Creating a Media Culture in America Where Truth and Liberty Flourish

Border Invasion Censored as Leftist Media Cover for Biden Since Joe Biden took office as president in January, That decline in coverage started in April. As the the number of illegal immigrants swarming into this MRC noted at the time, there were 178,622 border country has dramatically increased every month. But apprehensions that month, an increase from 173,283 the left-wing media are trying to hide this fact. They in March. However, the network news coverage of the are not covering (or barely covering) the disaster at the border dropped 61% between March and April. The total Southwest border. They are also running interference coverage by the evening newscasts on ABC, CBS, and for Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and their NBC fell from nearly two hours in March to 44 minutes in administration with immigration stories that deflect from April. the real problem: an effectively open border policy. In addition, MRC analysis showed that Biden and The MRC has documented and exposed this non- his policies were completely shielded from blame in a coverage and deflection by majority of the 88 stories the leftist network news aired during those two outlets — ABC, CBS, and months. The leftist networks NBC — since January. The ignored the surge of illegal numbers are astounding. aliens at the border and The U.S. Customs and instead blamed Republicans Border Patrol keeps track or obscured the news as of all the illegal aliens that Biden “facing a challenge at are apprehended trying to the Southern border.” Even enter the United States. when Biden’s policy was cited In July of this year (latest as the reason for the crisis, data available), there were on occasion, the networks 212,672 apprehensions at turned it into a positive. As the Biden administration’s self-made disaster at the the U.S.-Mexico border. That U.S.-Mexico border has worsened, coverage by For instance, on the number is a 21-year high. the leftist press has fallen dramatically. March 17 CBS Evening It’s also up from 173,283 News, correspondent apprehensions in March, a 23% increase, and up Mireya Villarreal asked a nun “what makes this time so from 78,417 in January, the last month of the Trump different than previous years?” Sister Norma Pimental administration — a 171% increase! responded, “The fact that we have a president, an Since Biden became president, the number of illegal administration, that is very open to respond in a very immigrant encounters at the Southwest border has caring, compassionate and a very respectful way to nearly tripled. human life.” But while the reality along the border is worse than CBS is so deceitful in its border coverage it ignored ever, coverage of the crisis on the ABC, CBS, and NBC its own poll. At 100 days into the Biden administration, evening newscasts has slowed to a trickle. For instance, a CBS News poll of 2,500 adults showed that 57% in the entire month of July, the nightly news shows disapproved of the president’s handling of illegal presented a little over four minutes in coverage of the immigration. The CBS Evening News did not report border crisis. That was it. They essentially buried any that number but reported other aspects of the poll that news about the border. Continued on page 2

MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER • THE WATCHDOG VOLUME 28 • ISSUE 9 • SEPTEMBER 2021 Continued from page 1 border,” according to Fox’s Trace Gallagher. “Reports say many illegal immigrants who have tested positive showed Biden in a positive light. CBS censored its own for the virus are being released into areas where they findings! can interact with the public.” This reality has been On a related note, ABC essentially censored Vice publicly discussed by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and President Harris’s trip to visit the Southwest border Rand Paul (R-Ky.), among others. on June 25, more than 90 days after Biden tasked her But ABC, CBS, and NBC are not informing (or barely with handling the disaster. For instance, her trip was informing) Americans about this. And CNN is falsely announced on Wednesday, June 23. ABC’s World News claiming that Cruz, Paul, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Tonight on June 24 and ABC’s Good Morning America on (R) are perpetuating a “dangerous” stereotype that June 24 and 25 presented zero coverage of the trip. illegal aliens are spreading COVID. CNN’s Brianna Keilar It was not until the Friday evening of Harris’s trip asserted there is “zero evidence” to back up this that ABC’s World News Tonight offered a paltry 13 “bizarre claim,” and added, “it is the centuries-old seconds of coverage. Moreover, that blink-of-an-eye trope of demonizing foreign people as diseased.” report was buried 21 minutes into the show. When the facts don’t fit the leftist media’s narrative, For contrast, in August, Fox News broke an incredible they either censor the facts, or lie, or deflect to steer story using drone footage. It showed more than 1,000 people in the wrong direction. On the border disaster, apprehended illegals being held under the Anzalduas the leftist press is doing all three to protect the Biden Bridge near a popular Rio Grande crossing area. The administration; evening news coverage of the problem Border Patrol told Fox News that more than 8,000 has now virtually disappeared. migrants had been caught in the Rio Grande Valley Here at the MRC we are battling the media lies and alone over the weekend (July 31-Aug.1). The report holding the press accountable. This important work also said that “COVID-19 cases have surged 900% among wouldn’t be possible without your generous donations. migrants in the Rio Grande Valley in July.” So please, send another tax-deductible gift today using That story was completely ignored by ABC, CBS, and the enclosed reply form and postage-paid envelope. NBC. Thank you. Also, Fox News and other outlets have reported on Sincerely, how the Biden administration is busing thousands of illegal aliens, some of them infected with COVID, to small towns across the country. “There are increasing L. Brent Bozell III, concerns about COVID tonight along the southern Founder and President

This Fall — Scare lefty friends with your bold support of the 1st Amendment! Nowadays, if you utter one word that offends any one of the 10,000 and growing “protected groups” in America, you can be canceled, have your bank account frozen, get banished from social media, lose your membership to the local Bridge club, and generally become a pariah among the living. Yes, it’s ridiculous. It seems like everyone is in the church of the perpetually offended except, well, conservatives. You’re not allowed to dish it out; just take it. No more. It’s time to rebuke the leftist retribution and start doling out some unadulterated, 1st Amendment-guaranteed, smack talk of your own. And the MRC has crafted the ideal mechanism in which to carry it out: Introducing our brand new “The 1st Amendment Doesn’t Care About Your Feelings” t-shirt! For MRC Watchdog fans, get 20% off the t-shirt at checkout with promo code: 1AWATCHDOG21. There are also plenty of other pro-conservative and left-mocking items in the MRC Store, including the best-selling “I Miss Trump” tee! Plus hoodies, mugs, buttons, long-sleeved tees, and more! Go to: shop.mrc.org and exercise your right to free speech today!

2 • THE WATCHDOG • SEPTEMBER 2021 AN MRC EXCLUSIVE! Limited Edition, Gold-Plated, Engraved Henry Rifles Supporting the Fight Against Media Bias

BY CRAIG BANNISTER, CNS NEWS.COM

To enable patriotic Americans to display their dedication to the Second Amendment and help support the Media Research Center’s mission to combat left-wing media attacks on Constitutional rights, Heroes & Patriots, LLC is now offering 100 numbered, limited-edition rifles. “I cannot think of a better time to support the MRC,” said Heroes & Patriots Founder Steve Faler, a long-time advocate of the Media Research Center’s work. “It has never been more important to hold media and Big Tech accountable,” he added. “The MRC is in this fight every day. We’re proud to support America’s Media Watchdog through this special, limited edition rifle.” Numbered and engraved with the text of the First and Second “There’s no better way Amendments and emblazoned with “Media Research Center” and MRC’s “Watchdog” logo, each of the iconic Henry Golden Boy rifles chambered to exercise your Second in .22LR is numbered and adorned with 24-karat gold plating on the Amendment right to bear receiver cover and butt-plate. It sports a satin finish and the Golden Boy’s arms than to own a piece traditional 20-inch blued steel octagonal barrel. The text of the Second Amendment is engraved on the right grip, and of Americana — that of the First Amendment on the right, along with the rifle’s number. the beautifully engraved “America’s Media Watchdog” and the MRC logo are featured on the MRC edition Henry buttstock. An engraved Bowie knife with a 10-inch blade, five-inch handle, and Golden Boy rifle, a leather sheath accompanies each rifle. The blade of this classic knife has tribute to the rugged 24-Kt. gold-plated accents and, like the rifle, is engraved with “America’s individualism and Media Watchdog” and the MRC watchdog logo. frontier spirit The rifle’s handmade French-fitted carrying case is lined with crushed velvet and has separate recessed areas to hold the rifle and Bowie knife. that defines our Manufactured exclusively in the U.S. by Henry Repeating Arms, which great nation.” promises that all of its firearms are “Made in America, or Not Made at All,” the rifles are plated and engraved at the Heroes & Patriots facility in Fort L. BRENT BOZELL Collins, Colorado. Heroes & Patriots, a company dedicated to the Second Amendment and America’s heritage of patriotic gun ownership, specializes in creating custom, engraved, limited-edition firearms celebrating America’s legendary historical figures. Billed as “The rifle that brings out the West in you,” the Henry Golden Boy hearkens back to the days of America’s Old West. In 1860, Benjamin Tyler Henry revolutionized rifles by inventing and patenting the world’s first repeating rifle, the original Henry lever-action rifle. Since its creation, Henry’s Golden Boy has been acclaimed for its reputation of accuracy and balance. Gun enthusiasts and supporters of gun rights can become one of an elite group of 100 patriotic MRC supporters owning this quality, one-of-a-kind collectable firearm by visiting www.MRCRifle.com or calling 1-866-610-9921.

SEPTEMBER 2021 • THE WATCHDOG • 3 BITS & PIECES

Boo-Hoo President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill became law on Aug. 10, much to the leftist media’s delight. However, that was the same day Andrew Cuomo decided to resign as governor of New York, which put a major damper on the Biden news. As NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell remarked, “What is so notable is the governor of New York choosing this particular day and even this hour to make this announcement.” She then bemoaned that Democrats “have just had what is arguably the most significant political victory of President Biden’s time in office, and Governor Cuomo using the power of his own news- While his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, making ability to was being pilloried for sexual harassment, CNN’s Chris Cuomo was secretly advising squash that in the him on what to say to the leftist press. So moment.” much for journalistic ethics. Cuomo “effectively steps on the biggest political Chris Who? news for the Biden Left-wing NBC News complained that N.Y. Gov. Andrew When the N.Y. Attorney General’s White House in Cuomo announced his resignation on the same day that report about then-Gov. Andrew quite some time,” the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill became law, stealing the spotlight from President Biden. Cuomo’s sexual harassment of whined O’Donnell. women erupted in early August, Yes, it’s a sad day at network news-ville when a scandal-plagued Democrat the network news shows were hot overshadows the supposed achievement of a Democratic president. Sigh. on the story, but they conveniently forgot to cover Chris Cuomo’s involvement. Although Chris worked as a “journalist” for CNN, he was, behind the scenes, advising his brother Andrew on how to manage Osama, Family Man the scandal, participating in In a demented Twitter headline about a book review on Osama bin conference calls and sending text Laden, the New York Times on Aug. 3 actually called the evil terrorist and on what to tell to the press. These mastermind of 9/11 a “devoted family man.” Fortunately, the former Navy facts were known because they Seal who killed bin Laden, Robert J. O’Neil, called out The Times before were revealed in the AG’s report. somebody on their social media team quickly changed the headline. Nonetheless, ABC’s World News The complete, original headline read: “Osama bin Laden, the Fanatical Tonight, the CBS Evening News, Terrorist and the Devoted Family Man.” O’Neil responded that day on and NBC Nightly News said little Twitter: “Family man. He used his wife as a human shield. Lucky for me he to nothing about Chris Cuomo was taller than her.” the week of Aug. 2. None of (O’Neil reportedly shot them wanted to damage their bin Laden in the head.) industry by admitting that a The Times’ revised journalist helped craft the official headline now reads: defense that lied to the public “A Fuller Picture of and smeared victims of sexual Osama Bin Laden’s misconduct. Instead, ABC focused Life.” on endangered emperor penguins; CBS focused on Barack Obama’s In a book review about the Islamist terrorist Osama bin birthday party; and NBC talked Laden, the NYT described the mastermind of 9/11 as a about Lebanon. “devoted family man.”

4 • THE WATCHDOG • SEPTEMBER 2021 More Censorship Conservative talk-radio host Erick Erickson and conservative commenter Allie Beth Stuckey were both suspended for 12 hours in early August by Twitter because they dared to state that Olympics transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is a biological male. In response to Stuckey’s suspension, Erickson tweeted, “This is absurd. Laurel Hubbard is a man, even if Twitter doesn’t like it.” Twitter said the remarks by Stuckey and Erickson violated the platform’s rules against “hateful conduct.” In an email to his supporters, Erickson remarked, “Well, it seems post-modernity has caught up to me. Twitter has suspended me for a statement of fact that Twitter’s woke employees do not like. In defending Allie Beth Stuckey, who was previously suspended from Twitter for a statement of truth, I reiterated that, in fact, the New Zealand transgender weightlifter is a man. Twitter has suspended Conservative pundits such as Erick Erickson and Allie me for stating the truth.” Beth Stuckey were suspended from Twitter because they followed the science and tweeted that transgender In today’s Kafkaesque world, truth is stranger than fiction. “female” weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is a biological male.

‘Death Cult’ Although healthy youngsters have essentially nothing to worry about when it comes to COVID — their COVID mortality rate is roughly 0.01% — MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough is labeling parents who don’t mask and vaccinate their kids a “death cult.” It “makes me scratch my head when I hear reports of parents saying we’re going to ignore doctors, we’re going to ignore science, and Jesus is going to take care of our children,” whined Scarborough on his Aug. 11 show. “So we can act reckless medically. Jesus is going to take — do they think that Tech giant Google demonetized a column by Piers Morgan Jesus decided to kill over 600,000 people with the COVID in the Daily Mail because he dared to criticize Simone virus?” Biles, a black female gymnast who quit at the Olympics. He further fretted, “In what Mika calls a death cult, we have parents who are willingly sending their kids into schools, less Google Censors safe than medicine suggests they could be.” British journalist Piers Morgan wrote a column Contrary to the MSNBC socialists who want government to for the Daily Mail on July 28 that was critical of control people’s lives, parents are the primary caretakers of gymnast Simone Biles for quitting the Olympics. their children. Unfortunately, some readers made racist remarks in the comments section for the column, and Google demonetized the piece a few hours after it was published. Google pulled all the advertisements from the online page where the column was posted, depriving the Daily Mail of ad revenue. Morgan explained in a subsequent column (Aug. 4) that Google’s action was “a big deal” because “Google and Facebook have a virtual monopoly on online advertising revenue, hoovering up 80% of the entire market between them.” Surely, On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough railed against parents who no website is safe if Google is willing to cut want to send their kids to school without masks or COVID vaccinations as advertising to stories because of anonymous being a “death cult.” comments. Morgan noted that Google had “restricted demand” on his columns on nine Stay ahead of the bull. occasions, but this was the first time Google had issued a blanket advertising ban on a column. NewsBusters.org

SEPTEMBER 2021 • THE WATCHDOG • 5 MRC AND CONSERVATIVE LEADERS: Biden Administration and Facebook Censoring Free Speech is the ‘Hallmark of Dictatorships’

In response to the Biden administration admitting that it is working with Facebook and other social media platforms to censor speech that it deems COVID “misinformation,” MRC President Brent Bozell and more than 40 other conservative leaders released an open letter calling on Big Tech firms to publicly announce that they will not comply with calls from the federal government to censor dissenting viewpoints. The letter and some of the signatories are presented here.

“The Biden administration is ripping the U.S. Constitution to shreds. Its assault on America’s freedom of speech is terrifying. It is the hallmark of dictatorships. “As a result of the incendiary and dangerous announcements made by the Biden White House last week to censor free speech with the cooperation of social media, we, the undersigned, demand Big Tech firms immediately and publicly announce that they will not comply with calls from the federal government to censor dissenting viewpoints. Not on COVID-19 and not on any other topic. Furthermore we call on those companies to resist further demands for such outrageous censorship of dissenting voices. “The Biden administration is guilty of violating the most basic fundamental principles of a free and open society. President Joe Biden shockingly claimed Facebook is ‘killing people’ because it doesn’t completely censor its site in ways the administration approves. Though he later backed off this claim a bit, multiple members of the administration are moving to quash free speech on social media following that autocratic rationale. “White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced that the administration is ‘flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation.’ And on Thursday, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared that ‘health misinformation is a serious threat to public health.’ Psaki added to that with the fact that the Surgeon General’s Office is ‘flagging posts for Facebook that spread disinformation.’ “Those who comply and do not speak out are guilty of being complicit in a creepy and repugnant form of Orwellian ‘thought crime.’ We are fast approaching the nightmarish reality of 1984 or worse. “Therefore, we further demand the White House, the federal government and private entities be fully transparent about all government actions to restrict speech. “It is also the responsibility of Congress to limit the federal government’s attempt to work with, bully or intimidate private entities to control free speech the state deems dangerous. Indeed, our First Amendment was written to protect all speech, not just what the Biden administration deems safe and socially acceptable. “If the federal government does not immediately cease and desist from its actions to coerce private companies to quash free speech in the United States, no other conclusion can be drawn, except that the federal government is openly opposed to citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. We will do everything legally in our power to resist that egregious overreach.”

L. BRENT BOZELL III SANDY RIOS GARY BAUER Founder and President, Director of Governmental Affairs President, Media Research Center American Family Association American Values

GOV. SCOTT WALKER CRAIG SHIRLEY HON. J. KENNETH BLACKWELL President, Reagan Biographer and Chairman, Young America’s Foundation Presidential Historian Constitutional Congress, Inc.

MORTON BLACKWELL TONY PERKINS JIM LAKELY President, President, Vice President and Leadership Institute Family Research Council Director of Communications The Heartland Institute DAVID N. BOSSIE HON. KENNETH “KEN” CUCCINELLI President, Former Attorney General of Virginia JOSEPH FARAH Citizens United Former Acting Deputy Secretary, Editor in Chief, Department of Homeland Security WND

6 • THE WATCHDOG • SEPTEMBER 2021 MRC IS EVERYWHERE!

On Fox & Friends, Aug. 16, host Brian Kilmeade noted that “most of the media is not even covering” the “catastrophe” at the Southwest border, and cited an MRC study by Rich Noyes documenting a “96% decrease of coverage by ABC, CBS, and NBC.”

Fox News.com ran a lengthy story about how some leftist media outlets were criticizing President Biden for the disastrous exit from Afghanistan. The story cited a tweet (left) by the MRC’s Nicholas Fondacaro quoting CNN’s Jake Tapper, “Secretary Blinken, how did President Biden get this so wrong?”

On Varney & Co, Brent Bozell described the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan as a “worldwide disaster” and added that the On Hannity, Aug. 14, guest Leo Terrell cited “compliant” media can’t save Biden from his debacle. Bozell said of Biden’s recent negative a tweet by the MRC’s Nick Fondacaro: press: “Even hardened but serious journalists “According to @NewsBusters, the networks are looking at this [Biden’s demeanor] ignored” the record high 212,000 border and they’re saying, ‘This is a real problem. encounters in July “but were eager to cover Something very serious is going on here.’” Britney Spears conservatorship battle.”

On OAN’s In Focus, July 21, director of Fox News.com cited a tweet by the MRC’s On FBN’s Varney & Co, Brent Bozell said MRCTV Eric Scheiner slammed CNN for Curtis Houck, in which he criticized MSNBC’s CNN failed “ethics 101” when it comes to claims of being ‘Bias Free’ in the launch of Joy Reid for equating the Taliban with the handling compromised host Chris Cuomo their new online streaming service. Republican Party. and his connection to scandal-plagued brother governor Andrew Cuomo.

The Faulkner Focus, Aug. 18, highlighted data from the MRC analysis of how the left-wing media are not covering the crisis at the border, noting, “Border encounters hit a Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) retweeted an item 21-year high in July, by CNS News’ Terry Jeffrey, documenting but apparently that that President Biden has requested wasn’t interesting slashing border-security funding by 96.4%, enough for the major from $1.5 billion to $54 million. networks to cover.”

SEPTEMBER 2021 • THE WATCHDOG • 7 A book written for YOU . . . one unforgettable adventure at a time Since 1987, when he founded Media Research Center, Brent Bozell has established himself as a leader of the conservative movement, a maverick in many respects — always staying one step ahead of the left and the liberal media. So, you know him for his good works protecting the free speech of conservatives and exposing and neutralizing media bias. But that’s only half of the story. The other half? Now that’s a story that would also make a great book! And now, it has. Brent’s life has been filled with fascinating, adventurous, and yes, laugh- out-loud funny, twists and turns, and you’ll find the best of them in Stops Along the Way, an upcoming book filled with, as Brent puts it, “stories selected with the intention to entertain. They are stops along the way in a journey not yet complete.” Pre-order your copy today from Amazon! Scheduled release date: November 30, 2021 Did you know that … E A young, mischievous Brent once hung on to a nail for dear life, two stories above the ground, on the side of a Spanish cathedral … E In 1980, Hollywood’s Robert Redford and Garry Trudeau approached Brent with interest in making a movie about him and his raucous “Animal House” crew at NCPAC … E Fake credentials and good Spanish skills put Brent in the middle of a Sandinista guerilla camp in Nicaragua … E A letter Brent wrote to his mother from Rome became the basis of a National Review cover story, “A Sixteen Year Old’s European Vacation” … E A “politically incorrect” stewardess may have saved Brent from a hijacking — or worse — just two weeks after 9/11? Oh, and that’s just a few pages in Stops Along The Way! There are many more unbelievable (but true) and timeless stories as only Brent Bozell can tell them! It makes a great gift, too — just in time for Christmas. Proceeds benefit the MRC.

n MSNBC’s Joy Reid dispassionately reports on HR 1, the bill to federalize all U.S. elections, “This is now a fight to the finish. It’s democracy or autocracy. MINIBITS It’s America or 1980s South Africa. That’s how serious it is.” n Meanwhile, MSNBC’s Chris Jansing wonders if election-integrity efforts by Republicans are an “effort to impose a system of American apartheid.” n Not to be outdone, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes asserts, “making it harder for people to vote, particularly people of color and young people, is the thing that the conservative movement is animated by right now. It’s what they are radicalizing on.” n NBC’s Chuck Todd rants, “Where is the Voting Rights Act? They’ve [Democrats] had a majority in the House since ’18. Why is this piece of legislation not already written, not already passed? Where is it?” n CNN’s chief digital Surprise! Far-left officer Andrew Morse laughably proclaims, “We’re not an opinion network, we’re a documentarian Ken n Burns attacks leftist news network.” The ever-hyperbolic Carl Bernstein declares that Donald Trump “is Facebook CEO Mark our own American war criminal of a kind we’ve never experienced before.” n ABC’s Zuckerberg with Matthew Dowd, a “political analyst,” lectures, “January 6th was worse than 9/11 … we’re some facts. in the most perilous point in time since 1861 in the advent of the Civil War.” n Surprise! Far-left documentarian Ken Burns attacks far-left Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, “This is an enemy of the state, and I mean the United States of America. He doesn’t give a sh*t about us, the United States. He knows he can transcend it. He can get away to any place. And so it’s just about filthy lucre, that’s it.” …

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THE WATCHDOG (ISSN #1087-5077) is published monthly by the Media Research Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and education organization. © 2021 Media Research Center, All Rights Reserved. L. Brent Bozell III, Founder and President • Michael W. Chapman, Editor Media Research Center • 1900 Campus Commons Drive • Suite 600 • Reston, Virginia 20191 • (571) 267-3500 • www.MRC.org CREATING A MEDIA CULTURE IN AMERICA WHERE TRUTH AND LIBERTY FLOURISH