Nets Hail White House Correspondents’ Dinner ‘Back With A Bang’

On Sunday and Monday, reporters on the NBC, ABC, and CBS morning shows were thrilled that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner had returned following the pandemic and was attended by a Democratic president. The networks repeatedly cheered the gathering of the liberal D.C. media and political elite as an event “celebrating the freedom of the press.”

“President Biden spoke and joked last night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. It was the first time in three years the event has been held,” host Willie Geist touted on NBC’s Sunday, April 22nd about Saturday night’s gala. Correspondent Josh Lederman swooned:

Washington’s tradition is the star-studded dinner. It was a tradition that Trump skipped every year when he was president. COVID came along. Now, COVID is here. The first White House Correspondents’ Dinner since COVID. This was the inaugural “nerd prom”, with President Barack Obama in attendance, since 2016.

A clip played of President Biden taking a jab at Donald Trump: “We had a horrible plague followed by two years of COVID.” Lederman gleefully emphasized: “The President’s predecessor unspared from the roast.”

The reporter tried his hand at humor, laughingly claiming: “Over the years, the dinner has been a rare chance for journalists and politicians to set political fights aside and laugh at each other and themselves.”

The reality is that the dinner has been routinely used to applaud Democrats while criticizing Republicans. The 2018 dinner devolved into such a Trump-bashing spectacle that even ABC’s Jonathan Karl denounced vile, far-left comedian Michelle Wolf’s “mean-spirited” performance. NBC defended this disgusting performance.

On ABC’s Good Morning America on Sunday, co-host Janai Norman told viewers: “To Washington now, and politics, as President Biden appears at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The event returning after a two-year break due to the pandemic.” Correspondent Kenneth Moton declared:

Yes, the tradition is back and the White House says it took extra precautions with this Correspondents’ Dinner. He arrived just prior to his remarks saluting journalists and also giving some humorous comments about himself and the media.

Reporter: “one of the biggest nights in Washington returned” and gushed: “The Daily Show host Trevor Noah headlining the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, AKA nerd prom, where D.C. meets Hollywood. 2,600 journalists, politicians, and celebrities – including Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson – rubbing elbows, celebrating the freedom of the press with a side of humor.”

A clip was featured of Biden predictably hitting the GOP: “I’m not really here to roast the GOP. That’s not my style. Besides, there’s nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn’t already put on tape.”

On Monday’s CBS Mornings, co-host Tony Dokoupil proclaimed: “We do move on this morning to Washington, where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, one of the capital’s biggest social events, returned on Saturday for the first time in three years.”

Following a soundbite of Biden joking that “I’m really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have,” correspondent Ed O’Keefe hyped: “Armed with a few one liners, President Biden was the first commander in chief to headline the White House Correspondents’ Dinner since 2016.”

The reporter particularly heralded one of his colleges: “CBS News Radio’s Steven Portnoy led the evening as president of the Correspondents’ Association.” A clip ran of Portnoy telling attendees: “Our democracy depends on journalists shining light and truth upon darkness and lies and bringing accountability to officials at every level of our government.”

O’Keefe concluded: “The President and Noah agreed that despite the pandemic, laughter, and partying, calling out those in positions of power is a distinctly American trait.”

After the report from O’Keefe, co-host Gayle King was delighted that Noah “wasn’t mean” to Biden: “Also great job Trevor Noah. Because it is so hard to thread that needle to take a little jab, a little bruise, a little punch, but he wasn’t mean. That’s the thing, he wasn’t mean and he was actually very, very funny.”

Back in 2018, CBS eagerly promoted Wolf as a “standout” comic before the dinner but afterward admitted that her performance was “extreme” and “below the belt.”

It’s a little disingenuous to tout the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as a celebration of the First Amendment and freedom of the press when most of the media figures in the room are allies of the Democrat in the White House and all the mild jokes are told among friends.

These transcripts contain excerpts from CBS, ABC, and NBC’s coverage on May 1st and 2.

Sunday, April 22nd
05/01/22
8.07 am ET

WILLIE GEIST: President Biden spoke and joked last night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. This was the third time the event had been held in the past three years. And there were some concerns about the President’s attendance given the recent COVID cases around him. NBC’s Josh Lederman was there and he joins us now from the White House. Good morning Josh.

JOSH LDERMAN: Good morning Willie. The star-studded Washington dinner is an American tradition. It was a tradition that Trump skipped every year when he was president. COVID came along. The dinner was back, but this time with more bang.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: White House Correspondents’ Dinner Returns]

LEDERMAN: Today’s bash is one to never forget. The first White House Correspondents’ Dinner since COVID. This was the inaugural “nerd prom”, with a president present since 2016.

JOE BIDDEN [Laughter]  

LEDERMAN: The President’s predecessor unspared from the roast.

TREVOR NOAH [IN TRUMP VOICE]After I invented vaccines, no one knew how to make them. Beautiful, beautiful vaccines.

LEDERMAN: This year’s headliner, The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah.

NOAH: I then was informed that a biracial African man standing right next to me gets the highest approval ratings. [In Obama voice]: So let me just say, Joe, I’m glad that I can do my part.

LEDERMAN: The dinner is a rare opportunity for politicians and journalists to laugh and forget about political differences over the years.

JOE BIDEN – Republicans support one guy, Brandon. He’s having a really good year! [Laughter]

(…)

Good Morning America
05/01/22
8.07 am ET

JANAI NORMAN: To Washington now, and politics, as President Biden appears at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This event returns after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic. Still, COVID casting a long shadow over the dinner, coming just weeks after so many of D.C.’s most powerful were infected at Washington’s annual Gridiron Dinner.

NORMAN: ABC’s Kenneth Moton, my date to nerd prom, as it’s affectionately know, in 2017 and 2018, joins us with more from the White House. Good morning, Kenneth.

KENNETH MOTON: Good morning, Janai. The evening was great. Yes, the tradition is back and the White House says it took extra precautions with this Correspondents’ Dinner. While he didn’t attend the dinner, the President arrived shortly before his remarks to salute the press and then he also gave some humorous comments about the media.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: DC Media Event Raises COVID Concerns; White House Correspondents Dinner Back After Two-Year Break]

MOTON: The biggest night in Washington was back after two years of pandemic relief.

TREVOR NOAH: It is my great honor to be speaking tonight at the nation’s most distinguished superspreader event. [Laughter]

MOTON: The Daily Show host Trevor Noah headlining the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, AKA nerd prom, where D.C. meets Hollywood. 2,600 journalists, politicians, and celebrities – including Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson – rubbing elbows, celebrating the freedom of the press with a side of humor.

JOE BIDEN: I’m not really here to roast the GOP. That’s not my style. Besides, there’s nothing I can say about the GOP that Kevin McCarthy hasn’t already put on tape.

MOTON. The president is not present at the dinner. This first appearance in six years raises concerns about COVID. Both Kamala Harris, Vice President and Kate Bedingfield are positive. After the previous major D.C. dinner at the gridiron Club dinner, at least 80 COVID cases were reported including three Cabinet officials.

NOAH: Dr. Fauci has resigned. This should have been an ominous sign.

MOTON: The night was full of great honors. Our own Jonathan Karl was recognized for his coverage of the January 6th rebellion.

(…)   

CBS Mornings
05/02/22
7:15 AM ET

TONY DOKOUPIL: We do move on this morning to Washington, where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, one of the capital’s biggest social events, returned on Saturday for the first time in three years. It went ahead despite COVID concerns. As Ed O’Keefe shows us, high-profile celebrities joined journalists and government figures, including President Biden.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: W.H. Correspondents’ Dinner Returns; President Biden, Trevor Noah Crack Jokes at Event Honoring Journalists]

JOE BIDEN: I’m really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have. [Laughter]

ED O’KEEFE: Armed with a few one liners, President Biden was the first commander in chief to headline the White House Correspondents’ Dinner since 2016.

BIDEN – This dinner marks the sixth anniversary of the presidency. [Applause] It’s understandable, we had a horrible plague followed by two years of COVID. [Laughter]  

O’KEEFE: Cancelled for two years by the pandemic, this year’s dinner drew more than 2,000 journalists, politicians, and, yes, a few celebrities, who had to be vaccinated and test negative for COVID. That didn’t stop the jokes.

NOAH: It is my great honor to be speaking tonight at the nation’s most distinguished superspreader event.

O’KEEFE: The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah dished out the biggest laughs, mostly at the President’s expense.

NOAH: Ever since you’ve come into office, things are really looking up. It’s obvious that gas prices have risen, rent has risen, and even food prices have risen. [Laughter]

O’KEEFE: CBS News Radio’s Steven Portnoy led the evening as president of the Correspondents’ Association.

STEVENPORTNOY: Democracy depends upon journalists shining light on darkness and lying and holding government officials accountable.

O’KEEFE: The President and Noah agreed that despite the pandemic, laughter, and partying, calling out those in positions of power is a distinctly American trait.

BIDEN: Trevor! The really great news is that you can now roast the President of America. And unlike in Moscow, you won’t go to jail. [Laughter]

NOAH: I stood here tonight and made fun of the President of the United States, and I’m going to be fine. Right? [Laughter]Are you able to truly appreciate what blessings it really is?

(…)

TONY DOKOUPIL: I’m so glad you mentioned Steve Portnoy of CBS News Radio because he did a terrific job emceeing the night.

GAYLE KING: And he’s been working on it for over a year. Steve deserves a special mother’s hug. It was a wonderful job. Trevor Noah also did an excellent job. Because it is so hard to thread that needle to take a little jab, a little bruise, a little punch, but he wasn’t mean. That’s the thing, he wasn’t mean and he was actually very, very funny.

NATE BURLESON: But what he’s done throughout his career, even dating back to his standup, is he’s layered the truth in between the funny.

KING: Yes, yes.

BURLESON, and a lot is meant in jest. It is easy to appreciate his talking about the world and walking off.

KING: Yep.

BURLESON – Understanding where we stand as a nation and the things we have to be grateful for.

KING: President laughed at the jokes directed towards him.

DOKOUPIL: Yes, he was.

(…)