If we’ve learned anything about the news media during the pandemic, it’s that they care more about gawking at people on TV instead of genuine, unvarnished compassion for those suffering (especially business owners). And that notion was quite evident on Tuesday’s NBC Nightly News when, out of one side of their mouth, the network decried states for deciding to reopen. And with the other side, they were gawking at struggling restaurants and saying the reopenings could help.
Correspondent Miguel Almaguer kicked off his report by chiding states and major cities for moving to reopen after the holiday surge in cases. “Tonight, as the U.S. tries to stop and slow the spread of more contagious variants of the virus, restrictions in some of the nation's largest and hardest-hit cities are now being rolled back,” he griped.
He even turned on the liberal media’s idols in Governors Andrew Cuomo (NY) and Gavin Newsom (CA), suggesting their easing of restrictions was going to get people killed. “Roughly half the country, including states like New York, Illinois, and California, have already confirmed cases of the highly contagious and perhaps deadlier U.K. strain and are now bracing for dangerous mutations from Brazil and South Africa,” he warned.
And despite the fact the network would mourn for restaurants later in the program, Almaguer decried the reopening of eateries:
While case numbers nationally are improving, officials fear the virus variants can easily spread, triggering more hospitalizations and deaths. Still, in Los Angeles this week, where ICUS remain at full capacity, hair and nail salons were given the green light to reopen. Outdoor dining is back too. While in Chicago indoor dining resumes.
NBC did this even though the science showed such places didn’t drive infection rates. But what else could you expect from the network that set up a catering tent for their comedy show outside a struggling restaurant, then deceptively edited the video of the owner calling them out?
In addition to decrying the reopenings, Almaguer also tried to scare viewers into wearing two masks and not go to the grocery store:
Authorities still don't know why the new variants are so contagious. So, as an extra layer of protection, they recommend wearing two masks. And to limit your exposure they suggest skipping that next trip to the grocery store or coffee shop.
Meanwhile, after a commercial break, anchor Lester Holt noted: “The COVID pandemic has America's restaurants fighting for survival. But as Stephanie Ruhle tells us, there are some reasons for hope.”
Citing how many “iconic eateries [were] gone for good,” Ruhle lamented the statistics. “As of December, more than 110,000 bars and restaurants had shut their doors,” she reported. “A year ago, 12.2 million Americans worked in the restaurant industry. Today, there's only 9.8 million. Younger and minority hospitality workers, who might not have other employment options, have been hit especially hard.”
But suggesting “there are signs of hope,” she touted… REOPENINGS!
“New data from Yelp says more than 18,000 restaurants opened last quarter. And with states like California and Michigan easing restrictions in the coming days, millions of Americans could soon be getting back to work. And eating out again,” she praised.
But just a few minutes ago, NBC told us reopening restaurants was a recipe for death! Clearly, NBC doesn’t actually care about struggling people. They just want to gawk at them.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
January 26, 2021
7:07:22 p.m. easternMIGUEL ALMAGUER: I'm Miguel Almaguer. Tonight, as the U.S. tries to stop and slow the spread of more contagious variants of the virus, restrictions in some of the nation's largest and hardest-hit cities are now being rolled back.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): We're at a new place now and we can start to adjust that valve and start to open up more economic activity.
ALMAGUER: Roughly half the country, including states like New York, Illinois, and California, have already confirmed cases of the highly contagious and perhaps deadlier U.K. strain and are now bracing for dangerous mutations from Brazil and South Africa.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): I want to remind folks we're not out of the woods.
ALMAGUER: While case numbers nationally are improving, officials fear the virus variants can easily spread, triggering more hospitalizations and deaths. Still, in Los Angeles this week, where ICUS remain at full capacity, hair and nail salons were given the green light to reopen. Outdoor dining is back too. While in Chicago indoor dining resumes.
DR. KAVITA PATEL: I am concerned about some of the lifting and rolling back of precautions because some people might interpret that as a sign that they can resume life as normal. And that is absolutely not true.
ALMAGUER: Epidemiologists warn with the new variants even brief interactions like an outdoor chat without a mask or having a cup of coffee indoors can increase your transmission by up to 70 percent.
[Cuts to live]
Authorities still don't know why the new variants are so contagious. So, as an extra layer of protection they recommend wearing two masks. And to limit your exposure they suggest skipping that next trip to the grocery store or coffee shop. Lester?
LESTER HOLT: All right, Miguel, thanks very much.
(…)
7:15:40 p.m. Eastern
HOLT: The COVID pandemic has America's restaurants fighting for survival. But as Stephanie Ruhle tells us, there are some reasons for hope.
[Cuts to video]
STEPHANIE RUHLE: From Lucky Strike in New York to The Cliff House in San Francisco, iconic eateries gone for good. Victims of the pandemic. The New York Times even publishing a nationwide obituary. As of December, more than 110,000 bars and restaurants had shut their doors.
(…)
RUHLE: 2020 should have been a record year. The National Restaurant Association forecast $899 billion in sales. The actual total? Just $659 billion. And less revenue means fewer jobs.
(…)
RUHLE: A year ago, 12.2 million Americans worked in the restaurant industry. Today, there's only 9.8 million. Younger and minority hospitality workers, who might not have other employment options, have been hit especially hard.
But there are signs of hope. New data from Yelp says more than 18,000 restaurants opened last quarter. And with states like California and Michigan easing restrictions in the coming days, millions of Americans could soon be getting back to work. And eating out again. Stephanie Ruhle, NBC News, New York.
