Free Republic

Former MSNBC journalist Luke Russert on Thursday unleashed a series of liberal talking point Tweets about the “unprecedented” effort to override a Democratic filibuster of Neil Gorsuch. Russert, who posed as a supposedly neutral journalist during his tenure at MSNBC, also hit Republicans for “stealing” Merrick Garland’s opening at the Supreme Court.  Russert whined, “UNPRECEDENTED-How the #GOP used the filibuster to stop Obama & steal a Supreme Court pick.” Apparently no one informed him of what happened to Miguel Estrada. Nominated by George W. Bush in 2001 to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Democrats filibustered him. True, he wasn't a Supreme...

CNS News' Sam Dorman peppered House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Thursday afternoon with several questions about abortion, and a few unimpressed reporters responded quickly by assuming that he was either a conservative activist or just some protester. "A conservative journo asked Pelosi [about] what constitutes a baby being alive," MSNBC's Luke Russert tweeted, making an assumption about Dorman's political affiliations. The Washington Post's Kelsey Snell took it a step further, and initially identified Dorman in an article as a pro-life "protester." The Post has since updated its story to reflect that Dorman is, in fact, a reporter. CNS News...

He who laughs last, Luke . . . At first I wasn't sure: it certainly sounded like Luke Russert, off camera, was laughing as a reporter said that some of Donald Trump supporters told her they hope he hires smart people to carry out his plans. Listen and judge for yourself 35 seconds into the video clip. But was I being unfair? Could he have been coughing? But no, when Russert came back on screen, his disdain for those Trump supporters couldn't have been clearer. A smirk [see the screencap] still on his face, Russert said: "that's a fascinating anecdote,...

News broke this week that Luke Russert, son of the late Tim Russert, will be a regular part of the “revamped” Meet The Press starting today. He’s 29, has worked for NBC News since graduating college, and…that’s about it. His last name is the only qualification he possesses for joining the “team” of the longest running show on television. If this, and the other personnel decisions that have been announced, is NBC’s plan to save the once-great show, Meet The Press is screwed. The new host, Chuck Todd, is a fine choice. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle....

Was it a simple mistake, or more deeply revealing of how Luke Russert regards events in Ferguson, MO? With Chuck Todd on his way to Meet The Press, Russert hosted MSNBC's Daily Rundown today. Speaking with NBC reporter Ron Allen, on the scene in Ferguson, Russert said: "the big news this morning is we expect to hear for the first time the name of the officer who was involved in the murder of Michael Brown -- or the killing of Michael Brown." H/t reader Charles B. View the video here.

Former first child (now with child) Chelsea Clinton had a $600,000 annual contract at NBC News, Politico reports, where she served as a "special correspondent" and was deemed to be mostly useless, if not "one of the most boring people of her era." That deal is over now, but Clinton is still being paid by the network (which has also hired Luke Russert, Meghan McCain, and Jenna Bush ... ) on a month-to-month basis, with complicating factors including her pregnancy and the good odds her mother is running for president. -snip- That work included little of note, either journalistically or...

House Speaker John Boehner would not say Thursday if the House GOP’s campaign arm should stop including the Benghazi attacks in fundraising appeals. Asked three times whether the National Republican Congressional Committee should be fundraising based on what they call Democratic obstruction of the Benghazi investigation, Boehner answered only: “Our focus is on getting the answers to those families who lost their loved ones. Period.” An NRCC email sent Wednesday morning included a link to “become a Benghazi watchdog” – which led to a page where supporters can donate cash. A separate website called “BenghaziWatchdogs.com” still contains a link encouraging...

House Republicans will announce their intention to form a special select committee on Benghazi Friday, intensifying already highly-charged GOP scrutiny of the Obama administration’s handling of the September 2012 attacks that left four Americans dead. The committee will be led by GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina.

When conservatives appear on MSM shows, they regularly get raked over the coals. Frustratingly, the conservative guests rarely call their interviewers out for their obvious lefty bias. So it was refreshing to see Republican Congressman Chaffetz of Utah refuse to let Luke Russert's liberal slant slide. In the guise of a question, Russert, subbing for Andrea Mitchell on her MSNBC show today, confronted Chaffetz with a contentious bit of editorializing against the "Ted Cruz, Mike Lee rabbit hole." Chaffetz called Russert on it: "That was a loaded question there, Luke." View the video here.

The only thing more annoying than NBC's Luke Russert acting as a blatant advocacy reporter is when he pretends to be a political pundit and little Luke did both at a press conference this week when he broadcast his opinion in the form of a question to House Speaker John Boehner at a press conference this week. It wasn't only what he said but also how he posed his question which was done in a tone of studied condescension as you can see in this video and below the fold. Although you might wish to spare yourself the annoyance of...

Call it Luke Russert's version of "bitter clingers" on steroids . . . In Russert's world, there are apparently two kinds of Republican congressmen. The "smart" ones—to be found on the Ways & Means Committee—and the others, whom he calls the "God, guns and guts people," presumably in reference to this book. Russert made his statement on today's Morning Joe, responding to Joe Scarborough's question as to whether Republicans would overplay their hand over the current scandals. According to Russert, Republicans chose well in holding today's hearing of IRS officials before the Ways & Means Committee because that's where the...

The secret to becoming a successful LOUSY FREEPER TROLL over in DUmmieland is to build up a big post count. And the best way to do that is to post on threads where you more or less agree with the DUmmies. In the case of this THREAD, "Tim Russert's kid really bothers me," I think that even most normal people can agree with that sentiment. Of course, left unsaid, except by one DUmmie, is the fact that Chelsea Clinton is an even WORSE correspondent than Luke Russert. However, before we proceed further you must check out this hilarious VIDEO...

Simpson-Bowles would have: raised taxes by $1.2 trillion--bumping to 21% the tax share of GDP from the typical 18%; relied largely on defense cuts to reduce spending; retained all $2.5 trillion in ObamaCare spending and done nothing to reform Medicare and Medicaid. No wonder Luke Russert loved it. Appearing on Chuck Todd's Daily Rundown on MSNBC today, NBC congressional correspondent Russert bemoaned Simpson-Bowles overwhelming defeat in the House yesterday. View the video here.

CONGRESSMAN RANGEL: What are you talking about? You're just trying to make copy? What job? The one I got? RUSSERT: Yeah. I mean, these are really serious violations. CONGRESSMAN RANGEL: I mean, how do you think I got my job? I was elected. How do you think I lose it? RUSSERT: Well, there's two ways. You could lose it if your colleagues voted you out of here because of ethics violations or if your constituents do not find you upstanding. CONGRESSMAN RANGEL: What station are you with? Well, you're young; I guess you do need to make a name for...

Here is a clip of MSNBC reporter Luke Russert spouting Democrat talking points on the attack by Democrat Rep. Bob Etheridge against two college students who sought to interview him on a Washington, D.C. street. Instead of focusing on the reprehensible behavior of Etheridge, Russert purely speculates – and even admits he is speculating – that the whole thing was a GOP setup. The fact is, Etheridge was simply asked if he fully supported the Obama agenda. If he did not want to answer the question, he could have walked on by. It was Etheridge who was aggressive in the...

Listen to the surprise in Luke Russert's voice as he reports that many African-American Republican candidates for congress are seeking support from the Tea Party. After all, says Luke, the Tea Party is a group that "a lot of folks have claimed to be racist against African-Americans." Russert expressed his amazement on MSNBC this morning, discussing a New York Times article that reports that as many as 32 black Republicans are running for Congress. View video here.

Channel surfing this morning and saw Luke Russert on Chuck Todd's and Savannah's show on MSNBC. Luke Russert was absolutely giddy and putting his "Sherlock Holmes hat on" to find out who shouted baby killer.

I've been leery of Luke Russert ever since the NBC reporter said, during the presidential campaign, that students at the U. of Virginia are "leaning a little bit towards Obama" because "the smartest kids in the state go there." On this evening's Ed Show, the son of the late MTP moderator gave additional reason to think that he leans "a little bit towards Obama" himself. Speaking of the Dem congressman currently under ethics investigation in connection with an allegation that he sexually harassed a male staffer, Russert said that Eric Massa would change his vote and support ObamaCare "if he...

President Obama will address the House Republican Conference later this month during their retreat in Baltimore, being held Jan. 28th to 30th. Obama was invited by the elected GOP Leadership to speak a few weeks ago and will take them up on their offer. ... Despite that gracious tone, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor wrote this morning in a statement: “Though it’s welcome news that President Obama will speak with House Republicans later this month, it is important to point out that true bipartisanship requires working together on common-sense solutions and a mainstream agenda to help Americans facing difficult challenges....

SOME hardworking folks at NBC and MSNBC -- who work long hours for little pay -- are wondering, "Where in the world is Luke Russert?" One insider sniped, "He was hired last year to be the youth correspondent -- he got a great contract and was supposed to cover youth issues, blog and bring in young viewers, but he's been MIA for a while. It's like, 'Well, that's what you get for nepotism.' "