Keeping up its propaganda series to boost 2020 Democratic candidates, on Sunday, NBC Nightly News devoted the latest My Big Idea report to Washington State Governor Jay Inslee pushing radical climate change policies. Correspondent Harry Smith gushed over environmental crusader making it the “single focus” of his campaign.
Anchor Kate Snow first reminded viewers of the purpose of the supposed journalism: “Now to our special series, My Big Idea. What the Democrats running for president would like you to know about the issues driving them toward the White House.”
The taped segment began with Smith proclaiming: “Former congressman, current governor of Washington, and climate author, Jay Inslee’s campaign has a single focus.” A soundbite followed of Inslee warning: “We know the climate crisis is burning our towns, flooding our fields, causing diseases to spread north. We’re losing massive economic wealth and benefits because of it.”
As Smith did with several previous candidates in the softball series, he helpfully outlined the Democrat’s proposals:
As president, Inslee would use executive power to restore environmental regulations from the Obama administration that President Trump eliminated. Inslee wants to end the use of coal in ten years, and for all new cars and light trucks to be electric by 2030.
However, the reporter fretted over the possibility that Inslee would not be able to implement his plan: “What if even some of your goals are not achieved in, say, the next decade?” The Governor lectured: “Well, if we do not, in the next administration, make this job one, we are going to be in for a world of hurt....I want to be able to look my grandkids in the eye and say I did everything I could to prevent the climate crisis from degrading their lives.”
Smith concluded: “Defeating the climate crisis, that’s Jay Inslee’s big idea.”
The swooning over Inslee continued on Monday, when Smith joined MSNBC anchors Stephanie Ruhle and Ali Velshi on their 1:00 p.m. ET hour show to further promote the 2020 Democrat. Ruhle hoped the issue would help Inslee’s chances in the primary contest: “Can he use this to get himself to the top seed?” Smith sympathetically observed:
Boy, he sure has devoted his – a good portion of his life to this. And you hear him talk. He speaks about these issues in a very informed way, in a very passionate way....In a personal way. And especially from the standpoint of, you think about how serious it actually is. Lots of other issues swimming around out there. He is the one with the clarion call like, “No, more than the Green New Deal, we’ve got to act now, do this quickly, or else.”
Moments later, Velshi enthusiastically chimed in: “When you talk to Inslee you feel it, though, right?” Smith agreed: “Oh, big time.” Velshi continued: “I mean, you can go in there thinking this is a niche issue and then you listen to Jay Inslee talk and it’s like, ‘Oh my, God, all I want to do is fix the climate.’”
Only when talking about liberal Democrats do journalists ever seem to get so inspired.
Here is a full transcript of Smith’s interview with Inslee aired on the June 16 Nightly News:
6:40 PM ET
KATE SNOW: Now to our special series, My Big Idea. What the Democrats running for president would like you to know about the issues driving them toward the White House. Tonight, Harry Smith talks with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.
HARRY SMITH: What’s your big idea?
GOV. JAY INSLEE [D-WA]: My big idea is that America needs to defeat the climate crisis.
SMITH: Former congressman, current governor of Washington, and climate author, Jay Inslee’s campaign has a single focus.
INSLEE: We know the climate crisis is burning our towns, flooding our fields, causing diseases to spread north. We’re losing massive economic wealth and benefits because of it.
SMITH: We met Governor Inslee at a Des Moines-area community college.
[TO INSLEE, POINTING TO WINDMILL]: You know this provides a lot of power here?
INSLEE: About 30%-plus in Iowa, it’s incredible.
SMITH: As president, Inslee would use executive power to restore environmental regulations from the Obama administration that President Trump eliminated. Inslee wants to end the use of coal in ten years, and for all new cars and light trucks to be electric by 2030.
[TO INSLEE] There are only a million electric cars on the road right now in the United States. We sell 17 to 20 million cars a year.
INSLEE: And in 1940, there were only 70 Jeeps made in the United States, and within four years we’d made 640,000 Jeeps.
SMITH: What if even some of your goals are not achieved in, say, the next decade?
INSLEE: Well, if we do not, in the next administration, make this job one, we are going to be in for a world of hurt. When my time is up, I want to be able to look my grandkids in the eye and say I did everything I could to prevent the climate crisis from degrading their lives.
SMITH: Defeating the climate crisis, that’s Jay Inslee’s big idea. Harry Smith, NBC News, Ankeny, Iowa.
SNOW: And up tomorrow, Harry Smith asks Senator Cory Booker about his big idea.
