It’s become obvious to most people paying attention over the past four to five years that the liberal media had become activists consumed by their hatred of President Trump; it’s a fact that’s indisputable. And ever since Joe Biden became President, the liberal media had shifted their focus towards beating down all Republicans and gaslighting their viewers into thinking they’re the enemy. Well, on Wednesday’s Special Report, Fox News media analyst Howard Kurtz walked viewers through the media’s schemes.
“Tonight, we take a closer look at what appears to many viewers to be a seismic and long-term shift left on the part of the mainstream media. So, is it happening? And, if so, what are the reasons and the ramifications,” anchor Bret Baier teased at the top of the segment. The segment itself was very detailed as Kurtz showcased the liberal media’s favoritism for Democrats at different levels.
After recalling the media’s historical disdain for Republican presidents and admiration for Democrats (which included a call back to former MSNBC host Chris Matthews infamous “thrill running up my leg” line), Kurtz pondered on how the media had given up their ability to report fairly on events.
“But have four years of increasingly hostile coverage of Trump, made the press more reflectively anti-Republican now that Joe Biden is president,” he rhetorically wondered. “It's a difficult question because Biden has a less confrontational style but many reporters seem to admire him.”
Included in the report was a soundbite from MSNBC contributor and PBS White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor heaping doting praise on Biden during a press conference. “The perception of you that got you elected as a moral, decent man,” she said.
Given the fact that Alcindor is paid by taxpayers to gush about her dear leader, that made her actual State TV (as in what CNN called Fox News during the Trump administration).
From there, Kurtz pointed to how the press circled the wagons before the election to protect Biden from the scandals of his delinquent son Hunter:
KURTZ: But NPR’s managing editor dismissed it saying: “We don't want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories.” The laptop’s contents were confirmed but now that the President's son is out with a book on his drug addiction, many in the media are sympathetic.
JIM ACOSTA: That Hunter Biden clip, it is really -- it's a gut punch, I mean this really humanizes something that former President Trump and the right tried to exploit.
Outside of the presidential level, Kurtz reminded viewers about how the media initially tried to defend New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) from his alleged crimes, while CBS’s 60 Minutes recently tried to cook up misconduct from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R).
“When New York governor Andrew Cuomo, lionized by the press early in the pandemic, was found to withhold information on nursing home deaths, the media were slow to pursue it. And when a former aid accused him of sexual harassment, which Cuomo denies, the network evening newscasts ignored it and CNN ran two very brief items,” he said.
He added: “60 Minutes drew widespread criticism for a story trying to link a vaccine contract ordered by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to a political donation....But the CBS program refused to air most of the Governor's response or to admit the piece was one-sided.”
Kurtz concluded by noting “it seems clear Joe Biden is getting an easy ride so far” and the media were battering Republican politicians while protecting Democrats. “But that helps explain why three months after Trump left office Republican mistrust of the media has reached new lows.”
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
April 14, 2021
6:28:22 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Tonight, we take a closer look at what appears to many viewers to be a seismic and long-term shift left on the part of the mainstream media. So, is it happening? And, if so, what are the reasons and the ramifications? Here's Fox News media analyst and host of Fox’s MediaBuzz, Howard Kurtz.
[Cuts to video]
HOWARD KURTZ: The media have been accused for decades of liberal bias. By Richard Nixon.
RICHARD NIXON: Never forget, the press is the enemy, the press is the enemy.
KURTZ: By George H.W. Bush. Not so much by Barack Obama.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: The feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama speech – I felt this thrill running up my leg.
KURTZ: And by Donald Trump who hit back hard.
DONALD TRUMP: These are just dishonest, terrible people. I'm telling you that. [Transition] Fake, fake, disgusting news.
KURTZ: But have four years of increasingly hostile coverage of Trump, made the press more reflectively anti-Republican now that Joe Biden is president? It's a difficult question because Biden has a less confrontational style but many reporters seem to admire him.
YAMICHE ALCINDOR: The perception of you that got you elected as a moral, decent man.
KURTZ: When the New York Post broke this story of Hunter Biden's incriminating laptop, not only did Twitter censor the story and later apologize.
GLENN GREENWALD: It was incredible interference and manipulation of the right to vote and the right to be heard.
KURTZ: But NPR’s managing editor dismissed it saying: “We don't want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories.” The laptop’s contents were confirmed but now that the President's son is out with a book on his drug addiction, many in the media are sympathetic.
JIM ACOSTA: That Hunter Biden clip, it is really -- it's a gut punch, I mean this really humanizes something that former President Trump and the right tried to exploit.
KURTZ: The press has been somewhat tougher on the President after an initially slow start over the crisis of migrant children at the border.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Was it a mistake not to anticipate this surge?
KURTZ: And the barring of journalists from overcrowded facilities.
JAKE TAPPER: Blocking access to the news media is not leveling with the American people, Mr. President.
KURTZ: But some are still deflecting blame from Biden's policies and pointing at his predecessor.
JULIA AINSLEY: The difference here is that a lot of these children are part of a problem that the Biden administration inherited from the Trump administration.
KURTZ: Now that Biden is pushing his second straight $2 trillion bill on infrastructure and more, the coverage has been largely sympathetic. One CNN news headline declaring: “With an eye on history, Biden moves on big, bold and progressive infrastructure package.”
When New York governor Andrew Cuomo, lionized by the press early in the pandemic, was found to withhold information on nursing home deaths, the media were slow to pursue it. And when a former aid accused him of sexual harassment, which Cuomo denies, the network evening newscasts ignored it and CNN ran two very brief items.
But it was The New York Times that tracked down Cuomo's second accuser Charlotte Bennett and CBS that put her on the air.
NORAH O’DONNELL: Do you believe that he was propositioning you?
CHARLOTTE BENNETT: Yes.
HAROLD FORD: We shouldn't kid ourselves, a lot of consumers of political press, they’re finding outlets that basically affirm a lot of their views.
KURTZ: 60 Minutes drew widespread criticism for a story trying to link a vaccine contract ordered by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to a political donation.
SHARYN ALFONSI: The criticism is that it's pay-to-play, governor.
GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): It's wrong, it's wrong. It's a fake narrative. I just disabused you of the narrative and you don't care about the facts.
KURTZ: But the CBS program refused to air most of the Governor's response or to admit the piece was one-sided.
[Cuts to video]
It seems clear Joe Biden is getting an easy ride so far, that the media downplayed the Cuomo scandals until they were too big to ignore, while being much rougher on such GOP leaders as Florida's Ron DeSantis. There are important exceptions, of course. But that helps explain why three months after Trump left office Republican mistrust of the media has reached new lows. Bret.
BAIER: Howie, well done, we’ll continue to talk about this. Thank you.
