Last April, President Biden and far-left Democrats were looking for the moon when the former convened a commission they hoped would recommend radical changes to the Supreme Court, including giving him the green light to attempt to pack it with his partisans and ideologues. But on Tuesday, that commission ended in a whimper as the divided commissioners couldn’t agree on upending the highest court in the land and the Constitution.
Of course, the liberal broadcast networks that were enthusiastically pushing such radical changes were nowhere to be found when their pipedream collapsed in on itself.
Around the time the commission was launched, then-NBC correspondent Kasie Hunt boasted about it on Today: “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.”
“Progressive Democrats say this is absolutely necessary to restore the balance of the Supreme Court,” declared ABC correspondent Rachel Scott on Good Morning America that same day.
Adding: “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.”
At the same time, the CBS Evening News gave the push for radical change cover by ignoring it.
But while the commission’s flameout was of no interest to the broadcast networks, the Fox News Channel’s Special Report found it newsworthy. “Those who feared or hoped for radical change for the U.S. Supreme Court are either taking a deep breath or stifling a primal screen tonight. A commission studying several proposed changes to the system has basically opted for the status quo,” anchor Bret Baier announced on Tuesday.
“President Biden's bipartisan commission voted unanimously to approve its final report on possible changes to the Supreme Court,” reported chief Washington correspondent Mike Emanuel, noting they looked at the progressive wish list of radical changes. “They backed the report but note there was not broad consensus.”
According to the statements from former federal judges on the commission, they were deeply divided (Click “expand”):
THOMAS GRIFFITH (Supreme Court Commission): There was much disagreement among the commissioner about the various proposals. For example, I am opposed to expanding the size of the court, limiting the terms of the justices. And stripping the court of any of its current jurisdiction.
EMANUEL: Moments later, another retired federal judge argued for adding justices.
NANCY GERTNER (Supreme Court Commission): The court has been effectively court-packed by one party and will remain packed for years to come with serious consequences to our democracy. Whatever the cost of expansion in the short term, I believe will be more than counterbalanced by the real advantages it will bring to judicial independence and to our democracy.
“At the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki has tried to lower expectations on possible presidential action and timing,” Emanuel noted. “All indications are this blue-ribbon report will end up like many others before it: on a shelf.”
Instead of covering their hopes fizzling out Tuesday, ABC’s World News Tonight tried to thank President Biden for gas prices dropping. “Tonight, GasBuddy showing the average cost falling to $3.34 a gallon. The lowest in seven weeks,” touted anchor David Muir after noting the oil released from the reserve. What he didn’t mention was that the price was down only five cents.
Apparently, that tottering from the White House was paying off.
Following the White House's advice? ABC's David Muir touts Biden's oil reserve release for "the average cost falling to $3.34 a gallon." What he didn't mention was the price drop was only 5 cents. pic.twitter.com/1nseCbDOSC
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) December 8, 2021
The omission of the whimpering commission report was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Bayer on ABC, Vicks on CBS, and Amazon on NBC. Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they fund.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
December 7, 2021
6:28:59 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Those who feared or hoped for radical change for the U.S. Supreme Court are either taking a deep breath or stifling a primal screen tonight. A commission studying several proposed changes to the system has basically opted for the status quo. Here’s chief Washington correspondent Mike Emanuel.
[Cuts to video]
MIKE EMANUEL: President Biden's bipartisan commission voted unanimously to approve its final report on possible changes to the Supreme Court. The commissioners studied court-packing and adding justices to the and how possible term limits could be phased in moving away from lifetime appointments. They backed the report but note there was not broad consensus.
THOMAS GRIFFITH (Supreme Court Commission): There was much disagreement among the commissioner about the various proposals. For example, I am opposed to expanding the size of the court, limiting the terms of the justices. And stripping the court of any of its current jurisdiction.
EMANUEL: Moments later, another retired federal judge argued for adding justices.
NANCY GERTNER (Supreme Court Commission): The court has been effectively court-packed by one party and will remain packed for years to come with serious consequences to our democracy. Whatever the cost of expansion in the short term, I believe will be more than counterbalanced by the real advantages it will bring to judicial independence and to our democracy.
EMANUEL: The commission was created in response to progressives' demands for reform in the wake of President Trump's three Supreme Court picks. At the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki has tried to lower expectations on possible presidential action and timing.
JEN PSAKI (WH Press Secretary): I don't have a timeline for how long it will take him to review the report. I would remind you all it's not a recommendation that he either accepts or denies.
EMANUEL: Conservatives say this is in response to a 6-3 majority that leans their way. And with lifetime appointments, it is a court which could shape American law for decades.
REP. ELISE STEFANIK (R-NY): What's very concerning is now you are hearing Democrats talking about packing the court, because they can't win elections, because they want to undermine the system.
[Cuts back to live]
EMANUEL: All indications are this blue-ribbon report will end up like many others before it: on a shelf. While the debates were respectful, they did not produce a clear vision about changes to the structure of the Supreme Court which ultimately would be made by Congress. Bret?
BAIER: Mike, thank you.
