On Thursday, NBC’s Today show and ABC’s Good Morning America actually tried to justify the radical plan by Democrats to pack the Supreme Court, citing far-left “fury” over “conservative” justices appointed to the high court in recent years. The absurd partisan talking point that the move was needed to “restore the balance of the Supreme Court” was even parroted in the coverage.
While the Today show did label the effort by Democrats to be “highly controversial” and something that would spark a “political firestorm,” correspondent Kasie Hunt ultimately framed the power-grabbing scheme this way:
The Supreme Court, of course, has the power to decide cases touching all aspects of American life and Congress does have the power to change the number of justices. The push from progressives to do it now is an effort to dilute a conservative majority that could shape the law for generations.
After briefly noting how the attempt to appoint four additional liberal justices to Supreme Court was “something conservatives fiercely oppose as political ‘court packing,’” Hunt argued that leftists being upset by the ideological makeup of the Court somehow justified the extreme plan: “Progressive fury over the Court has been growing after former President Trump appointed three conservative justices, including one in an election year, after Republicans blocked President Obama from naming Merrick Garland to the Court in 2016.”
She wrapped up the report by predicting that the blatantly political stunt by congressional Democrats “puts pressure on President Biden” to rethink his objections to the legislative maneuver. Hunt then proclaimed: “President Biden likely won’t be able to avoid this fight now, because Democrats currently control the House, Senate, and the White House, activists see this as a very rare opportunity to act.”
As long as the left sees a political “opportunity,” NBC will cover for them.
Over on GMA, correspondent Rachel Scott declared: “Progressive Democrats say this is absolutely necessary to restore the balance of the Supreme Court.” After quickly mentioning Republicans “firing back, calling this an overreach,” Scott came up with the same excuse as Hunt for why Democrats were trying to force the issue: “Democrats were frustrated when Republicans refused to even consider President Obama’s pick for the bench during the 2016 election year, then to only confirm conservative justice – Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the bench – cementing the Court’s conservative majority for decades to come.”
The reporter then admitted that “this legislation faces a massive uphill battle in Congress” and “it’s unclear this morning if the White House is even on board,” but unlike NBC, the ABC broadcast never labeled it “controversial.”
Speaking of labels, not once were the terms “liberal” or “left” ever uttered during either network report. Only “Democrat” and “progressive” were used to describe the ideology of those pushing the radical attempt to undermine the federal judicial branch. In sharp contrast, the “conservative” label was thrown around repeatedly.
Something else missing from the coverage was any acknowledgment that late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and current liberal Justice Stephen Breyer have both emphatically denounced the idea of packing the Court.
While NBC and ABC at least told viewers what Democrats were plotting, CBS This Morning completely ignored the left’s attempt to upend the Supreme Court.
The attempt to justify the brazen political move was brought to NBC viewers by Citi and ABC viewers by Volvo. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a full transcript of the April 15 report on NBC’s Today show:
7:09 AM ET
HODA KOTB: Also this morning, a hot-button issue during the presidential campaign is front and center in Washington today. A group of congressional Democrats is ready to unveil legislation seeking to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court. NBC’s Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt joins us now with details. Hey, Kasie, good morning.
KASIE HUNT: Hoda, good morning to you. The Supreme Court, of course, has the power to decide cases touching all aspects of American life and Congress does have the power to change the number of justices. The push from progressives to do it now is an effort to dilute a conservative majority that could shape the law for generations.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Democrats Look to Expand Supreme Court; Introducing Controversial Bill Today That Would Add Four Justices]
This morning, congressional Democrats taking a first step into a political firestorm over the Supreme Court, planning to introduce a bill to expand the Court from nine justices to 13, something conservatives fiercely oppose as political “court packing.” Progressive fury over the Court has been growing after former President Trump appointed three conservative justices, including one in an election year, after Republicans blocked President Obama from naming Merrick Garland to the Court in 2016.
There have been nine seats on the Supreme Court since the 1800s and the bill to permanently add justices is unlikely to pass a divided Congress, but it puts pressure on President Biden. During the campaign, Biden said he was, quote, “not a fan of expanding the Court.” But last week, following through on a promise to form a commission to study the issue.
JOE BIDEN: I will ask them to, over a 180 days, come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system because it’s getting out of whack. Presidents come and go, Supreme Court justices stay for generations.
HUNT: President Biden likely won’t be able to avoid this fight now, because Democrats currently control the House, Senate, and the White House, activists see this as a very rare opportunity to act. Hoda?
KOTB: Alright, Kasie Hunt for us there at the Capitol. Kasie, thank you.
Here is a full transcript of the report on ABC’s GMA:
7:13 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: Now to the battle over the Supreme Court. Democrats in the House and Senate are set to introduce a bill today that would expand the number of seats on the high court, adding four more justices. Rachel Scott is outside the Supreme Court with more details for us. Good morning, Rachel.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Supreme Court Showdown; Democrats to Introduce Bill to Add More Justices]
RACHEL SCOTT: Robin, good morning. This legislation would expand the number of justices from 9 to 13. Progressive Democrats say this is absolutely necessary to restore the balance of the Supreme Court. Republicans though, already firing back, calling this an overreach. And this is a battle that has really intensified over the last several months. Democrats were frustrated when Republicans refused to even consider President Obama’s pick for the bench during the 2016 election year, then to only confirm conservative justice – Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the bench – cementing the Court’s conservative majority for decades to come.
But the reality here is that this legislation faces a massive uphill battle in Congress. Democrats just do not have the votes to get this passed. And it’s unclear this morning if the White House is even on board with this legislation. They are declining to comment, but in the past, President Joe Biden has said he’s not a fan of so-called packing the court. Instead, he has created a commission to study the structure of the Supreme Court, robin?
ROBERTS: As you said, uphill battle. Okay, thank you, Rachel.
