CBS/NBC Gawk at Lack of Covid Tests, Ignore Biden Grilled on Failures

Just two days before Christmas Eve, CBS Evening News NBC Nightly NewsWhile part of their Thursday newscasts were being broadcast, they watched as viewers viewed the lines that stretched across major cities to test for Covid. Before gathering with loved ones for the holiday, some even glowed at them. What they didn’t share with their viewers was ABC World News Tonight Biden being grilled the previous evening on his ‘failure’ to secure tests ahead of time and the administration’s lack of forward-vision to anticipate the need.

According to CBS’s framing of the rush, it was just a freak absence of tests amid the surge in Omicron cases. “Americans are shattering records at pop-up testing sites with long lines stretching around blocks from New York to Los Angeles,” announced fill-in anchor Jamie Yuccas.

Adding: “And if you’re looking for an at-home Covid test, that’s going to be tough. Demand is so high that more retailers, including CVS and Walgreens, are limiting the number of kits customers can buy.”

CBS correspondent Nancy Chen quipped that the tests were “the most popular gift” that “may be the toughest to find.” She also spoke with people standing in line in New York, freezing in the cold while they waited for tests that were being handed out:

CHEN: Is it difficult to pass a test in these modern times?

UNIDENTIFIED MAN 2: It is really difficult. After trying a few times, I finally got in on Wednesday. It took six and a half hours to get through, after I had put my name down.

(…)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE 2: Undertook a PCR test that promised results in less than 24 hours. The results took five days, but are now meaningless.

Over on NBC, correspondent Miguel Almaguer noted that those New Yorkers were receiving one of the “10,000 at-home test kits handed out for free in a city of more than eight million.”

It’s like a drop of water in a bucket.

“It’s a very tiny amount for all the people that want to test before the holidays. This is really disappointing. And the system is a little broken,” one frustrated woman told him.

She was right. Not only was the system broken, but it also didn’t have the foresight to look ahead despite the warnings. That’s according to what came out in ABC’s interview with Biden Wednesday night.

While their second and third-place competitors were ignoring the interview, ABC provided a fuller context for the lack of tests with a re-airing anchor David Muir’s grilling:

MUIR: This pandemic is almost two years old, and you are a year into your presidency with empty shelves, no test kits, and some of them in certain places, three days before Christmas. It’s crucial. Are you satisfied?

BIDEN : Nothing has been enough.

“In the face of this unprecedented demand, Americans sometimes waiting in line for hours. Pharmacies running out of at-home tests,” reported ABC’s Trevor Ault. “And there’s concern the Biden administration’s promised half a billion tests won’t arrive until well after the holidays.”

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ABC’s World News Tonight
December 23rd, 2021
Eastern, 6:41:49

(…)

TREVORAULT: Testing can also be a problem. Americans are sometimes forced to wait in long lines because of the unprecedented demand. At-home testing is not available in all pharmacies.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN – We are unable to locate rapid or other tests anywhere.

AULT. And it’s possible that half-a-billion of the promised tests by the Biden administration won’t be delivered until after the holiday break. David presses the President.

DAVID MURIR: This pandemic is almost two years old, and you are a year into your presidency. There are empty shelves in many places, but no test kits. It’s important that we have these tests before Christmas. Do you think that’s enough?

JOE BIDDEN, PRESIDENT: Nothing has been enough. However, take a look at the situation. Last Christmas we found ourselves in an area where there were significantly fewer people getting vaccinated. There were always enough people in the emergency rooms. Hospital backups were creating great problems. We now have fully vaccinated 200 million of our citizens.

ABC asks the Press Secretary today about President Trump’s response.

JEN PSAKI, PRSSEKRETARY, I believe that the President is acknowledging what he stated in his speech two days ago. He also acknowledged that testing has not been as successful as it should be. Nobody is saying that we are.

(…)

CBS Evening News
December 23rd 2021
Eastern at 6:32 p.m.

(…)

JAMIE YUCCAS : Americans are breaking all records at pop-up testing centers with long lines stretching blocks across New York City and Los Angeles. If you want to conduct a Covid test at home, it will prove difficult. There is such high demand that Walgreens (CVS) and Walgreens have begun to limit the supply of kits available for customers.

(…)

NANCY CHEN: The most sought-after gift might be the hardest to locate in the rush to return home for the holiday season. Today, hundreds waited at this New York City location for their test kits.

Is it really difficult these days to take a test?

UNIDENTIFIED MAN 1. It’s really hard. It was difficult. I tried it a few times. I arrived on Wednesday and had to wait six hours before I could be called.

CHEN: It is not about passing the test. Laboratories are becoming overwhelmed, and this is leading to frustration.

UNIDENTIFIED MASTER 2: I took a PCR testing with guaranteed results which was supposed to take 24 hours. The results took five days, but are now meaningless.

(…)

NBC Nightly News
December 23rd, 2021
Eastern, 7:05:04

(…)

MIGUEL ALMAUGER: These lines are not what Americans expect to wait in two days before Christmas. Holiday joy turns to frustration when you wait for the testing.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN 1: It was yesterday, and I waited for about two hours.

ALMAGUER – Today New York City offers a small gift to the lucky few, despite testing locations being overwhelmed. There were 10,000 free home tests in New York City, a city that has more than eight millions.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN2: This is a tiny sum for everyone who wants to go ahead and test their knowledge before they head off on holiday. This is really disappointing. It’s a little bit broken.

(…)