No One Cares: CBS, NBC Insist You Need to Get Psyched for January 6 Hearings

Amid a decaying culture, rampant crime, record-high inflation, struggling wages, and surging gas prices (among other things), Monday’s CBS Mornings and NBC’s Today Want Americans to concentrate this week on an entirely different topic: Primetime hearings by the House Select Committee (January 6). On Monday’s shows, the two combined for five minutes and 37 seconds of coverage doing the bidding of their loyal source, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA).

Tony Dokoupil, CBS’s co-host, boasted Thursday that his liberal colleagues were “promising to show Americans never-before-seen evidence of the most violent assault on the capitol in more than 200 years.”

After making January 6 a major focus, Scott MacFarlane was hired from Washington D.C. NBC affiliate. He also poured it all on Schiff and his friends:

The House Select January 6th committee has conducted nearly 1,000 interviews and collected nearly 140,000 records, but this week they’re searching for something else — an audience for their work. A shocking assault in American history led to an unprecedented investigation. These findings will soon be broadcast on primetime.

MacFarlane, following a Schiff soundbite shared that “special committee of seven Democrats and two Republicans have held a series of high-profile interviews and depositions with key members of former President Trump’s inner circle, members of his family, even accused rioters themselves, including those charged with conspiring to violently attack and others of conspiring to orchestrate the riots.”

MacFarlane ignoring its partisan nature and refusal by Democrats to accept Republican appointments and instead fretted that “Republicans have largely boycotted the panel after also blocking plans for an independent commission.”

MacFarlane admitted that his buddies have been a problem, as with so many liberal priorities. “a big hurdle”Move ahead “capturing America’s attention” with hearings that’ll use “[v]ideo presentations and witness testimony.”

NBC’s Today He was equally enthusiastic about a project that is of little importance to anyone outside the insufferably liberal and elite newsrooms. Savannah Guthrie, co-host of the show, was hyped up in an opening tease.

Prime time. This week, the January 6 Committee has scheduled the first hearings to investigate the Capitol Insurrection. The nation will be riveted by a series of broadcasts in the evening. Which witnesses will take part and which evidence remains to be found? You can find us live at Capitol Hill.

Guthrie exhorted Garrett Haake to report on the hearings. “a major story to watch”The committee “tak[ing] its case to the public.”

Haake claimed that Haake was the primetime trial for the show. “will be the culmination of a year of work by the committee, more than a thousand witness interviews and the review of more than 125,000 documents” That makes for… “the committee thinks”Is “a powerful story…about what caused January 6th.”

MacFarlane added a similar qualifier, briefly recognizing that Democrats are not the same as faux Republicans. “hope the country is willing to listen.”

Haake added (click “expand”):

Today’s House committee is working to present its case. They will begin a series televised hearings, which start Thursday night. The hearings will be aired on a televised basis. 

(….)

To tell that story, the committee is expected to feature live testimony from key witnesses who were inside the Trump White House along with taped witness depositions, including those of Trump family members, like the former President’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner, according to a source familar with the planning. In a March court filing, the committee said Mr. Trump and “his campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy” to overturn his election defeat. One of the two Republicans on this committee is Liz Cheney. She believes that there was a conspiracy.

Haake closed by noting opposition to the committee, but brushed it aside as “a familiar line of attack….labeling them part of a partisan witch hunt.

He also closed on a skeptical note, fretting that “a new NBC News poll shows…fewer Americans hold the President responsible for the attack compared to last year” as “45 percent say they hold him solely or mainly responsible. That’s down from 52 percent shortly after the insurrection.”

This fruitless attempt to have voters make January 6 a major priority was made possible thanks to advertisers such as Claritin (on CBS) and Wayfair (on NBC). Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservatives Fight Back page.

To see the relevant transcripts from June 6, click “expand.” Thanks to NewsBusters intern Aidan Moorehouse for assistance with the transcripts.

CBS Mornings
June 6, 2022
Eastern: 7:12 am

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: January 6th Committee in Primetime; Investigators Plan to Reveal Findings Thursday Night]

TONY DOKOUPIL – The House Select Committee that is investigating the attack on January 6th promises to present evidence like never before seen in America of what was the worst assault against the Capitol in over 200 years. The hearing will begin Thursday night at primetime and focus on the efforts of former President Trump’s backers to prevent President Biden becoming President. Scott MacFarlane, our Capitol Hill representative is there. Scott, it’s good to see you.

SCOTT MACFARLANE (Hello Tony), good morning. The House Select January 6th committee has conducted nearly 1,000 interviews and collected nearly 140,000 records, but this week they’re searching for something else — an audience for their work. A shocking assault in American history led to an unprecedented investigation. The findings of this investigation will now be shown on prime time.

ADAM SCHIFF [on CBS’s Face the Nation, 06/05/22]It is not clear how the public can see it all connected, or how one step led to the next, or how one effort was to reverse the outcome of an election.

MACFARLANE. A committee consisting of seven Democrats, two Republicans, and a number of other key people from former President Trump’s circle and members of their families, held interviews and depositions. These included rioters, as well as those who were charged with conspiracy to violently assault and the orchestrating of the riots. Recent court filings show that the committee showed some of its documents, and stated it believes Trump plotted to defraud U.S. Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

ROBERT COASTA [on CBS Sunday Morning, 06/05/22]Is it a conspiracy?

LIZ CHENEY [on CBS Sunday Morning, 06/05/22]: I think certainly, I mean — look, if you look at the court filings, you look —

COSTA [on CBS Sunday Morning, 06/05/22]It was a plot?

CHENEY [on CBS Sunday Morning, 06/05/22]: Yes.

MACFARLANE. Republicans have boycotted this panel after blocking plans to create an independent commission. McCarthy was one of five House Republicans that also defied Committee subpoenas for interviews regarding what Donald Trump knew.

KEVIN McCATHY, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER (R-CA), [on FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, 06/05/22]Is this an actual committee? Or are they trying to take down their opposition?

MACFARLANE – But Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn who defended the Capitol in January 2006, believes there’s more to it.

HARRY DINN: I desire justice. I demand accountability, and justice for the actions of my coworkers and me.

MACFARLANE: A big hurdle — capturing America’s attention right now. The hearings are scheduled for June. Witness testimony and video presentations will both be available. I was told by a Committee member that interviews and investigation will go on even after hearings end. Tony?

DOKOUPIL — Scott got it. Thanks. CBS News will live-broadcast the hearing of the select committee on Thursday at primetime.

——-

NBC’s Today
June 6, 2022
Eastern, 7:01 AM [TEASE]

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Prime Time]

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Prime time. This week, the January 6 Committee will hold its first public hearings on the Capitol rebellion. The nation will be riveted by a series of broadcasts in the evening. Which witnesses will take part and which evidence remains to be found? You can find us live at Capitol Hill.

(….)

Eastern: 7:10 AM

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: January 6th Hearings Set to Begin]

GUTHRIE: This week, we turn our attention to the Washington story of major importance. The House Committee investigating the attack on Capitol Hill, January 6, 2017, is nearly 18 months old. It’s getting ready for the public to hear its case, and will launch a series of primetime televised shows. NBC’s senior Capitol Hill correspondent Garrett Haake in Washington with more. Garrett, good morning.

GARRETT HAAKE: Hey, Savannah. Good morning. The hearings will mark the end of one year of hard work. They are the culmination of nearly a thousand interviews with witnesses and the reviewing of 125,000 documents. The committee believes they now have an important story about January 6, and hopes the country will listen. Today’s House committee is working to make the case for Americans. It launched a series televised hearings on Thursday night. The hearings will be aired live and link the assault of Trump supporters to a larger plot to overthrow President Biden’s victory in the election. 

CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA). [on CBS’s Face the Nation, 06/05/22]American citizens know so much already, according to me. They’ve seen a number of bombshells already. There’s a great deal they haven’t seen, but perhaps most important the public hasn’t seen it woven together. 

HAAKE: To tell that story, the committee is expected to feature live testimony from key witnesses who were inside the Trump White House along with taped witness depositions, including those of Trump family members, like the former President’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner, according to a source familiar with the planning. In a March court filing, the committee said Mr. Trump and “his campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy” to overturn his election defeat. One of the two Republicans on this committee is Liz Cheney. She believes that there was a conspiracy. 

CONGRESSWOMAN LIZ CHENEY (R-WY) [on CBS Sunday Morning, 06/05/22]It’s very broad. It’s extremely well organized. It’s really chilling. 

HAAKE – This comes just days after Peter Navarro was indicted for contempt of Congress by the Justice Department. 

PETER NAVARRO [on 06/02/22]: This is what the kangaroo group is up to right now, which is looking into punitive measures. 

HAAKE A statement from the House committee criticized this DOJ decision. Trump has now turned to his friends and officially endorsed Kevin McCarthy for another term of Congress. McCarthy was recorded on a leaky tape in which he criticized the ex-President after the Capitol. He is now signaling that he will defy the subpoena issued by the investigation committee. He and his associates are likely to continue their familiar attacks on these hearings. Calling them part a partisan Witch Hunt, he is defending Trump. A new NBC News poll suggests more Americans agree with him. It also shows that fewer Americans blame Trump for the attack than last year. 45% now hold Trump solely, or partially responsible. That’s down from 52 percent shortly after the insurrection, Savannah.

GUTHRIE: Alright, Garrett Haake. Thank you so much.