The stock market hit yet another record high on Thursday, following reports that the United States and China would ease tariffs as part of a pending trade deal. But ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News refused to share the great news for American consumers.
Instead, they both chose to celebrate reports of the possibility former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was getting ready to jump into the 2020 Democratic primary.
ABC actually covered a story related to trade with China. A tech company became a threat to national security when they allegedly committed fraud by selling equipment to the U.S. military marked “Made in the U.S.A” when it actually came from China. But ABC never mentioned the stock market or the pending trade deal.
CBS Evening News was the only broadcast network evening newscast to tell their viewers of either economic development.
“Word of a possible trade deal with China sent stock markets soaring to new record highs today. The Dow shot up more than 180 points, breaking the all-time high set earlier in the week,” reported anchor Norah O’Donnell in a news brief. “The S&P 500 also climbed to its highest level ever.”
Fox News Channel’s Special Report, via anchor Bret Baier, also covered the story:
Stocks jumped on signs of progress in lowering the trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Media reports say the world's two largest economies have agreed to rollback existing tariffs as part of that first phase of an overall trade agreement. The Dow rose 180 today to a new record high, once again. The S&P 500 gained 8. The NASDAQ finished ahead 24.
CBS’s coverage on Thursday was an improvement from earlier in the week when they skipped the stock market hit another record high. “ABC, CBS, and NBC on Monday night? (…) There was also no sign of this good news on the ABC, CBS, and NBC morning "news" programs. But impeachment? Who can get enough of that,” wrote NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham.
Impeachment was again a feature of the Thursday evening newscasts of both ABC and NBC. CBS also covered impeachment, but they obviously managed to walk and chew gum at the same time.
The transcripts are below:
CBS Evening News
November 7, 2019
6:40:58 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Word of a possible trade deal with China sent stock markets soaring to new record highs today. The Dow shot up more than 180 points, breaking the all-time high set earlier in the week. The S&P 500 also climbed to its highest level ever.
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
November 7, 2019
6:14:04 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Stocks jumped on signs of progress in lowering the trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Media reports say the world's two largest economies have agreed to rollback existing tariffs as part of that first phase of an overall trade agreement. The Dow rose 180 today to a new record high, once again. The S&P 500 gained 8. The NASDAQ finished ahead 24.
