If anyone thought the leftist media were done swooning over former President Barack Obama, Tuesday’s network morning show coverage made it clear journalists were still adoring fans eager for any new product being put out by the Democrat. The CBS, NBC, and ABC broadcasts happily hyped Obama teaming up with left-wing rocker Bruce Springsteen for a new podcast on “race, fatherhood, marriage, and the future of America.”
On CBS This Morning, Democratic Party donor and Obama vacation pal Gayle King could not contain her excitement: “...two of the biggest names in politics and music just started a podcast on Spotify. Who do you think that is? How about former President Barack Obama and Bruce, as in Springsteen. It’s called Renegades: Born In the USA.” A clip then ran of Obama promoting the podcast:
On the surface, Bruce and I don’t have a lot in common, he’s a white guy from a small town in Jersey. I’m a black guy of mixed race, born in Hawaii. He’s a rock ’n roll icon. I’m not as cool.
King worked hard to sell the series:
“I’m not as cool.” Did he say that with a straight face, Barack Obama? Spotify says it’s like eavesdropping on an intimate conversation. The two talk about race, fatherhood, marriage, and the future of America. They both love this country....Two of the eight episodes were released yesterday. Must see, must listen. The podcast is the latest project from Higher Ground. That’s a production company created by the former President and Michelle Obama. Mr. Obama says, “In our own ways, Bruce and I have been on parallel journeys trying to understand this country that’s given us both so much.” I think this is one of the coolest things. I've heard people say, “I didn’t even know the two of them were friends or knew each other.” But they’re very good friends, spend a lot of time together, and they’ve got a lot to talk about.
Fellow co-host Anthony Mason joked: “Not enough star power in that podcast.”
After playing the same Obama soundbite on NBC’s Today show, co-host Savannah Guthrie echoed King’s fawning sentiment: “I don’t know, it’s all pretty cool....Former President Obama’s take on teaming up with Bruce Springsteen, they’ve got a new podcast, believe it or not....going to have a lot more on the friendship at the center of this really unique series...”
“The former President and the Boss getting together for a brand-new podcast. It’s Renegades: Born In the USA, and it’s available right now on Spotify,” fellow co-host Craig Melvin gushed during a report in the 8:00 a.m. ET hour. He urged viewers to listen: “Obama and Springsteen have actually been friends since they first met on the campaign trail back in 2008. So, it should be a really good conversation, it looks like a great conversation.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Lara Spencer started off the show’s pop culture news segment by declaring: “And we’re going to begin with quite a team, Bruce Springsteen and former President Barack Obama will work together on a new podcast called Renegades: Born In the USA.” Like her CBS and NBC colleagues, Spencer recited the sales pitch: “The eight-episode series on Spotify will have the Boss and former commander in chief engaging in deep and revealing conversations with each other, exploring a wide array of topics including race, fatherhood, marriage and the state of America.”
The podcast news came just a couple weeks after the networks all celebrated Springsteen’s Super Bowl ad for Jeep (which was pulled off the air soon after, following the revelation of Springsteen recently being charged with a DWI). In the short-lived TV spot, the singer, known for his divisive far-left rhetoric, hypocritically called for “unity.”
Democrats can always rely on their allies in the media to help them get plenty of free advertising for whatever vanity project they come up with.
CBS’s Obama/Springsteen lovefest was brought to viewers by Honda, NBC’s by McDonald’s, and ABC’s by CarMax. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a full transcript of the February 23 segment on CBS This Morning:
8:31 AM ET
GAYLE KING: I gotta good – I like my story, too. Because two of the biggest names in politics and music just started a podcast on Spotify. Who do you think that is? How about former President Barack Obama and Bruce, as in Springsteen. It’s called Renegades: Born In the USA.
BARACK OBAMA: On the surface, Bruce and I don’t have a lot in common, he’s a white guy from a small town in Jersey. I’m a black guy of mixed race, born in Hawaii. He’s a rock ’n roll icon. I’m not as cool.
KING: “I’m not as cool.” Did he say that with a straight face, Barack Obama? Spotify says it’s like eavesdropping on an intimate conversation. The two talk about race, fatherhood, marriage, and the future of America. They both love this country. Their conversations were recorded over the course of a few days in a converted farmhouse on Springsteen’s property in New Jersey. Two of the eight episodes were released yesterday. Must see, must listen. The podcast is the latest project from Higher Ground. That’s a production company created by the former President and Michelle Obama. Mr. Obama says, “In our own ways, Bruce and I have been on parallel journeys trying to understand this country that’s given us both so much.” I think this is one of the coolest things. I've heard people say, “I didn’t even know the two of them were friends or knew each other.” But they’re very good friends, spend a lot of time together, and they’ve got a lot to talk about.
ANTHONY MASON: Not enough star power in that podcast.
KING: I know.
TONY DOKOUPIL: I know, I was going to say, I’m going to retract my podcast pitch. [Laughter]
MASON: Yeah, right.
DOKOUPIL: Put that in my back pocket.
KING: Never mind. Great idea.
Here is a full transcript of the segment on NBC’s Today show:
7:30 AM ET TEASE
BARACK OBAMA: On the surface, Bruce and I don’t have a lot in common. He’s a white guy from a small town in Jersey. I am a black guy of mixed race born in Hawaii with a childhood that took me around the world. He’s a Rock ’n Roll icon. I’m a lawyer and politician – not as cool.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: I don’t know, it’s all pretty cool. We’re back. Former President Obama’s take on teaming up with Bruce Springsteen, they’ve got a new podcast, believe it or not. Everybody’s podcasting. Who are you if you don’t have a podcast? You’re us. We don’t have a podcast. Carson’s going to have a lot more on the friendship at the center of this really unique series, coming up a bit later on Pop Start.
8:19 AM ET SEGMENT
CRAIG MELVIN: First up, Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen. The former President and the Boss getting together for a brand-new podcast. It’s Renegades: Born In the USA, and it’s available right now on Spotify. The podcast is going to feature Obama and Springsteen in deep conversation, talking about a range of topics, including fatherhood, the state of America, and of course, a little bit about music. Here is a little clip from the trailer.
BARACK OBAMA: And over the course of a few days, all just a few miles from where he grew up, we talked.
It made sense if you’re going to be a Rock ’n Roll star, you’re going to play the guitar.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Guitars were cheap. I could actually work a job, which I did, I saved up $18, bought a cheap guitar. Then I started to learn some Beatles, I learned Twist and Shout.
OBAMA: Did your folks say anything?
SPRINGSTEEN: Keep it down!
MELVIN: Obama and Springsteen have actually been friends since they first met on the campaign trail back in 2008. So, it should be a really good conversation, it looks like a great conversation. Renegades: Born In the USA available to stream now on Spotify.
Here is a full transcript of the segment on ABC’s GMA:
8:11 AM ET
LARA SPENCER: And we’re going to begin with quite a team, Bruce Springsteen and former President Barack Obama will work together on a new podcast called Renegades: Born In the USA. The eight-episode series on Spotify will have the Boss and former commander in chief engaging in deep and revealing conversations with each other, exploring a wide array of topics including race, fatherhood, marriage and the state of America. Here’s a little preview.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: I grew up thinking, you know, my father was like ashamed of his family. That was my entire picture of masculinity. Did you have to deal with that?
BARACK OBAMA: So my father leaves when I’m two and I don’t meet him until I’m 10 years old, when he comes to visit for a month. I had no way to connect to the guy. You know, the guy is a stranger who’s suddenly in our house.
SPENCER: So interesting. And the podcast is being produced by the Obamas’ production company, it’s called Higher Ground. You can stream the first two episodes of Renegades on Spotify right now, and more to come.
