ABC, CBS, and NBC's Thursday morning newscasts all punted on covering President Obama's Wednesday night meeting [1]with Senate Democrats, where he called on them to reject new sanctions on Iran. These same programs, along with the networks' evening newscasts, also failed to mention [2] the President by name in their reporting on the Senate Intelligence Committee's "scathing" new report on the 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya.
By contrast, Thursday's New Day on CNN devoted 40 seconds of air time to the chief executive's plea to his former colleagues in the Senate. John Berman gave two news briefs on the development.
Berman touted the news "breaking overnight" mere minutes into the cable news program. He outlined that "the President told a group of Democratic senators that doing so – passing more sanctions – could damage negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The Senate has been pushing new sanctions since an interim deal was reached that was criticized by many lawmakers as soft on Iran."
Over two hours later, the former ABC journalist underlined how "President Obama [is] making a new big push for the Senate to hold off on more sanctions against Iran. The President telling Democratic senators new sanctions could derail nuclear talks with Tehran. The Senate's been pushing for new sanctions. Many lawmakers complaining an interim nuclear deal reached with the Iranians does not go far enough."
Back on Sunday, the broadcast networks did mention congressional opposition to the Obama administration's temporary deal with the Islamic republic over its controversial nuclear program. Major Garrett noted on CBS Evening News that "Congress appears ready to impose even tougher economic sanctions but the White House...is urging Congress to give this first deal a chance to succeed." However, the media outlets haven't picked up on the more recent development.
The transcripts of John Berman's news briefs from Thursday's New Day on CNN:
01/16/2014
06:09 am EST
CNN - New Day
[CNN Graphic: "Obama: No New Sanctions On Iran: Tells Senators They Could Hurt Negotiations"]
JOHN BERMAN: Breaking overnight, Chris [Cuomo]: President Obama – another push on senators to hold off on more sanctions against Iran. The President told a group of Democratic senators that doing so – passing more sanctions – could damage negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The Senate has been pushing new sanctions since an interim deal was reached that was criticized by many lawmakers as soft on Iran.
08:16 am EST
[CNN Graphic: "Obama: No New Sanctions Against Iran: Tells Senators New Punishment Could Derail Negotations"]
JOHN BERMAN: Breaking overnight: President Obama making a new big push for the Senate to hold off on more sanctions against Iran. The President telling Democratic senators new sanctions could derail nuclear talks with Tehran. The Senate's been pushing for new sanctions. Many lawmakers complaining an interim nuclear deal reached with the Iranians does not go far enough.
— Matthew Balan is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Matthew Balan on Twitter. [3]