On Friday, the annual March of Life was held in Washington, D.C. to mark the sad 49th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, which led to the deaths of tens of millions of unborn children in the Unites States through abortion. On Saturday, NBC’s Today show gave a few seconds to the massive pro-life demonstration while spending the rest of its report on promoting Planned Parenthood’s efforts to sell abortion.
“This morning, we’re going In-Depth on the 49th anniversary of that historic Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, that gave women nationwide the right to have an abortion,” co-host Kristen Welker announced at the start of the Saturday segment. She noted: “With a Supreme Court decision over its fate looming, both advocates and opponents are preparing for a future without it now.”
Fellow co-host Peter Alexander briefly mentioned how “anti-abortion activists gathered in Washington, as they do each year, to protest Roe v. Wade,” before turning to correspondent Ali Vitali, who fretted: “...the whole country is waiting for the Supreme Court to decide on one of the most serious challenges to abortion protections that it’s heard since the Roe vs. Wade decision nearly 50 years ago.”
With the headline on screen declaring, “Abortion Providers Scrambling Ahead of SCOTUS Decision,” Vitali sympathetically bemoaned the plight of the nation’s largest abortion provider: “On what could be Roe’s final anniversary as the law of the land, Yamelsie Rodriguez is preparing for a future without it....This weekend, Planned Parenthood and their local partners are opening a new regional logistics center to ease that burden on patients, providing things like transportation, food, lodging, and cash assistance.”
Rodriguez, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri CEO, wailed:
We know first-hand what a post-Roe reality looks like because we live that reality every single day....But the people that we are concerned about is the people that do not have the financial means. Do I pay the rent and feed my kids or do I save up all of this money in order to access abortion care?
Vitali joined in the hand-wringing: “Her state is one of more than two dozen across the U.S. that have sought restrictions on abortion access, forcing patients to look elsewhere for care, oftentimes having to cross state lines to get it.”
The reporter warned: “Meanwhile, abortion opponents nationwide are gaining strength. In just the past year, they introduced nearly 600 abortion restrictions and were able to pass more than 90 into law.” However, she assured pro-abortion viewers: “To counter it, reproductive advocates are channeling their resources into the states, while the Supreme Court weighs whether or not to strike down or fundamentally alter the protections offered by Roe.”
Talking to Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill Johnson, Vitali cheered on the effort: “Is that what you guys are attempting to do then? You shore up the states where access is available to make up for the states where it’s not?” Johnson replied: “Yes, absolutely. Focusing on bolstering health care operations in regions that are going to be critical access points for patients.”
Vitlali eagerly added: “Reproductive groups are also focused on expanding access to telehealth medication abortion for pregnancies up to 10 weeks, another move to broaden access and limit the need for travel.”
The reporter then finally offered a brief mention of March for Life: “Meantime Friday, anti-abortion activists took to the National Mall for the annual March for Life, hopeful that when they gather this time next year, Roe vs. Wade will have been overturned.” A soundbite also ran of Alliance Defending Freedom’s Kristen Waggoner telling pro-life demonstrators: “Pray as you’ve never prayed before that the Supreme Court will have the moral courage to do what is right.”
Of course Vitali never bothered to actually talk to Waggoner or the other march organizers. In fact, the report didn’t feature the reporter speaking to a single March for Life participant.
Instead, the correspondent wrapped up the remarkably one-sided story by proclaiming: “The high court’s verdict, expected to come next June, would impact nearly half of U.S. women of reproductive age, about 36 million. Another milestone for a divisive and emotional issue.”
The combined total air time of Alexander and Vitali’s mentions of the March for Life only amounted to a paltry 23 seconds – out of a report that was 3 minutes 39 seconds long.
In sharp contrast, reports on Friday’s CBS Evening News and ABC’s Good Morning America on Saturday were far more focused on the march. On CBS, during a 2 minute 21 second report, the March for Life received 1 minute 5 seconds of air time while pro-abortion activists only received 35 seconds. On ABC, during a 1 minute 56 second report, 40 seconds highlighted the pro-life demonstration while only 13 seconds were given to pro-abortion advocates. (The remaining portions of both reports focused on details about the upcoming Supreme Court ruling and polling data on the topic).
NBC clearly stood out as being most in the tank for the pro-abortion lobby as it tried to dismiss thousands of pro-life activists marching through the streets of D.C. in favor of chatting with Planned Parenthood shills.
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Here is a full transcript of the January 22 report on NBC’s Today show:
7:40 AM ET
KRISTEN WELKER: This morning, we’re going In-Depth on the 49th anniversary of that historic Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, that gave women nationwide the right to have an abortion. With a Supreme Court decision over its fate looming, both advocates and opponents are preparing for a future without it now.
PETER ALEXANDER: And a Friday, anti-abortion activists gathered in Washington, as they do each year, to protest Roe v. Wade. NBC’s Ali Vitali is here with more with what people on both sides of this issue are saying. Ali, good morning.
ALI VITALI: Good morning, guys. Peter and Kristen, the whole country is waiting for the Supreme Court to decide on one of the most serious challenges to abortion protections that it’s heard since the Roe vs. Wade decision nearly 50 years ago. Now, groups on both sides of this battle are looking ahead to what comes next.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Abortion Providers Scrambling Ahead of SCOTUS Decision]
VITALI: On what could be Roe’s final anniversary as the law of the land, Yamelsie Rodriguez is preparing for a future without it.
YAMELSIE RODRIGUEZ [PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ST. LOUIS REGION AND SOUTHWEST MISSOURI CEO]: We know first-hand what a post-Roe reality looks like because we live that reality every single day.
VITALI: Her state is one of more than two dozen across the U.S. that have sought restrictions on abortion access, forcing patients to look elsewhere for care, oftentimes having to cross state lines to get it. For thousands of women in Missouri, that means a trip to neighboring Illinois and growing logistical concerns.
RODRIGUEZ: People who have the means have always have and will always continue to have access to abortion. But the people that we are concerned about is the people that do not have the financial means. Do I pay the rent and feed my kids or do I save up all of this money in order to access abortion care?
VITALI: This weekend, Planned Parenthood and their local partners are opening a new regional logistics center to ease that burden on patients, providing things like transportation, food, lodging, and cash assistance.
Meanwhile, abortion opponents nationwide are gaining strength. In just the past year, they introduced nearly 600 abortion restrictions and were able to pass more than 90 into law. To counter it, reproductive advocates are channeling their resources into the states, while the Supreme Court weighs whether or not to strike down or fundamentally alter the protections offered by Roe.
VITALI: Is that what you guys are attempting to do then? You shore up the states where access is available to make up for the states where it’s not?
ALEXIS MCGILL JOHNSON [PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA CEO]: Yes, absolutely. Focusing on bolstering health care operations in regions that are going to be critical access points for patients.
VITALI: Reproductive groups are also focused on expanding access to telehealth medication abortion for pregnancies up to 10 weeks, another move to broaden access and limit the need for travel.
Meantime Friday, anti-abortion activists took to the National Mall for the annual March for Life, hopeful that when they gather this time next year, Roe vs. Wade will have been overturned.
KRISTEN WAGGONER [ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM]: Pray as you’ve never prayed before that the Supreme Court will have the moral courage to do what is right.
VITALI: The high court’s verdict, expected to come next June, would impact nearly half of U.S. women of reproductive age, about 36 million. Another milestone for a divisive and emotional issue.
ALEXANDER: And Ali, clearly this is a very divisive issue. Where do Americans right now stand on it?
VITALI: Yeah, Peter, a new poll shows that two-thirds of Americans are against the Court completely overturning Roe. And that if it were to be over turned, 59% say they’d want to see their state set more permissive abortion laws. That said, another 40% said they’d want more restrictive legislation in their states. Once again, that clear stark divide, one that could play out at the peak of midterm season. Peter, Kristen?
WELKER: Yes, something we are going to watch very closely. Ali Vitali, great report on a really important issue. Thank you, good to see you here in person.
ALEXANDER: Thanks, Ali.
