The CBS "news" show Sunday Morning has been an assembly line of promotional profiles for Democrats -- and socialist "independents" who caucus with the Democrats. On Sunday, CBS reporter Robert Costa kissed Bernie's ring. Nowhere in the story was Sanders described as a leftist, a progressive, a socialist -- just "populist."
It began with Jane Pauley's introduction in the show's first minute: Bernie Sanders, senator from Vermont, former presidential candidate and populist firebrand, is once again drawing big crowds at rallies around the country. He`s still talking about familiar issues like income inequality, affordable housing and Medicare for All, but he's also channeling much of his fury directly at the current administration. This morning, Robert Costa will fill us in on why so many continue to feel the Bern."
“So many continue to feel The Bern.” Robert @CostaReports champions @SenSanders on @CBSSunday: “At 83, Bernie Sanders is back, holding big rallies to take on President Trump and the wealthy.” Sanders: “When we talk about America is a democracy, I think we should rephrase it, call… pic.twitter.com/CBjY1gyGvJ
— Brent Baker 🇺🇲🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) April 6, 2025
Sanders drew big crowds as a presidential candidate, too -- but he never won the Democrat nomination for president, so maybe big crowds don't really represent the majority, or the "people," as the populist label suggests. CBS is never going to tout Trump having big crowds at his rallies. But they want to pitch Bernie as the mainstream:
JANE PAULEY: He`s, perhaps, the best known voice for dissent in Washington these days. And in recent weeks, no one`s been drawing crowds everywhere he goes like Sen. Bernie Sanders. On this weekend of protests across the country --from Maine to California to Washington, D.C., the Vermont Independent is talking with our Robert Costa.
BERNIE SANDERS: What this country today faces an unprecedented level of danger, something that I`ve never seen in my lifetime. We are a nation that is moving rapidly toward oligarchy, which means that we have a government run by the billionaire class, for the billionaire class.
ROBERT COSTA: You`ve had this consistent message for a long time; is there more urgency now in this moment?
All of Costa's questions were tee-balls: "What do you see when you`re up on stage at these rallies?" And then: "Some Republicans chuckle when they see President Trump talk about pursuing a third term. Are you laughing when you hear it?"
Sanders started yammering about the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, and billionaires ruining politics. Costa could push back, and wonder if Sanders thinks it's not a real democracy because he didn't win. Is this a form of election denial?
SANDERS: I think when we talk about America as a democracy, I think we should rephrase it, call it a pseudo-democracy. And it's not just Musk and the Republicans; it's billionaires in the Democratic Party as well.
COSTA: That`s a serious thing to say as a U.S. senator, pseudo-democracy --
SANDERS: Yeah. Well, look --
COSTA: -- not a full democracy?
SANDERS: Look, you get one vote, and Elon Musk can spend $270 million to help elect Trump. Does that sound like a democracy to you?
So many billions in campaign finance go to purchase television ads -- so do television networks ruin democracy? Don't expect CBS to ponder it.
Costa really turned ridiculous when he said Trump is pressuring big law firms "whose clients are seen as hostile to Trump." These are law firms that pushed Russiagate and lawfare to put Trump in jail, but Costa uses the term "seen as hostile," as in nothing Trump says could possibly be based in reality. It's like claiming Bernie Sanders is "seen as male."
Sanders called the law firms greedy cowards, and then another Costa coddle:
COSTA: What's the cost to the country when that sort of thing happens?
SANDERS: It is indescribable.
It's indescribable how far CBS is landing from a place of objectivity or nonpartisanship.
