Picking up where they left off during their respective morning shows, the three evening broadcast network news shows on Monday gushed over the passage of the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” which they labeled as “blockbuster” and “historic.”
On NBC Nightly News, which was the worst offender of the three, fill-in host Tom Llamas drooled all over himself with excitement for the Democrats’ newly passed spending bill: “In a deeply divided country with a deeply divided Congress, a blockbuster billion-dollar deal has been made.”
Llamas then turned to Democrat Party propagandist Ali Vitali who disguises herself as a Capitol Hill correspondent from NBC News. Vitali gushed that “Tonight, Democrats [are] victorious, if a little weary after a marathon weekend.”
“A nearly 22-hour Senate session that culminated in the passage of a sweeping health care climate and economic bill, $430 billion in spending with unprecedented climate and energy investments,” Vitali added.
After wrapping up the rest of her report, llamas asked Vitali what “experts saying on how it will affect the current inflation crisis.” In response, Vitali laughably claimed “top economists say this bill will put downward pressure on inflation” and that “investments in energy and health care will fight inflation and lower costs while setting the table for long-term economic growth.”
Over on ABC’s World News Tonight, congressional correspondent Rachel Scott played the part of Democrat stenographer (click expand to read):
The President is on the verge of a hard-fought victory. The inflation reduction act, which will reduce prescription drug costs, lower the deficit, and includes the largest U.S. Commitment ever to fighting climate change.
[...]
Democrats tonight pushing on the changes coming for health care. For the first time, medicare will be able to negotiate the price of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies and cap out-of-pocket expenses for seniors at $2,000 a year. The bill would also lower premiums for Americans buying their own health insurance. It would be paid for by increasing taxes on top corporations. And on climate, the roughly $740 billion package would help Americans who are looking to buy an electric vehicle, including a $7,500 tax credit for buying certain new electric vehicles and $4,000 for purchasing used ones. Plus tax breaks for Americans who make their homes more energy efficient by installing solar panels. Democrats say those savings will add up.
Responding to a question from anchor David Muir about how this will help Democrats in the 2022 midterms, Scott announced “this is the legislative victory that many Democrats in these tight races had been waiting for. And tonight, the President is urging the House to pass this as quickly as possible.”
Over on CBS Evening News which was the tamer of the three, correspondent Scott MacFarlane took a break from his pathological obsession with the January 6, 2021 riots at the Capitol to report on more current news: “With $369 billion for clean energy programs, it's also the largest climate change bill in U.S. history including tax credits for people who buy electric cars and for energy-efficient home upgrades.”
This media swooning over another massive Democrat Party spending monstrosity that will only make inflation worse was made possible by Verizon on ABC, Ensure on CBS, and Progressive on NBC. Their information is linked.
To read the transcripts of each segment click “expand”:
NBC Nightly News
August 8, 2022
7:01:55 p.m. EasternTOM LLAMAS: In a deeply divided country with a deeply divided Congress, a blockbuster billion-dollar deal has been made. The plan expected to clear the House this week comes after years of inaction on the warming climate and the rising cost of prescription drugs hitting so many American families. The deal would commit hundreds of billions to reduce greenhouse gases and give Americans tax credits to buy pricey electric vehicles.
It also empowers Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies for the first time. Slashing costs for seniors over 65. And it comes with hefty tax hikes on corporations. Republicans are warning tonight against more spending in this shaky economic reality we are living. But still, Democrats are celebrating it as a crucial win for the President and his party with the midterms less than 100 days away. Our Ali Vitali leads us off tonight from a sharply divided capitol hill.
ALI VITALI: Tonight, Democrats victorious. If a little weary after a marathon weekend.
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER: It was a long night. It was a long month. It was a long year. But we got it done.
VITALI: A nearly 22-hour Senate session that culminated in the passage of a sweeping health care climate and economic bill, $430 billion in spending with unprecedented climate and energy investments.
GINA MCCARTHY (NATIONAL CLIMATE ADVISOR): I have never seen or anticipated anything as significant as this piece of legislation.
VITALI: Electric vehicle incentives, methane reduction programs, and clean energy jobs. Plus lower drug costs for seniors with medicare now able to directly negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.
What does that mean to you?
CATHERINE HORINE (LUNG TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT): It means a lot. My anxiety will go down. Hopefully, that will keep a roof over my head and food in my refrigerator for a longer period of time. It's a big deal. It's a big deal. It means my life, really.
VITALI: To pay for it, Democrats targeting tax changes aimed at the wealthiest and big corporations, hiking the corporate minimum tax rate to 15 percent for big businesses, and boosting IRS enforcement, the bill bears the policy imprint of moderate Democrats Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema who downsized the package over the course of the last year of negotiating with majority leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer, though, celebrating the political balancing act.
SCHUMER: So this is my secret to success.
VITALI: Some Democrats still mad about what was left out.
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: Bottom line is this legislation is a baby step forward. It doesn't go as far as it should.
VITALI: But President Biden calling it a win.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Do I expect it to help? Yes, I do.
VITALI: The mega-watt deal now a centerpiece of the midterm message for both parties.
[...]
LLAMAS: All right. Ali Vitali joins us now. Ali the bill is expected to pass in the House. What are experts saying on how it will affect the current inflation crisis?
VITALI: Tom, top economists say this bill will put downward pressure on inflation. A group of former treasury secretaries from Republican and Democratic administrations had urged congress to pass it. Saying investments in energy and health care will fight inflation and lower costs while setting the table for long-term economic growth. Tom?
ABC’s World News Tonight
August 8, 2022
6:34:09 p.m EasternRACHEL SCOTT: The President is on the verge of a hard-fought victory. The inflation reduction act, which will reduce prescription drug costs, lower the deficit, and includes the largest U.S. Commitment ever to fighting climate change.
[...]
SCOTT: Democrats tonight pushing on the changes coming for health care. For the first time, medicare will be able to negotiate the price of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies and cap out-of-pocket expenses for seniors at $2,000 a year. The bill would also lower premiums for Americans buying their own health insurance. It would be paid for by increasing taxes on top corporations. And on climate, the roughly $740 billion package would help Americans who are looking to buy an electric vehicle, including a $7,500 tax credit for buying certain new electric vehicles and $4,000 for purchasing used ones. Plus tax breaks for Americans who make their homes more energy efficient by installing solar panels. Democrats say those savings will add up.
[...]
SCOTT: But Democrats didn't get everything they wanted and they’re taking aim at Republicans for what they blocked. During a marathon 15-hour debate, Republicans successfully blocked a $35 cap on insulin for millions of Americans.
[...]
SCOTT: And tonight, with the midterms approaching, the larger political question. The president with approval ratings at historic lows, but now with a string of recent victories. This new bill that cuts prescription costs and a historic investment in fighting climate change. The recent bipartisan bill passed to make high-tech semiconductor chips in America. And last week the killing of Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. But it's an open question if these victories will boost his approval ratings and Democrats' chances this fall.
DAVID MUIR: Well that is the question so let's get to Rachel Scott live on the hill tonight. Rachel as you know, less than 100 days now until the midterms in November. Obviously, President Biden eager to sign this bill, eager to get out into the country now to list these accomplishments, but as you point out the question, will it land with voters?
SCOTT: Yes, David, it's the question that's hanging over these midterm elections. I'm told the President wants to get out in the country and sell this bill directly to the American people. This is the legislative victory that many Democrats in these tight races had been waiting for. And tonight, the President is urging the House to pass this as quickly as possible. They are expected to take it up by the end of the week, David.
CBS Evening News
August 8, 2022
6:38:42 p.m. EasternJERICKA DUNCAN: Back here in Washington, Senate Democrats are celebrating the weekend passage of a multi-billion-dollar spending bill that’s focused on healthcare, climate change and taxes.
[...]
SCOTT MACFARLANE: The Senate vote by the narrowest possible margin. Straight down party lines with Republicans blasting plans saying it might raise taxes.
[...]
MACFARLANE: With $369 billion for clean energy programs, it's also the largest climate change bill in U.S. history including tax credits for people who buy electric cars and for energy-efficient home upgrades. It expands subsidies to help more people get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and to help pay for it a new 15 percent tax rate on corporations. Left out of the bill, a plan to cap the price of insulin for millions of people on private insurance.
