CBS Fawns Over ‘Shocking,’ ‘Harrowing’ January 6 Hearings That’ll ‘Change History’

Friday’s CBS Mornings went all out in reaction to Thursday’s primetime hearing of the House Select Committee on January 6, leading all broadcast network morning news shows with 16 minutes And 30 seconds on the liberal extravaganza and boasting the “historic” and “vital” Gathering “shocking new evidence,” “harrowing testimony,” and a recognition that America’s still in grave danger.

Tony Dokoupil, co-host of the show, made clear his feelings about CBS’s partisan committee. “Shocking new evidence and harrowing testimony from the Committee investigating the January 6th attack.”

After the show’s “Eye Opener,” Dokoupil reiterated their stance about the story that should be top of mind for Americans: “Obviously January 6 is the big story today. We’ve got a lot to get to including some important perspective on last night’s historic primetime hearing.”

Vladimir Duthiers, fill-in host and co-host of the segment on the riot cued the first four segments. He stated that the event was taking place Thursday. “the clearest picture yet of what happened on January 6th as laid out in a primetime public hearing on Capitol Hill”Even though “began slowly with detailed statements from the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee.”

In the lead-off report, congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane (who was hired by CBS after making January 6 his calling card at the D.C.-area NBC station) emphasized the focus was on Trump, the committee’s claim that Trump endorsed the cries of “hang Mike Pence,” and video from past depositions.

MacFarlane recognized Republican opposition as weak framing but ignored that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA had rejected the House Republicans nominees. “House Republicans have largely boycotted this Committee after also voting to block an Independent Commission to investigate January 6th.”

CBS News chief political analyst John Dickerson came next and said Thursday’s retelling from those who were maimed that day and depositions from Trump officials “reaffirm[ed]” that “all of this mayhem” was “unleashed by a lie.”

Questions by CBS Saturday Morning co-host Michelle Miller whether Thursday’s hearing “was enough to shift or change minds in the court of public opinion,” Dickerson conceded it’ll “take more than just one evening to change minds” though it might not.

As for why, Dickerson lazily put Americans into two camps with one being those appalled by Trump (who, therefore, back the committee) and those “who think [Trump] didn’t go far enough.”

Dickerson added that what’s “most vital about” the hearings was that it showed January 6 wasn’t “some event in the past,” But the threat of the extinction continues “peaceful transfer of power.”

Dokoupil ended by asking about Dickerson’s agreement with a statement of Congressman Adam Kinzinger. (R-IL), the hearings. “will change history.” Dickerson said they do, while making a false claim regarding attacks on Capitol Hill (see below). 1954 1971) (click “expand”):

DOKOUPIL: John, on that question of the present and the future, you’re right, we won’t know where the public was and where they go after seeing this. But if we can take the longer view, you’re a historian of the presidency, I’m struck by Adam Kinzinger — Representative Adam Kinzinger’s comment that the hearing will change history. Do you think you’ve seen enough to say that that’s true?

DICKERSON : History has already been altered by this event. This was the first attack on Capitol Square since 1814. We’ve looked — we’re learning new historical things like a Vice President had to step in where a President wouldn’t and I think one of the key things is understanding the central role the President played. One of the things that was a part of the testimony is, it’s not just about January 6th. Trump did everything he could to reverse the fair and free election. As testimony showed, former Attorney General Barr said, we can’t live in a world where someone seizes power on no basis. I mean, that’s a fundamental shot at the central tenant of American democracy. If you lose an election, you don’t get to just say, “no, I won,” and then use power to stay in office. That’s exactly what the founders created the American government to push against. So it is — whether people see it in those historical terms or not, it is nevertheless, in those historical terms that we saw that testimony and that this story sits.

Dokoupil also had a brief news report of 30 seconds covering Ryan Kelly, the Michigan governor candidate (R), for his alleged actions in Washington the day before the riot.

CBS began its second hour of Kinzinger’s long-running battle to secure a television contract. Dokoupil opened softball, leaving the audience wondering. “what was the Committee trying to get done”Whether “they accomplish[ed] it.” 

Dokoupil asked then what to do with the information he received in his conversation to the “something like 21 million Americans” The University of Chicago says who “don’t believe President Biden is a legitimately elected President — and this is a key thing — support the idea of violence in removing him”

Kinzinger replied that, while he’s unsure about them, it’s necessary that “the vast majority of Americans understand that the country is at threat” and not standing with him will mean “history” won’t look kindly at you.

Duthiers kept up the softballs with a question about “what…conclusions” should be “drawn on” from former Trump officials saying in depositions that the election wasn’t stolen even though “many people in the Republican Party…continue…to suggest that there was fraud.”

Miller — who’s husband is far-left activist Marc Morial — closed the interview by wondering if Trump will face criminal charges. In Kinzinger’s answer, take note of how he said the issue of hearings are worth fighting for so that his infant son doesn’t learn any lies in history class about what happened on that awful day (click “expand”):

MILLER: Congressman, Michelle, here. That is exactly what I need to know. Is there anything you can do about this? It is clear that Congress can’t charge Donald Trump for plotting a coup. But DOJ can. Do you think this will happen?

KINZINGER We must be careful and clear. We’re not a criminal committee. We’re investigating the facts. But if DOJ looks at what we’re doing, and said that reaches a threshold to charge, I think they should and I think that’s what I hope they at least look at. But the bottom line of this is, regardless of how many people’s minds turn today or tomorrow. Here’s the thing: you already know that Christian is my five-month old son. I want Christian when he’s in high school to learn the truth about January 6th. And as of today, that’s still up in the air because there’s a lot of conspiracy theories out there that say it was the FBI or say it Antifa or God forbid. It was a mere tourist visit. I saw the video from last night and thought of it again. That was the first time I had thought that. This was truly amazing.

MILLER: It was the best![.]

CBS’s cheerleading of the January 6 hearings as paramount (pun intended) to American lives was brought to you by advertisers such as Febreze and Progressive. Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page.

Click here to see the CBS transcript relevant from June 10.