demonstrations throughout America’s cities, becoming more active than ever.
GUTIERREZ: Self-proclaimed white nationalist Matthew Heimbach helped organize the Charlottesville rally and is planning one in Lexington.
HEIMBACH: We’re standing up for white folks that deserve a voice.
GUTIERREZ: Richard Spencer, speaking on Israeli TV, says the movement has grown since President Trump’s election.
RICHARD SPENCER: No doubt, our movement is winning.
(...)
