ABC Laments Invasion of Ukraine ‘Forced’ Biden to Change Big Address

On the eve of President Biden’s first State of the Union address, Monday, the broadcast networks previewed his big speech and each took a different approach, with ABC lamenting that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “forced” Biden to change his speech and CBS touting a fence around the Capitol. NBC was the outlier that showed Biden’s new terrible poll numbers from… ABC!

“And Mary, The President and his team had to modify parts of this speech because of Russian invasion.,” ABC’s World News TonightAs he asked Mary Bruce, White House senior correspondent for the White House, his question was met with a sigh by anchor David Muir. “I’m curious what your sources are telling you tonight about how the President plans to reshape his message to the American people.”

Bruce joined the fray by lamenting about how “this is going to be a very different speech than the one the President was probably envisioning, just a few weeks ago.”She gave then a glimpse of what Biden would have to say.

According to reports, he will highlight his efforts to defeat Vladimir Putin’s invasion and support the Ukrainian people. The U.S. is likely to be praised for its role in bringing together the West and rallying the World to defend democratic values from Russian aggression.

Only towards the end of the segment did Bruce note that “Biden is also facing very real challenges here at home” in the form of “inflation to rising gas prices, and trying to turn the page on this pandemic.”

In the meantime, CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell had a strange chipper tone as she announced the return of the “non-scalable fences”Preparation for the speech at the Capitol

She also boasted Biden’s address came on “the first criminal trial from the insurrection got underway here in Washington.”Her joy was evident in her delivery of the remainder of the story.

Guy Reffitt (49), from Texas was charged with carrying a weapon as he entered U.S. Capitol grounds. He’s also accused of threatening his own children if they turned him in. The trial of this man could also be indicative of hundreds more Capitol Riot cases still to come. So, we’ll watch that.

She also ignored Biden’s problems and crises

NBC Nightly News stood in stark contrast to the others as chief White House correspondent Kristen Welker called out how “a majority of Americans say the President cannot be trusted in a crisis.”

“In a new poll, only 33 percent of Americans approve of the President’s handling of the Ukraine/Russia crisis. 47 percent disapprove,” she added, noting the ABC poll released on Sunday that World News Tonight Absolutely ignored.

This griping for Biden’s speech getting changed and strange praise for fences was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Bayer on ABC and One-A-Day Vitamins on CBS. You can find their contact information here.

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ABC’s World News Tonight
February 28, 2022
Eastern at 6:46:00

DAVIDMUIR: This crisis in Ukraine comes as President Biden prepares for his first State of the Union Address tomorrow night. Mary Bruce, a White House senior correspondent, is my direct contact.

Mary was also forced by the President and his staff to revise parts of this speech due to Russian invasion. What do your sources tell you about the President’s plans for changing his message to American citizens?

MARY BRUCE According to reports, he will highlight his efforts to defeat Vladimir Putin’s invasion and support the Ukrainian people. He will likely also mention the U.S.’s role in uniting western Europe and rallying world support for democratic values to resist Russian aggression.

Biden faces very real domestic challenges. All things, from rising gas prices to inflation and turning the page on this pandemic. Now, tonight I’m told the President is still tweaking this address, he’s working with his speechwriters and policy advisers. He has been doing some run-throughs though and he’s putting on the finishing touches. David?

MUIR: We’ll see you there tomorrow Mary, thank you.

CBS Evening News
February 28, 2022
Eastern at 6:39.45

NORAH O’DONNELL: Well, tonight, we want to show you pictures of the Capitol ahead of tomorrow’s State of the Union address. The first insurrection criminal trial has begun here in Washington. Guy Reffitt, 49 years old from Texas, is accused of having a firearm when he entered U.S. Capitol grounds. He’s also accused of threatening his own children if they turned him in. The trial of this man could also be indicative of hundreds more Capitol Riot cases still to come. So, we’ll watch that.

NBC Nightly News
February 28, 2022
Eastern, 7:12:34

(…)

KRISTEN WALKER: This all happens on the day of the President’s State of the Union Address. A new survey shows that only 33% of Americans are satisfied with the president’s handling the Ukraine/Russia conflict. 47 percent disapprove. A majority of Americans disapprove that the President can be trusted during a crisis.

Ukraine is now in the spotlight tomorrow night.

Does he intend to rewrite it in order for it to be more focused on the present?

JEN PSAKI – Every State of the Union Address is an opportunity for the President to address the American people directly about the moment and the progress made as well as the challenges that we face.

(…)