The NBC, CBS and ABC morning news shows largely ignored a devastating report showing that inflation rose again in August. The report looms ahead of President Joe Biden’s scheduled remarks today, where he will likely tout his so-called “Inflation Reduction Act.”
The morning networks whiffed on the inflation report, giving it zero seconds of coverage, except for one solitary news chyron from ABC's Good Morning America.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’s (BLS) Sept. 13 report revealed that inflation soared by 8.3 percent compared to the same time last year, with food prices rising a staggering 11.4 percent, the largest increase since May 1979. The news even prompted The New York Times to punch out this sobering headline for the president: “Inflation Report Dampens Biden’s Attempts to Celebrate the Economy.” Ouch.
Biden plans to host an event “celebrating the historic achievement” of his “Inflation Reduction Act” today at 3 p.m., according to Factbase.
At 3pm today, Biden will host an event at the White House to celebrate the Inflation Reduction Act, even though inflation has not been reduced
— Megan Marzzacco (@MeganMarzzacco) September 13, 2022
He's throwing a party at our expense, while we struggle to afford groceries and gas. https://t.co/HmE09MBXFu
The irony of Biden celebrating the “Inflation Reduction Act” when inflation remains high seems to have been lost on the morning networks. ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, NBC’s Today and NBC’s 3rd Hour of Today couldn’t be bothered to give the terrible economic news any meaningful coverage on their Sept. 13 broadcasts.
The only mention Good Morning America gave of the BLS inflation news was a single news chyron. And even that chyron omitted any descriptive language of the terrible inflation report, beyond calling it “key.”
So what critical, groundbreaking news did the morning shows cover instead of inflation? GMA showed two characters twerking on the show She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, NBC’s 3rd Hour of Today presented singer Lizzo in a red dress, the Today show talked about its fantasy football league and CBS Mornings interviewed comedian Rosie O’Donnell about her new character on the show American Gigolo. Yes, really.
GMA invited She-Hulk star Jameela Jamil on to explain how she got Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, also known by her stage name Megan Thee Stallion, to twerk on the show. “We made Marvel twerking history,” Jamil said on GMA.
CBS Mornings, for its part, went starry-eyed over “the great Rosie O’Donnell” whose “wide-ranging career speaks for itself. And now she stars as Detective Sunday in the new Showtime series American Gigolo.” American Gigolo is a show about a male prostitute who gets framed for murder, according to IMDB.
NBC’s Today show hosts gave an update of vital national importance: the results of their fantasy football league. NBC host Jacob Soboroff said that Today host Dylan Dreyer won the top spot because she had the most points. “But you all still have a chance!” Soboroff added.
NBC’s 3rd Hour gushed over celebrities on the red carpet for the Emmys: “Kaley Cuoco was pretty in pink. And Lizzo slayed in red!”
Conservatives are under attack. Contact ABC News at 818-460-7477, CBS News at 212-975-3247 and NBC News at 212-664-6192 and demand they cover inflation news over pop culture fluff.
