ABC & CBS were in full meltdown mode on Thursday evening as their flagship evening newscasts ABC's World News Tonight and CBS Evening News acted like the end of the world was upon us if the U.S. debt ceiling wasn't raised without spending cuts, and focused their coverage on Republican demands instead of the intransigence of the Biden regime.
On World News Tonight, anchor David Muir breathlessly reported that the Treasury Department is "launching what they call extraordinary measures to avoid a default." Muir made sure to inform viewers that "this is all over money that's already been spent." Which was his attempt to absolve the regime of any blame for recklessly wanting the debt ceiling raised without an attempt to get our fiscal house in order.
Muir wants you to think it's just like paying off your credit card debt. When in reality it's like raising your credit limit to a million dollars on a $30,000 salary. Unsustainable.
Congressional correspondent and rabid leftist Rachel Scott cried that the government consistently raising the debt limit is "something that Democrats and Republicans have worked together to do for the last 80 years."
"But this time," Scott added, "House Republicans say they have one condition. They say if they agree to raise the debt limit, they want the President to agree to spending cuts."
"The White House calling that a nonstarter, saying they will not negotiate with Republicans on this," Scott said hyping the Biden regime's refusal to negotiate.
Scott ended by regurgitating the emotional blackmail propaganda perpetuated by Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen: "Social Security checks could be cut for seniors. Troops could go unpaid. Interest rates could spike, raising mortgage, car, and credit card payments."
Over on CBS, it was much the same thing with correspondent Scott MacFarlane crying that "if there's no deal to raise the amount of money the government can borrow by June, it risks a market plunge, mass layoffs, and a spike in interest rates."
Continuing to fearmonger over something that hasn't happened and probably won't MacFarlane repeated the White House talking points he was provided: "the White House says it's too dangerous to negotiate over the debt limit and a standoff with Republicans could lead to an economic collapse."
This partisan segment blaming Republicans for not negotiating while absolving the Biden regime of all blame for their stubbornness was made possible by Fidelity on ABC, and United Healthcare on CBS. Their information was linked.
To read the transcript of each segment click "expand":
ABC’s World News Tonight
1/19/2023
6:44:24 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Now to the U.S. economy tonight, and the U.S. has officially hit the debt limit, the amount of money the country can borrow to pay the bills. The Treasury Department now launching what they call extraordinary measures to avoid a default. This is all over money that's already been spent, and there's an epic battle now brewing between President Biden and House Republicans Let's get right to our senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott live up on the hill tonight. Rachel, where does it stand?
RACHEL SCOTT: Well David, still no deal tonight. And to be clear this is not about using money to pay for future projects. This is about paying for the bills that the nation already has. It's typically standard routine for Congress to raise the nation's debt limit, it's something that Democrats and Republicans have worked together to do for the last 80 years. But this time, House Republicans say they have one condition. They say if they agree to raise the debt limit, they want the President to agree to spending cuts.
The White House calling that a nonstarter, saying they will not negotiate with Republicans on this. Meanwhile, the Treasury Secretary's warning of dire consequences if Congress does not act in the coming months, saying that Social Security checks could be cut for seniors. Troops could go unpaid. Interest rates could spike, raising mortgage, car, and credit card payments. And David, the U.S. has never defaulted on its debt, but time is running out and neither side is giving in, David.
CBS Evening News
1/19/2023
6:39:16 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: We do want to turn now to a looming financial crisis that could affect every American family. The debt limit showdown. Well today, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced the U.S. started taking extraordinary measures to maintain the full faith and credit of America. CBS' Scott Macfarlane reports tonight on the risk to the entire U.S. economy.
SCOTT MACFARLANE: Humphrey Rutherford is enjoying retirement but worried that if the country can't pay its bills his social security is at risk.
[...]
MACFARLANE: If there's no deal to raise the amount of money the government can borrow by June, it risks a market plunge, mass layoffs, and a spike in interest rates. The current $31.4 trillion debt is more than the economies of China, Japan, Germany, and the U.K. combined and equals more than $200 thousand for every U.S. taxpayer.
Pennsylvania Republican Scott Perry said the country has overspent. He helped delay Kevin McCarthy's election as Speaker a few weeks ago and wants spending cuts. Before raising the limit.
REP. SCOTT PERRY: The American people are sick of it. They want some responsibility used when it comes to spending their hard-earned money and we're going to get after that. That's our pledge.
MACFARLANE: But the White House says it's too dangerous to negotiate over the debt limit and a standoff with Republicans could lead to an economic collapse, a major concern for hardware store manager Bill Hart
BILL HART: Just last week I purchased for Halloween and Christmas. In this business, you have to plan way out, especially when you're getting things shipped from overseas.
MACFARLANE: Tonight, the Treasury Department says it will halt payments to some programs, retirement programs for federal workers to buy Congress four months to raise the debt ceiling. After that, they say they'll have no more emergency measures to employ.
