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Biden's Planned Late-Night 'Surprise'

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Feb 27, 2024
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

02.27.24

DNC PR Firm – NBC NEWS

  • Just ignore the previous news on the matter, the White House spin is good enough!

Is the following detail concerning fluff content and trivial matters? Sure, that's all it is centered upon. But considering that Kelly O'Donnell is involved. it brings things to a different strata. See, Ms. O'Donnell is an esteemed member of the NBC News team, as well as being the President of the White House Correspondents Association, so when she is seen parroting the PR flaks inside the White House, it takes on an added significance.

This is a detail involving President Biden making an appearance on "Late Night" with Seth Meyers. Kelly announces that Biden went on the show in a stealth mode few expected. 

Problem: This appearance was actually announced in the news last week, so either Ms. O'Donnell completely missed this significant aspect, or she just blindly regurgitates whatever pablum the White House belches out regarding the president. It must have been known prior, based on pro-Palestine protesters knowing where and when Biden would be on site. 

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Legalized Press-titution – THE HILL

At The Hill, they were also covering Biden's visit with Meyers, and the outlet had a curious brag on behalf of Biden:

President Biden is staying up late, making an appearance on “Late Night” as the NBC show marks its 10th anniversary with Seth Meyers in the hosting chair.

The issue is that Meyers records his program in the late afternoon, evidenced by the protesters attempting to disrupt the taping.

Matching Media Memorandum – VARIOUS OUTLETS

The death of the high school student in Oklahoma, Nex Benedict, has shown the true nature of the activist media. For days, the press was in full-scale outrage mode about the supposed death caused by a beating from fellow students over Benedict being trans/non-binary and how this had been inspired by everything from intolerant state legislation to Libs Of TikTok picking on a teacher from another school.

Now, the facts have arrived, and apart from the student dying, there has not been much about the original outrage narrative proving to be accurate.

Pounce of Prevention – CNN

  • On this episode of "Republicans Notice"...

On "The Lead" with Jake Tapper, the host looked into the story of the murder of Laken Riley by an illegal immigrant, and he took a rather bifurcated approach. Jake noted the problematic history of this killer, but then he also noted the "problematic" detail of Republicans highlighting this uncomfortable detail and how it reflects on Joe Biden's non-existent border policy:

The suspect had already been arrested first in 2022 after entering the U.S. illegally; then again last September, charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17; and also a motor vehicle license violation. The suspect was released before a detainer could be issued, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. All of which, has prompted many in Georgia to wonder why this violent man was allowed to remain in the U.S. for so long after so many red flags.

Despite these facts, Jake had to note the other grievous aspect of this tragedy; Republicans are seizing on these details!

Democratic Custodial Services – POLITICO

  • That is an impressive amount of framing in such a brief post.

Politico decided to weigh in as well on this immigrant murder story, but it was a noticeably flinching approach to the matter. There is a very definitive avoidance of the core issues in this presentation.

In just one sentence, there are numerous issues to be found.

Reporting on the Mirror – (FORMERLY) CNN

  • Great work if you don't need to do it.

Though not surprising, given the nature of most broadcast contracts, it has been announced Don Lemon settled his contract with CNN following his dismissal just under a year ago.

Lemon will receive $24.5 million to not work.

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"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage of the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation, where Brad Slager looks to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.