On Wednesday, NBC Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt didn’t hide how she and the network were irritated by the fact Republicans looked set to retain control of the Senate, while simultaneously picking up seats in the House. They were results that flew in the face of the liberal media’s prediction that the GOP would lose everything on Election Day. But reality left her flustered on NBC Nightly News, declaring: “These results really show that the country is more divided than ever.”
Taking her comment at its face, it meant she viewed national unity as one-party rule under the thumb of Democrats. And leading into Hunt’s report, anchor Lester Holt announced that “the critical battle for control of the Senate” was still up in the air, “but it appears the Democrats' hope of taking back the majority is fading.”
“Democrats actually lost seats in the House, which they really weren't expecting. They were expecting to gain seats and some Democrats are telling me they worry that this is going to embolden Republicans,” she lamented to Holt, “and that it really may make it harder to overcome gridlock in Washington.”
She added: “And if Joe Biden were to win the White House in the end, make it harder to govern or get any of his priorities across the finish line in Congress.”
Hunt took solace in Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) keeping her position, but shared in the left’s “bitter disappointment” that they couldn’t unseat “vulnerable Republicans”:
HUNT: But it's shaping up to be a much bigger Republican win than the party expected, and a bitter disappointment for Democrats who were confident they could win back the Senate. They did flip seats in Colorado and Arizona. But could not beat several vulnerable Republicans.
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): To the people of Maine, thank you, thank you! Thank you!
HUNT: Like Susan Collins, who won in Maine.
After noting that “two likely runoffs in Georgia could end up deciding the Senate majority; brutal battles that could cost tens of millions more,” Hunt seemed unnerved by how Democrats burned up almost $200 million in TWO failed races:
Democrats losing two pricey races in the South. Democrat Amy McGrath spent over $73 million, but got blown out by Mitch McConnell. And Jamie Harrison dropping over 100 million, but losing big to Republican Lindsey Graham.
“To all the liberals in California and New York, you wasted a lot of money. This is the worst return on investment in the history of American politics,” gloated Senator Graham in a soundbite.
So much for that 'big blue wave' the pollsters and the media were predicting in the run-up to the election.
NBC’s irritation with Republican victories was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Amazon and WeatherTech . Their contact information is linked so you can tell them about the biased news they’re funding.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
November 4, 2020
7:14:12 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Also undecided tonight, the critical battle for control of the Senate. But it appears the Democrats' hope of taking back the majority is fading. With more, here's Kasie hunt.
[Cuts to video]
KASIE HUNT: Tonight, while Democrats will keep control of the House with Nancy Pelosi set to be speaker again, control of the Senate is still up for grabs.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I don't know whether I’m going to be the defensive coordinator or offensive coordinator.
HUNT: But it's shaping up to be a much bigger Republican win than the party expected, and a bitter disappointment for Democrats who were confident they could win back the Senate. They did flip seats in Colorado and Arizona. But could not beat several vulnerable Republicans.
SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): To the people of Maine, thank you, thank you! Thank you!
HUNT: Like Susan Collins, who won in Maine.
COLLINS: That this is an affirmation of the work that I'm doing in Washington, to fight hard every day.
HUNT: And Joni Ernst in Iowa. And while races in North Carolina and Michigan still haven't been called, two likely runoffs in Georgia could end up deciding the Senate majority; brutal battles that could cost tens of millions more.
MCCONNELL: We had a -- overall I think a better election than most people thought we were going to have across the country. But yeah, we have improvement we need to make.
HUNT: Democrats losing two pricey races in the South. Democrat Amy McGrath spent over $73 million, but got blown out by Mitch McConnell. And Jamie Harrison dropping over 100 million, but losing big to Republican Lindsey Graham.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM: To all the liberals in California and New York, you wasted a lot of money. This is the worst return on investment in the history of American politics.
[Cuts back to live]
HOLT: So Kasie, what do Democrats tell you about what this means for next year?
HUNT: Well Lester, these results really show that the country is more divided than ever. Democrats actually lost seats in the House, which they really weren't expecting. They were expecting to gain seats and some Democrats are telling me they worry that this is going to embolden Republicans, and that it really may make it harder to overcome gridlock in Washington. And if Joe Biden were to win the White House in the end, make it harder to govern or get any of his priorities across the finish line in Congress.
HOLT: Lots of surprises here. All right, thank you, Kasie.
