Media Matters - Today Show

Media Matters - Today Show http://mediamatters.org/tools/syndication/tag_rss/today_show This link is for use by RSS-enabled software to retrieve Media Matters items matching the term: Today Show en-US Copyright 2008, Media Matters for America On Today, NBC's Cowan repeated as fact discredited rumors about ballots in Franken-Coleman race http://mediamatters.org/items/200811130011 In a report on NBC's Today about the Minnesota Senate race, Lee Cowan repeated the discredited rumor that "ballots have suddenly appeared out of nowhere, including some found unsecured in an election worker's car." In fact, according to election officials quoted in news reports, the ballots did not "suddenly appear[] out of nowhere," and they weren't "unsecured." Cowan also aired a statement by Fritz Knaak, a lawyer for Sen. Norm Coleman, apparently critical of the handling of the ballots in question, but he didn't report previous statements in which Knaak reportedly said he felt assured that the ballots weren't compromised. http://mediamatters.org/items/200811130011 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:25:13 EST NBC reported on FBI's ACORN investigation, but not on DOJ regulations prohibiting leaks http://mediamatters.org/items/200810190003 NBC's Amy Robach and Pete Williams reported on the FBI's investigation of ACORN but did not mention that Department of Justice regulations prohibit department personnel from discussing ongoing investigations with the general public, including the media. http://mediamatters.org/items/200810190003 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:59:46 EST Vieira suggested Obama ad calling McCain "erratic" is attack on McCain's age, but her colleagues have made similar comments http://mediamatters.org/items/200810070009 Today's Meredith Vieira twice suggested that an Obama campaign ad describing Sen. John McCain as "erratic in crisis" is a reference to McCain's age. She did not note that the "erratic" characterization, in fact, comes from a USA Today editorial cited in the ad, which referred to McCain's response to the economic crisis on Wall Street as "erratic." Further, at least two of Vieira's colleagues at MSNBC, Joe Scarborough and Chris Matthews, also said McCain's actions could be perceived as erratic. http://mediamatters.org/items/200810070009 Tue, 7 Oct 2008 13:31:38 EST After Vieira claimed "political advertising suspended" for McCain campaign, dozens of NBC affiliates ran McCain ads during Today http://mediamatters.org/items/200809250007 On NBC's Today, Meredith Vieira said of Sen. John McCain: "His campaign on hold, political advertising suspended, and he's asking his rival to postpone tomorrow night's debate." However, according to a Media Matters search of the TVEyes.com database, dozens of NBC affiliates ran McCain ads during the hour prior to, or following, her statement on Today. http://mediamatters.org/items/200809250007 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:08:21 EST LA Times reported that McCain "backed" AIG bailout, but not that McCain said he opposed it one day earlier http://mediamatters.org/items/200809190015 The Los Angeles Times reported, "[Sen. Barack] Obama has not taken a position on AIG's rescue, unlike [Sen. John] McCain, who has backed it." But the Times did not point out that the day before the bailout was announced, McCain indicated that he opposed a federal government bailout of AIG, asserting that "we cannot have the taxpayers bail out AIG or anybody else." http://mediamatters.org/items/200809190015 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:48:16 EST "[L]ive from an oil rig": NBC, MSNBC aired multiple reports on offshore drilling without explaining "environmental concerns" or disclosing GE's drilling connection http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020005 NBC's Today and Nightly News and MSNBC Live aired segments in which correspondent Janet Shamlian reported live from an offshore drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico. But while two of Shamlian's reports included quotes from a Chevron spokesperson, none of her reports included an interview with or quote from environmental organizations or explained the "environmental concerns" that Shamlian acknowledged exist. Further, neither Shamlian nor the hosts and anchors disclosed that General Electric, which owns 80 percent of NBC Universal, also has an affiliated business unit that is invested in the acquisition and production of oil and natural gas and another that is a major supplier of equipment and services for the offshore drilling industry. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020005 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:16:20 EST Dick Morris repeated false and misleading claims about Obama's tax proposals on Hannity & Colmes and Today http://mediamatters.org/items/200806250003 On Fox News, Dick Morris asserted that as president, Sen. Barack Obama "would double the capital gains tax. That means that you get far less when you sell your home, or your 401(k) or your stock plan," and added, "[H]e would increase the limit on Social Security taxes, which means instead of paying 12 1/2 percent of the first $100,000, you pay it on everything that you're making." Morris' claims are false or highly misleading. http://mediamatters.org/items/200806250003 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:40:45 EST Today double standard: Clinton, but not McCain, grilled on gas tax break proposal http://mediamatters.org/items/200806110010 When Sen. John McCain twice touted the idea of a gas tax "break" during an interview on NBC's Today, Matt Lauer failed to challenge him over whether economists believe a gas tax holiday is a good idea. But when Sen. Hillary Clinton mentioned her proposal "to get the gas tax paid this summer out of the record profits of the oil companies" on the same program a month earlier, Meredith Vieira challenged her, saying that economists are "saying it's not sound policy." http://mediamatters.org/items/200806110010 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:17:21 EST Media outlets noted McCain's efforts to woo Clinton supporters, but not prior distortions and personal attacks challenging his sincerity now http://mediamatters.org/items/200806050003 Reuters, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NBC's Today reported Sen. John McCain's praise of Sen. Hillary Clinton in a June 3 speech, but none of those outlets noted that McCain has previously distorted Clinton's record on issues such as health care, taxes, the environment, and housing, nor did they note that McCain has a history of personal attacks against Clinton and her family. http://mediamatters.org/items/200806050003 Thu, 5 Jun 2008 14:38:20 EST In contrast with Gregory, former NBC colleagues Couric and Yellin affirmed McClellan's criticism of media http://mediamatters.org/items/200805290011 Responding to reported claims in Scott McClellan's new book about the media's role in the lead-up to the Iraq war, David Gregory has challenged McClellan's claims and defended the performance of the press. But at least two of Gregory's former colleagues at NBC News have given a very different view of the media's conduct in the lead-up to the war. Katie Couric said, "I do think we were remiss in not asking some of the right questions," while Jessica Yellin cited corporate pressure "to make sure that this was a war that was presented in a way that was consistent with the patriotic fever in the nation and the president's high approval ratings." http://mediamatters.org/items/200805290011 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:40:54 EST NBC's Lauer falsely suggested only "the far left" is concerned about Bush's alleged civil liberties violations http://mediamatters.org/items/200805160008 On Today, during an interview with former CIA agent Michael Sheehan about his new book, Matt Lauer said, "You say we've got to use more undercover agents, informants, wiretapping, email surveillance, the works. The sound you just heard, Michael, is the far left, grabbing for their remote controls, 'cause they say, you're going to do this, you're going to trample civil liberties." In fact, Americans across the political spectrum have denounced the Bush administration for alleged violations of civil liberties. http://mediamatters.org/items/200805160008 Fri, 16 May 2008 20:33:36 EST Discussing Cindy McCain's tax returns, NBC's Curry did not note effect on John McCain of wife's fortune or benefit to Cindy of tax cuts her husband now supports http://mediamatters.org/items/200805080011 During an interview, Today co-host Ann Curry asked Cindy McCain about her refusal to release her tax returns, but did not challenge McCain's refusal by noting that John McCain's campaign has benefited financially from her wealth, and without noting that McCain supports the permanent extension of President Bush's tax cuts, from which those with capital gains -- something that would be indicated on Cindy McCain's tax returns -- benefit significantly. http://mediamatters.org/items/200805080011 Thu, 8 May 2008 19:50:44 EST NBC's Curry did not challenge Cindy McCain on claim that "[m]y husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all" http://mediamatters.org/items/200805080004 NBC's Ann Curry did not challenge Cindy McCain, Sen. John McCain's wife, when she claimed, "You won't see [negative stuff] come out of our side at all," and asserted, "My husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all." In fact, John McCain has a history of negative campaigning and has promulgated numerous falsehoods about his opponents during the 2008 presidential campaign. http://mediamatters.org/items/200805080004 Thu, 8 May 2008 14:29:49 EST Today, Early Show covered Wright interview, but didn't ask McCain about Hagee http://mediamatters.org/items/200804250006 NBC's Today and CBS' The Early Show both aired interviews with Sen. John McCain while the candidate was in New Orleans, but in neither case asked McCain about controversial comments that one of his endorsers, Pastor John Hagee, recently made about Hurricane Katrina, though both programs discussed controversial comments made by Rev. Jeremiah Wright. http://mediamatters.org/items/200804250006 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:44:54 EST After lamenting absence of debate on "fundamental issues," Lauer asked Clinton only about the race http://mediamatters.org/items/200804230007 On the April 15 edition of Today, Matt Lauer asserted, "It's been a long time since an actual vote was cast in this primary season, a long time since we've debated actual fundamental issues. We've had a lot of sniping and second-guessing." Yet in an April 23 interview on Today with Sen. Hillary Clinton, Lauer discussed only the state of the Democratic presidential primary race, not any "actual fundamental issues." http://mediamatters.org/items/200804230007 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:42:10 EST