Bolduan Throws a Pick, Media Turns on Biden | Live from the Green Room

With some notable exceptions, TV news media on Tuesday made a big dent in the frequent criticism that they are one-sided or unwilling to criticize Democrats.

The criticism that the media is biased or leans left is a prevalent and persistent one, especially social media, where the phrase “if Trump did it” is practically continuous, and is echoed in conservative media.

But when Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, and Kaitlan Collins took a hard look at President Joe Biden‘s speech, and his administration’s actions in Afghanistan, their strong but objective analysis (sure to be taken as biased the other way by some partisans) did a great deal of work toward dispelling that persistent refrain. They did not, in other words, just cheerlead or let Biden off the hook.

And although Brian Williams began to take his coverage in the predictable MSNBC direction, the network and the show to their credit engaged the intense criticism and counterpoint from Afghanistan veteran and founder of No One Left Behind Matt Zeller respectfully and without partisan bickering.

Interviews with officials were conducted thoroughly, asking tough questions, as demonstrated by Andrea Mitchell, and the TV press even dared ask about the future impact of the Afghanistan exit on Biden’s future prospect, as Chuck Todd did this morning.

The perception of objective and unbiased media isn’t achieved through crass whataboutism or simply attacking the “other” side to score points. It’s done by demonstrating, at the time when it is called for, a willingness to confront actual problems from whomever is holding the bag.

It wasn’t a perfect day on cable news in that regard, but it was a welcome reminder that the press are there to hold everyone accountable, not just the “bad guys.” Even late night host Stephen Colbert got in on it.

It started out as a terrific booking — a football legend speaking authoritatively to the dangers facing youths who play the sport. Then, though, a CNN anchor led that gridiron great out of bounds.

On Tuesday’s edition of At This Hour, Kate Bolduan invited Green Bay Packers icon Brett Favre to raise awareness about the dangers of youth football. Favre, in comments that may lead to a major change in public opinion, called for children under 14 not to play tackle football at all.

But then, Bolduan turned the conversation to the Covid vaccine — calling attention to high-profile holdouts in the NFL such as Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

“Why do you think there is still a struggle among some athletes, especially when people look to them as role models when it comes to the Covid vaccine?” Bolduan asked Favre.

The question was framed in such a way that it presumed Favre to be a proponent of the Covid jab. As he made clear in his answer, he is not.

“There’s a great deal of uncertainty. You hear one thing one day, and you hear something that’s totally different the next,” Favre said. He added, “We’re sort of the human trials … I think some people are frightened by that.”

Bolduan, to her credit pivoting quickly, asked the right follow-up and tried to pin Favre down on whether he’d been vaccinated. The NFL legend, though, declined to say.

The segment reflected a lack of preparation. To think that Favre was going to say anything other than what he did was pure folly.

After all, for as many touchdowns as he threw in his career, Brett Favre also threw his share of picks.