Nets Hype Bloated Trillions in Spending, But a Scant 16 Seconds on ‘Inflation’

On Monday, the massive and expensive infrastructure bill was finally approved. You would expect that Tuesday’s networks would discuss inflation and how more spending could impact skyrocketing costs. Well, no. NBC only allowed 16 seconds to talk about inflation, while ABC took just eight. CBS never mentioned inflation while discussing Biden’s boasting about passing it. What was Tuesday’s grand total? 24 seconds. 

On NBC’s TodayKristen Welker only managed six seconds of the real topic, inflation. After noting that Biden wants more spending, she added, “It would pump trillions into the economy at a time when inflation is at a record high.” In a separate segment on gas prices, reporter Jo Ling Kent quickly noted, “And the pain at the pump comes on top of historically high prices facing consumers across the country, from groceries to clothes to toys as inflation hits levels not seen in decades.” 

More than one Good Morning AmericaInflation has never been a problem DuringA segment about the infrastructure legislation. It wasn’t until a story on Black Friday deals that reporter Rebecca Jarvis reminded cash-strapped Americans: “Keep in mind with price inflation and those supply squeezes, hitting many areas the discounts this year may not be as deep as in years past.” 

During the actual discussion of infrastructure, co-host George Stephanopoulos wondered, “President Biden signs his trillion dollar infrastructure bill into law…. When will it get better for Americans?” 

Correspondent Cecilia Vega offered the bad news for viewers: Not soon: 

[The White House says]This plan will not be short-term like other stimulus plans. We are talking about long term goals. 

More than one CBS MorningsTony Dokoupil, Tony’s co-host, tried to locate an example of an immediate advantage. 

This morning President Biden travels to New England in an attempt to highlight how the more than one trillion-dollar infrastructure package can benefit one particular small town. At a White House ceremony yesterday, President Biden signed the bill into law. 

But the show’s journalists, during the entire two hour show, never said the word inflation. The dam burst on Monday over Biden’s low polling, as all journalists had covered the story. The networks, however, are doing all they can to help the Democratic president on matters like inflation. 

Progressive sponsored the burying skyrocketing inflation in networks’ newsrooms on CBS, ABC, and NBC. Hyundai sponsored it on NBC. To let them know your thoughts, click on these links. 

Below are partial transcripts. Click “expand” to read more. 

Today

11/16/2021
7:12

KRISTEN WALKER: The President signed into law the $1 trillion multi-party infrastructure bill earlier in the day. It is the largest infrastructure investment made by the country in over a decade.

…

WELKER In an inflationary environment, trillions would be pumped into the economy by this plan.

…

JO LING KENT 

        
CBS Morning
11/16/2021
7:05

TONY DOKOUPIL – President Biden will be visiting New England today to demonstrate how an infrastructure package worth more than $1 trillion can help one town. At a White House ceremony yesterday, President Biden signed the bill into law. 

…

ED O’KEEFE: On Monday, Biden said the U.S. will be even more competitive with China, thanks the passage of the bipartisan  infrastructure bill. 

JOE BIDDEN: Next year, American will celebrate the 20th anniversary of this law. 
investment in infrastructure will grow faster than China’s.

Good Morning America
11/16/2021

Tease at 7AM

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS – President Biden signed his infrastructure bill worth trillions into law.

JOE BIDDEN: America has moved again. Your life will change.

STEPHANOPOULOS. When will things get better? 

…

ROBIN ROBERTS – President Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill worth $1.2 trillion, a signal that America is on its way again. Let’s talk to Cecilia Vega, our White House chief correspondent. Cecilia Vega: When will the communities begin to feel the benefits of the new bill?

CECILIA VEGA: Robin, It is the biggest question. Officials state that money will go to roads and ports to help start new projects.  

VEGA – His strategy to convince Americans of the direct benefits this law will bring is called “The Strategy for Him To Get Out There and Convince Americans”. Robin, I asked this question. The White House was pushed by me. “When are Americans going to see the impact of this?” They say this plan isn’t meant to be like the short-term stimulus plans that we’ve seen in the past that we are talking about a long game here and you know this, many of these projects, Robin, like clean water and widespread internet access, that’s going to take a long time for communities to see. 
    
8:17
REBECCA JARVIS: With price inflation and supply constraints, discounts in many areas may not be as deep this year as they were in previous years.