video Last night when Chris Matthews discussed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's idea of a "Deem and Pass" to get the health reform bill pushed through Congress, his main concern was that it would open up Democrats to criticism that they were being a little bit sneaky and evasive in their effort to get this whole health care matter settled. And he wasn't wrong: Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown was on The Situation Room tonight, already chomping at the bit to discuss the "backroom deals....political chicanery and parliamentary maneuvers" that the House majority was using to "ram this bill through." (more...)

video CNN's Rick Sanchez was an early Twitter adapter, and his new show Rick's List is based around the growing social media platform. But yesterday's program highlighted the danger of Twitter unfiltered - some questionable anti-Israel tweets were highlighted in the lower third during a segment about the conflict in the Middle East. (more...)

Besides throwing almost every applicable political buzzword into his assessment of President Barack Obama's recent health care summit, RNC Chairman Michael Steele managed to offend nearly every left-wing viewer of The Situation Room today when he called the recent Capitol Hill discussion a "death panel" for the Democrats' health care proposal. Not that he doesn't make some good points. But still...yikes.
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MSNBC host Chris Matthews appeared on last night's episode of Jeopardy, and despite a valiant comeback, he fell short, losing to Charles Shaughnessy of Mad Men. Add Matthews to the list of cable news anchors who can't pull out a victory on the long-running quiz show. (more...)

Politico's Michael Calderone pulls back the curtain on some internal tension at CNN over the direction of the network. Besides a meeting that took place at the D.C. bureau, there are also concerns at the network about the need for John King's upcoming 7pmET show to begin the process of turning the nighttime ratings around. (more...)

breaking AP reports: The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake has rocked Haiti. The quake at 1:53 p.m. PST was centered about 10 miles from the capital of Port-au-Prince. The Associated Press reported that a hospital has collapsed. A local tsunami watch was issued for that part of the Caribbean, but the warning from the Pacific Tsunami Watch Center said a widespread threat ''does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data.'' More news as it develops.

The ever-alert Caleb Howe from Redstate spotted this gem of a segue from The Situation Room, as Wolf Blitzer wraps up a segment on the dangers of salt, then teases an upcoming segment by saying "Homegrown terrorists: How big a threat do they really pose to the United States?"

It's an interesting juxtaposition, and I guess my answer to the latter question would be, "Not as big a threat as they would if we didn't have such seasoned intelligence professionals."

Yes, I'm sure you can all do better. Here's the clip:

 

video Empathy, sorrow and compassion are emotions one typically feels after watching a guest tear up on television. But every rule has an exception, and the appearance of Richard Henne (a.k.a. father to Balloon Boy) on Larry King is one such exception. CNN's Wolf Blitzer aired clips of tonight's coming interview with Larry King in which Henne gets remarkably emotional telling his side of the story, most notably, that there was no hoax. Video below. (more...)

video Welcome to the new world of press releases: earlier this morning, CNN anchor Rick Sanchez Tweeted out the news that he would be anchoring a new CNN show, Rick's List. "Hey guys, new CNN show beginning Jan 18th, weekdays 3-5pm ET. "Rick’s List"- Who will make the list?" reads the tweet, which was picked up by CNN PR's Twitter account. Could Twitter play a starring role in the much-tweeted about show? (more...)

video Wolf Blitzer made a stunning revelation to the nation last night when he revealed that he knew what marijuana smelled like. In what at first appeared to be playful banter between Blitzer, Jessica Yellin, and Lou Dobbs, Blitzer dropped the bombshell that he would "know what would smell like."  (more...)

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It's official: Chuck Todd's goatee will remain intact. Todd had a running bet with ABC's Jake Tapper that if the Phillies made it to the World Series, he would either shave off his goatee or donate $1000 to the charity of Tapper's choice. After a tense standoff with a razor-wielding Press Secretary Gibbs on The Today Show, Todd went with charity, much to the disappointment of the Twitter community. (more...)

The story of "Balloon Boy" Falcon Heene has become the newest national joke, the "I'ma let you finish" du jour. While there are humorous elements to the story, the media seems to be ignoring the darkest chapter in this story, and their (our) complicity in it. Recently, The Rachel Maddow Show and Countdown have each run lighthearted, humorous segments specifically about Falcon Heene's bout with nausea on NBC's Today Show. While they're surely not the only ones to make light of this, they are the straws that broke the camel's back. Here are the clips from Countdown and The Rachel Maddow Show:

We contacted MSNBC about both segments, and they declined to comment. Those morning show appearances have been weighing on me. While I'm disappointed in Olbermann and Maddow, two people who do 99% excellent work, they are not alone here. We all sat by and watched that 6 year-old become violently ill on The Today Show and Good Morning America. We know for a fact, now, that the child's father was making him lie, and it's likely what made Falcon sick that morning. The problem is, we all pretty much knew it at the time, too. Falcon Heene did a courageous thing by telling the truth on national television, and his reward was to be ignored. Wolf Blitzer fumbled the follow-up, and the authorities dithered, still believing Richard Heene's lies. While our own Dan Abrams theorizes that the Sheriff's ignorance may have been strategic, that would have been a strategy that didn't benefit the child. Falcon Heene went to sleep that night knowing that he wasn't believed.
Falcon's confession could not have been clearer, yet for some reason, the media continued to treat the idea of a hoax as an open question, a 50/50 shot. The following morning, Richard Heene went on TV and fed his son a lie for him to agree to, after who knows what kind of coercion. Why did these interviewers not press Heene on the details of a story that clearly did not add up? Why didn't they call him out? Most importantly, why did they continue these interviews while the child was in obvious physical distress? The fact that his parents didn't have the decency to do this is little excuse when you consider their part in Falcon's situation. Next: Further media wrongdoing on GMA and Today

Late yesterday, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters that he expects to file criminal charges in the case of 6 year-old "Balloon Boy" Falcon Heene's non-ride on a runaway helium balloon. He also said that his office was trying to obtain search warrants, and expressed disappointment that they could only file class 3 misdemeanor charges. (more...)

We've been watching the Balloon Boy saga unfold in its fourth day of media coverage. The latest news: The balloon was indeed a hoax, and now Richard Heene, if not his wife Mayumi, will face a battery of charges. Below: Larimer County Colorado Sheriff Jim Alderden's comments from this afternoon's press conference, and his comments last night. Plus, information about Gawker's exclusive, and all the news from Day 4. Updates here as more news breaks. (Update 1pmET): • Press Conference this afternoon (video below): Larimer County Colorado Sheriff Jim Alderden: "It has been determined that this was a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt ... done with the hopes of better marketing themselves for a reality show in the future." (more...)

VIDEO Richard Heene, the father of the infamous Balloon Boy, called reporters to his house this morning for a press conference of sorts. The man who has had the media, and frankly everyone on the Internet atwitter, made it seem like a big announcement was in the works. (more...)

One of the most brutal take-downs of Sarah Palin during last year's campaign came at the hands of CNN's Jack Cafferty, who simply played a clip of one of her Couric interviews and angrily referred to it as "one of the most pathetic pieces of tape" he'd ever seen. Sitting next to him was Wolf Blitzer, he of Gulf War fame, now transmogrified into tepid network nameplate. Blitzer, playing the network's favorite game ("Let's Appear Neutral!") suggested that she had been "cramming a lot of information" - but he wasn't able to finish before Cafferty jumped down his throat, insisting Blitzer "not make excuses" for Palin. It was an ugly moment, and likely an embarrassing one for Blitzer. But last night might have been worse. Wolf Blitzer was handed, on a mylar platter, the scoop of the day - Balloon Boy, Falcon Heene, responding to the question of why he hid in the attic so long with a tenuous, "You guys said that we did this for the show." His father reacted like the jig was up ("Man…"); his mother, holding out hope, pushed back. That happened shortly before 9:18 p.m. Eastern, which is when I sent a tweet saying, "Um, I think the Balloon Boy just said he didn't come out of hiding because, 'we did it for a show.' Wolf, want to check on that?" Wolf didn't want to check on that. Another half hour of interview proceeded, with no mention of Falcon's statement. The parents and their squirming sons breezed through softballs about how they felt, the nature of the balloon, etc. All of those who felt something was odd about the whole situation, myself included, watched a key point fade away. This was the story of the day! And it featured a family who had already been on a reality show. A father eager enough to be on CNN that he filed repeated "iReports", looking at various weather phenomenon, which became a staple of the filler period between the landing of the aircraft and the location of the child. But no follow up from Wolf. Until the last question of the segment. Coming back from commercial, Blitzer baited his hook:

BLITZER: Richard Heene, the father of little Falcon -- Richard, earlier in the show I asked you to relay the question to Falcon. He was hiding in the garage for four hours. I asked you to ask him why didn't he come out after he heard you and his mom and everybody else screaming for Falcon. And you said to him, "Falcon, why didn't you come out?" And Falcon said, hmmm, you guys said that we did this for the show. And you said, hmmmm. What did he mean, we did this for the show? R. HEENE: I have no idea. I think he was talking about the media. They've been asking a lot of questions. So somebody asked him that question earlier. BLITZER: Do you want to ask him now. I don't know if he can hear me? What did he mean by what he said we did this for the show? Do you want to ask Falcon? R. HEENE: Falcon, they want to know -- they want to know why you were in the attic for so long and why you -- say it again? BLITZER: Why he said -- he said we did this for the show in explaining why he didn't come out of the attic. R. HEENE: Yes. Let me interrupt this real quick. I think I can see the direction you guys are hedging on this. Because earlier you had asked the police officers the question. The media out front, we weren't even going to do this view. And I'm kind of appalled, after all of the feelings that I went through, up and down, that you guys are trying to suggest something else. OK? I'm really appalled, because they said out in front that this would be the end, and I wouldn't have to be bothered for the rest of the week with any shows or anything. So we said OK, fine, we'll do this. So I'm kind of appalled that you guy would say something like that. You know?

Notice that Falcon, who had no earpiece, wasn't asked Blitzer's question. Notice that the father tried to change what he was supposed to ask. Notice how inordinately defensive his response was. This is the get. This is the moment journalists dream about. Blitzer should have been salivating.

BLITZER: No, no. We're not asking anything unusual. You were asked earlier about if this was a publicity stunt. You say it wasn't. The police say it wasn't. The rescue operation say it wasn't. The only thing I wanted to clarify why Falcon had said earlier we did this for the show. I just wanted to clarify. I didn't understand what he was referring to.

The fish wriggles free. If it hadn't been for Anderson Cooper picking up the ball during 360, CNN would have completely abandoned their own scoop. Wolf, I'd check dark alleys as you're headed to your car today. I have a feeling Jack Cafferty is lurking in the shadows with a cudgel.

video Yesterday we reported that Meghan McCain had announced that she might be quitting Twitter. McCain was seemingly upset over comments she received regarding a somewhat revealing twitpic she had posted. CNN's Jeannie Moos also reported on it, leading McCain's to call out the cable news network. (more...)

Cable news took America on a wild ride today reporting of an amazing story of Falcon Henne and his wild balloon ride. Judging by Twitter the early cavalier snark turned to genuine concern when the boy was not found and images of items falling from the aircraft surfaced. Turns out he was in the attic. Cable News bookers get ready! (more...)

Cable channels covered the soft landing of the balloon contraption that had earlier been reported to be carrying six year-old Falcon Henne. The balloon was empty at landing, but there is growing concern that the child may have fallen out mid-flight. Not only did cable news programmers make a risky decision in covering this story live, they may have inadvertently aired his death. (more...)

The bottom part of the balloon contraption is reportedly "not very well attached to the balloon" according to a local law enforcement official. Given the real chance that there might be a six year-old on board who could fall over 5,000 feet to the ground or even crash into a mountain, shouldn't cable news cut away from wall-to-wall live coverage? Is a seven-second delay enough to avoid airing a potential tragedy? As the father of a six year-old boy, I think not. (more...)

video When Wolf Blitzer recently interviewed Michael Moore about his latest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story, the interview got uncomfortable, and fast. Moore's last big appearance on The Situation Room was a tense one, to say the least -- Moore accused Dr. Sanjay Gupta of "lying" about his 2007 documentary, Sicko, and there was further bad blood after Gupta and Larry King tag teamed him on Larry King Live, refusing to let him get a word in edgewise. This isn't quite as contentious, but involves stiff interruptions, nervous laughs, questions based on "charge that will be made" by people in the future, maybe, and even a tense debate about the merits of ATMs. The highlights: (more...)

VIDEO Long before The Daily Show, long before The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live was making fun of the news in a way that no one had ever seen before. Suddenly, establishment journalists like Barbara Walters were fair game. Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd riffed on the seething hostility between co-anchors. Heck, they even took on the 70s trend of sign language interpreters popping up in newscasts. Oprah, Dateline, Geraldo Rivera... SNL's had distinctive takes on almost every major media presence over the years. And SNL's news spoofs aren't just entertainment: it's arguable that more Americans made up their minds about Sarah Palin based on SNL's Katie Couric/Sarah Palin interview than on the original interview itself. Stephen Colbert and John Stewart have done a lot in the news satire biz, but they still have some catching up to do. In honor of the premiere of season 35 of SNL, we've pulled together 35 of SNL's choicest news anchor spoofs and Weekend Updates, spanning all seasons. Shoot us a comment or a tip if you think we've missed a good one. We're seriously counting on a good Glenn Beck skit... Here it is. (more...)

video Word has gotten out that on tonight's episode of @katiecouric, Katie Couric's new web-only show, Glenn Beck will declare that McCain would have been worse than Obama. Newsrooms around the country have flung stacks of paper in the air in disbelief, wondering how this could be. Before the show has even aired, the media narrative has emerged that this is some kind of cunning, headline-grabbing ploy by Beck. CBS, for its part, has effectively used the 'controversy' as a marketing tool, plugging it on their website. It's a catchy angle, but here's the thing; if you go back and look at what he's said, Beck has never really liked John McCain. (more...)

In a July interview with Playboy, Alec Baldwin was true to his actor ego and ambitiously revealed his desire to enter politics. "I have sometimes thought I could move to New Jersey or Connecticut and run," he told the classic skin-mag, singling out every lefty's favorite turncoat Joe Lieberman as a potential opponent. "I have no use for him," said Baldwin before admitting that "it's all fantasy" because he wouldn't ever be able to leave New York, as noted by Gossip Cop. The half-hearted challenge seems to have left Lieberman a little shaken, though, as the Connecticut senator took to CNN's "State of the Union" to dust off the potential contest, telling Baldwin: "Make my day." In what might be interpreted as a smug tone and with a nervous chuckle, Sen. Lieberman continued, "You know, I must say that I respect Alec Baldwin as an actor and as a comedian, and if he wants to run, that’s his right." (more...)

Slate's put together another one of their video spoof, this time imaging how the moon landing might have been covered by today's cablers. Answer: sounds a lot like how they covered Barack Obama's election. What doesn't get mentioned, however, is how nicely "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" would fit into a Twitter. (more...)

While Fox News and MSNBC have turned the surprise news of Gov. Sarah Palin's resignation into a wall-to-wall afternoon and evening of crashed coverage, there's one news outlet that decided to stick to the script.

For "The Most Trusted Name in News," CNN, Palin was a story -- and a big one. But throughout The Situation Room and beyond, it was just one of the many topics touched on by the network. If Palin got the gold, Michael Jackson came in with the silver. (more...)