On Wednesday, it became clear that President Biden’s negligent spending in the Build Back Better bill was dead as Democrats did not have the votes in the Senate to get it passed before Christmas and the start of an election year. And after doing their darndest to gaslight the American public about what’s in the bill, the liberal broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC; including Spanish-language networks Telemundo and Univision) ignored the final conclusion of the bill’s slow, agonizing demise.
The un-ceremonial farewell to the bill that would’ve thrown trillions of dollars at social spending boondoggles was one of the top stories on Fox News Channel’s Special Report. Anchor Bret Baier even kicked off the segment with a Fox News Business poll showing “almost half of registered voters surveyed think President Biden's Build Back Better plan would push inflation higher. Only 21 percent think it would help lower inflation.”
“The best-laid plans of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer may have gone astray,” quipped congressional correspondent Chad Pergram, juxtaposing the Senator’s hopes for the bill and the harsh reality:
SCHUMER: We aim to pass it before Christmas. [Transition] Senate Democrats continue our work to pass the president's Build Back Better act before Christmas. [Transition] My goal is to have the Senate take action to debate and pass the President's Build Back Better legislation before we hit Christmas day.
(…)
PERGRAM: But those hopes are dimming.
“There is nothing magical about passing the bill by Christmas. It's an artificial deadline to prompt action. But unlike wine, this bill may not get better with time. Especially as President Biden's polls sag,” he added.
Pergram also sought the insight of Darrell West of the Brookings Institute. “It's going to be hard to keep Democrats in line as his unpopularity grows,” West said. “Anything that slows down the train risks running it off the rails.”
And on Biden’s effort to keep the party on those rails, Pergram reported: “he may be willing to postpone Build Back Better until next year, that's if the Senate can approve a voting rights bill.”
Following the video portion of the segment, Baier asked the million-dollar question teeing up Pergram to explain that other Democratic wish list items were just as dead and were only “an effort to distract the base, especially if they postpone the spending bill”:
Chuck Schumer, he talked to moderate Democrats about changing the filibuster to pass voting rights. They could only okay the bill with a special filibuster carve out, otherwise the GOP can block Democrats. Derek Johnson of the NAACP, he met with Democrats today. He says the clock is ticking. But so far voting rights is in no better shape than the other bill.
The network blackout of the death of President Biden’s agenda was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from WeatherTech on ABC, Neutrogena on CBS, and Ford Motor Company 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 15, 2021
6:04:35 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Our new Fox News Business poll indicates almost half of registered voters surveyed think President Biden's Build Back Better plan would push inflation higher. Only 21 percent think it would help lower inflation.
There are indications tonight a vote on the President's massive tax and social spending legislation will not happen before the end of the year. And there are real questions about the bill overall. Even in 2022.
Congressional correspondent Chad Pergram has details tonight from capitol hill.
[Cuts to video]
CHAD PERGRAM: The best-laid plans of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer may have gone astray.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): We aim to pass it before Christmas. [Transition] Senate Democrats continue our work to pass the president's Build Back Better act before Christmas. [Transition] My goal is to have the Senate take action to debate and pass the President's Build Back Better legislation before we hit Christmas day.
PERGRAM: Senate Democrats remain upbeat that the Senate can still pass the bill before December 25th.
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): Merry Christmas, happy New Year, let's go home to our families. Let's get our job done.
PERGRAM: But those hopes are dimming.
UNIDENTIFIED JOURNALIST 1: Do you still believe you can get the Build Back Better Act done this year?
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I hope so. It's going to be close.
PERGRAM: Unresolved issues linger on immigration, taxes, and healthcare.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): The best Christmas present the American people could hear was that this bill was going nowhere.
PERGRAM: Republicans oppose the bill but it hinges on a solitary Democratic senator.
MCCONNELL: It seems to me Senator Manchin can determine of the timing here.
PERGRAM: Joe Manchin talked with President Biden multiple times this week. Manchin worries the bill could fuel inflation. Manchin is allusive since the bill isn't done.
UNIDENTIFIED JOURNALIST 2: Can your issues be resolved before Christmas?
SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): Procedurally, we don't have nothing to vote on.
PERGRAM: There is nothing magical about passing the bill by Christmas. It's an artificial deadline to prompt action. But unlike wine, this bill may not get better with time. Especially as President Biden's polls sag.
DARRELL WEST (Brookings Institute): It's going to be hard to keep Democrats in line as his unpopularity grows. [Transition] Anything that slows down the train risks running it off the rails.
[Cuts back to live]
PERGRAM: President Biden said today he may be willing to postpone Build Back Better until next year, that's if the Senate can approve a voting rights bill. Bret?
BAIER: Yeah, the longer a bill stays around, the tougher it is, especially in an election year to pass. But, Chad, if Build Back Better is sidelined as we believe it might be, how realistic is this voting rights bill talk? I mean, Democrats appear to be shifting focus there.
PERGRAM: Not very. This is an effort to distract the base, especially if they postpone the spending bill. Chuck Schumer, he talked to moderate Democrats about changing the filibuster to pass voting rights. They could only okay the bill with a special filibuster carve out, otherwise the GOP can block Democrats. Derek Johnson of the NAACP, he met with Democrats today. He says the clock is ticking. But so far voting rights is in no better shape than the other bill. Bret?
BAIER: Chad Pergram live on Capitol Hill. Chad, thanks.
