On Wednesday, Arizona State University’s journalism school announced that NBC’s longtime TodayAl Roker, a showweatherman would receive the Walter Cronkite Award 2021 for Excellence in Journalism. As his fellow network morning show hosts gushed over the news, a look back at Roker’s career shows someone infatuated with Democrats and dedicated to radical climate change activism.
“Al Roker has long been a trusted and treasured voice in homes all across America. His integrity and commitment to honesty and fairness are the very values that guided the career of our school’s namesake, Walter Cronkite,” ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism Dean Battino L. Batts Jr. proudly proclaimed.
On Wednesday’s TodaySavannah Guthrie was excited to announce that Savannah Guthrie would be co-hosting the show. “…we have an – just an amazing honor to tell you about. Al is getting the 2021 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.” Roker joked: “Well, they obviously ran out of everybody….I’m very honored and it pretty much says my career is just about over.”
Guthrie swooned: “We are so proud of you. Al, you’ve done such great reporting on the weather and on climate change and you’re so devoted to your craft.”
Later on The 3rd hour of the Today, Roker confessed that he was surprised they selected him: “I just don’t really feel that worthy of it. It’s a job I love. It’s a great job. I love doing it. But there are so many other journalists, like I’m married to one [ABC’s Deborah Roberts], that probably deserve it a lot more.”
Co-host Sheinelle Jones assured him that it was legitimate by referencing other liberal media figures who have won in years past: “Well, speaking of which, you’re in good company. You talk about journalists, you know, this award – Anderson Cooper, Diane Sawyer, our very own Lester Holt….they take it seriously.”
Actually, a serious examination of Roker’s “journalism” reveals him to be a groupie for Democrats like President Obama and President Biden, as well as a committed left-wing environmentalist who’s won repeated praise from chief climate crusader Al Gore.
During Obama’s second inauguration in 2013, Roker infamously screamed at the then-President like an adoring fan. This shameless act was repeated eight years later. during Biden’s inaugurationIn January.
Roker was openly smitten by Biden’s celebrity status during Obama years. He even urged the Democrat co-hosting the event. TodayPlease show.
The NBC weatherman’s close friendship with the Obamas was also frequently on display. Like in 2014, when he gushed to his co-hosts that he attended Michelle Obama’s White House birthday party and “got to boogie with the First Lady!”
Roker’s love for left-wing Supreme Court justices has been well known. In 2018, he hailed: “I don’t think there isn’t a person out there who doesn’t love Ruth Bader Ginsburg!” In 2019, while having Justice Sonia Sotomayor on as a guest on The 3rd hour of the Today, he and his co-hosts actually brought out a custom cake to celebrate the liberal jurist’s 10th anniversary of being on the high court.
All of those examples don’t even touch Roker’s greatest passion – pushing for the radical climate change agenda of the left. In December of 2018, he preached that it was a “sin” to not fight climate change. As the coronavirus virus ravaged the globe and killed millions, in April of 2020, Roker found a “silver lining” in that carbon emissions were “way down.” For that kind of coverage, in June of 2020, Al Gore showed up on The 3rd hour of the Today and thanked Roker for his “consistent advocacy” on the issue.
Roker’s climate propaganda has only intensified. In February, he asked billionaire Bill Gates how Big Tech could shut down “climate deniers.” Just on Tuesday, he swooned over extreme climate activist Greta Thunberg as “the face of the climate movement.”
Sycophantic cheerleading for Democrats and evangelizing a far-left climate agenda are not examples of “excellence in journalism.” Such a portfolio displays someone devoted to a partisan political cause.
Comcast, BMW and others brought Roker’s celebration for his activist career to the attention of viewers. This is your chance to protest the sponsors of such content.
These are transcriptions from the October 13, 2017 coverage.
Act Now
8.31 am ETSAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Let’s get a check of the weather, but first, we have an – just an amazing honor to tell you about.
HODA KOTB – What’s the deal?
Al will be receiving the 2021 Walter Cronkite award for excellence in journalism. [Cheers and applause]
KOTB Al
Al, congratulations.
KOTB: My God!
GUTHRIE : It is unbelievable.
AL ROKER (English): They ran out of everyone.
GUTHRIE :
KOTB: Come, Al, that’s amazing.
ROKER: Well, I was – I’m very honored and it pretty much says my career is just about over.
GUTHRIE:
CARSON DALY: When did you find out?
ROKER: The last week.
DALY
ROKER – I was definitely pranking. Because this is just a very, very high honor and I – but I could not have done it without my family here. Therefore, I am grateful.
DALY I do. [Laughter]
ROKER: I don’t think so. I don’t think so.
GUTHRIE – We’re so proud of your work. Al, you’ve done such great reporting on the weather and on climate change and you’re so devoted to your craft. And I’m so happy for you. We just found out, so we’re just – I feel like crying.
DALY: That’s awesome.
GUTHRIE: I’m proud of you.
ROKER: I am so grateful to you guys.
DALY: Well deserved.
The 3rd hour of the Today
9:00 AM ETSHEINELLE JONES: Welcome back, it’s time for Overheard on 3rd and we have to give a huge congratulations…
JACOB SOBEROFF: Huge.
JONES -…to Al Roker. Al Roker has been awarded the 38th Walter Cronkite Prize for Excellence by The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in appreciation of your outstanding career.
SOBEROFF: Amazing.
JONES – How do you feel about that?
AL ROKER : I find it very strange, and will tell you.
JONES: How?
ROKER: Well, because I’m going – and this isn’t any humility. I just don’t really feel that worthy of it. It’s a gig that I enjoy. It’s a great job. I love doing it. But there are so many other journalists, like I’m married to one, that probably deserve it a lot more.
JONES: Well, speaking of which, you’re in good company. You about journalists, you know, this award – Anderson Cooper, Diane Sawyer, our very own Lester Holt.
SOBEROFF: Lester yes.
ROKER
JONES: So, you know, they don’t – they take it seriously.
ROKER: Yeah, and it’s funny, I went to Arizona State University to speak at the school in 2013. There was a Today program. But never imagined that I’d be a recipient. They are very kind and I thank them. They were also responsible for the people who dropped out of their plans. I am grateful to them.
JONES : Please, this is very well-deserved.
SOBEROFF – I have to say something. Every day that I work here it’s an honor. You’re a legend. The fact that you are a legend is the cherry on the cake.
(…)