As always, soliciting FReeper comments, observations, and opinions.

This is the Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread Ping List! If you want to be on it, reply to this post or FReepmail me (in case I miss it). If you want to be taken off, simply send me a FReepmail.

From my AI discussion:

BUTCHER’S THUMB – Sunday, September 21st, 2026

(Hybrid Format)

General Mood

The networks have entered full election‑season trance. Every show is framed through domestic politics, economic anxiety, and “voter messaging,” while the world outside the studio is shifting fast in ways they refuse to acknowledge. Houthi pipeline attacks are escalating, global energy markets are tightening, foreign governments are recalculating, and Trump’s quiet diplomatic success in Greenland is being treated like it never happened. Meanwhile, the Clancy juror doxing continues, and the three murdered children have vanished from coverage entirely.

And once again, CBS drags out Trump‑hating GOP loser Bill Cassidy to speak “for all Republicans,” despite the fact that he represents no one but himself. The pattern is unmistakable: book Republicans who attack Republicans, and call it “balance.”

This week’s guest lists are shallow. The real stories are happening off‑camera.

What’s Not Being Covered

#1 — Foreign Affairs Without Foreign‑Policy Experts

Every network is talking about global instability — Middle East tensions, energy disruptions, European uncertainty — but none of them booked foreign‑policy professionals. No CENTCOM, no State, no Defense, no NATO, no EU officials, no energy analysts, no shipping experts. Instead, foreign events are filtered through domestic political voices so the frame stays narrow: economy bad, energy rising, Middle East unstable… and all of it implicitly presented as Trump’s fault. That’s a deliberate editorial choice.

• The Ukraine–Russia war continues in the background, yet the networks won’t touch it unless they can use it against Trump. No regional experts, no military analysts, and no context — just silence. It’s treated as an inconvenient ongoing conflict that doesn’t fit their election‑season framing.

#2 — The Clancy Case and the Erasure of the Children

The networks continue fixating on the last juror, even doxxing him, while framing the defendant through emotional narrative and demographic sympathy. His reasoning was based on the evidence; theirs was based on emotional belief. And yet the media storm completely ignores the three toddlers — how they died, who they were, and what was taken from them. They’re treated like yesterday’s bad food, forgotten and inconvenient. That omission says everything about the priorities of these networks.

#3 — Houthi Pipeline Attacks and Rising Energy Risk

Multiple Houthi pipeline strikes this week have real consequences: disrupted shipping routes, rising insurance rates, and increased regional instability. This close to an election, rising fuel costs and global risk should be front‑page analysis. Instead, the networks treat these attacks like background noise. No energy experts, no Middle East analysts, no supply‑chain voices. The instability is real, but the coverage is deliberately muted. And even as this is typed, the Houthi’s have renewed their attacks, now hitting Riyadh…

#4 — Trump’s Diplomatic Success in Greenland

A rare example of quiet, stabilizing foreign engagement is barely mentioned. The networks highlight chaos abroad but bury diplomatic wins. It’s another selective omission that keeps the narrative tilted toward domestic pessimism while ignoring developments that don’t fit the preferred frame.

#5 — CBS Once Again Using Bill Cassidy to Speak “For All Republicans”

CBS continues its tradition of booking Sen. Bill Cassidy — a man who openly despises Trump and represents no meaningful faction of the GOP — and presenting him as the voice of “Republican senators.” This is not balance; it’s narrative engineering. The networks choose Republicans who attack Republicans, and then claim they’re showing both sides. It’s a pattern, and it’s intentional.

Show‑by‑Show Breakdown

FACE THE NATION (CBS)

Guests: Sen. Bill Cassidy (RINO‑La.); Rep. Ro Khanna; Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar; Gary Cohn.

CBS once again elevates Cassidy as the “Republican voice,” despite his irrelevance inside the party. No foreign‑policy experts. No energy analysts. No mention of the Houthi pipeline attacks. No mention of Greenland diplomacy. No Ukraine–Russia context. And absolutely no mention of the Clancy juror doxing or the children.

Verdict: Narrative engineering disguised as balance.

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network)

Guests: Michael Kratsios; Sen. Dave McCormick; Sen. Peter Welch.
Panel: Richard “Dick” Fowler, Stef Kight, Josh Kraushaar, Reince Priebus.

Some substance, but the deeper stories will still be missing. The Houthi pipeline attacks might get a passing mention, but not the broader implications. Greenland diplomacy won’t be touched. Ukraine–Russia will be reduced to a sentence. The Clancy doxing will likely be ignored.

Verdict: Some substance, but still missing the real picture.

MEET THE dePRESS (NBC)

Guests: Steve Kornacki; Sen. John Barrasso; Sen. Cory Booker; Hasan Minhaj.
Panel: Yamiche Alcindor, Jamelle Bouie, Sara Fagen.

NBC will focus entirely on election framing and domestic messaging. The Houthi pipeline attacks won’t be covered. Global energy instability won’t be connected to foreign events. Ukraine–Russia will be treated as background noise. Trump’s Greenland diplomacy will be ignored. And the Clancy juror doxing will be ignored.

Verdict: Domestic politics only; inconvenient stories ignored.

THIS WEEK (ABC)

Guests: Gov. JB Pritzker; House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R‑La.).
Panel: Donna Brazile, Faiz Shakir, Erick Erickson, Frank Luntz.

The show will recycle the same election narratives as every other week. The Houthi pipeline attacks won’t be covered. Energy instability won’t be explained. Ukraine–Russia won’t be contextualized. Trump’s Greenland diplomacy won’t exist. The Clancy juror doxing will be ignored.

Verdict: Narrative maintenance, not news.

STATE OF THE UNION (CNN)

Guests: Gov. Wes Moore; U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz.
Panel: Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Brad Todd, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Adam Jentleson.

CNN will frame everything through election politics. The Houthi pipeline attacks won’t be covered unless they can be tied to domestic messaging. Energy instability will be discussed without any mention of the global causes. Ukraine–Russia will be reduced to a political talking point. Trump’s Greenland diplomacy will be ignored. And the Clancy juror doxing will be ignored.

Verdict: Predictable framing, zero curiosity.

SUNDAY MORNING FUTURES (FNC)

Guests: Sen. Eric Schmitt; Dan Hoffman; Rep. Darrell Issa; Neel Kashkari; Michael Whatley.

Without Maria, the show loses its edge. If any show mentions the Houthi pipeline attacks or Trump’s Greenland diplomacy, it might be this one. Ukraine–Russia may get a brief mention. But even here, the absence of Bartiromo means the deeper stories may not get the attention they deserve.

Verdict: Still the closest thing to actual coverage — but weakened without Maria.

Closing Cut

This week’s real story isn’t on the guest lists. It’s in the quiet moves happening off‑camera:

Foreign affairs being filtered through domestic voices.
Ukraine–Russia reduced to a footnote.
Three murdered children erased from coverage.
Houthi pipeline attacks tightening global energy markets.
Trump’s Greenland diplomacy buried.
CBS once again elevating Bill Cassidy as the “Republican voice,” despite his irrelevance.

The networks won’t cover these stories.
The Thumb will.

C-SPAN Radio, available on the net also, click here, broadcasts all five Sunday talk shows starting at 12:00 noon Eastern, as follows:

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM NBC's "Meet the Press"

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ABC's "This Week"

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM "Fox News Sunday"

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM CNN's "State of the Union"

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM CBS's "Face The Nation"

Listen at the link above WHILE you FReep! Also, Sharyl Attkinson’s Full Measure: Watch live at 9:30 EST.

Finally, each show has a YouTube presence, and you can easily watch them on YouTube any time after their live run!

************************************************************************************

Next, here are the email addresses and Twitter/X pages--for commenting to the weekend talk shows:

Email: Meet the Press Meet the Press mailbox (web page for comments) Twitter/X: @MeetThePress @kwelkernbc

Email: Face the Nation facethenation@cbsnews.com Twitter/X: @FaceTheNation

Email: Fox News Sunday FNS@foxnews.com Twitter/X: @foxnewssunday

Email: ABC This Week thisweek@abc.com Twitter/X: @ThisWeekABC @GStephanopoulos

Email: CNN State of the Union CNN State of the Union (web page for comments) Twitter/X: @CNNSotu @JakeTapper

~~Email: Sunday Morning Futures Maria@FoxBusiness.com Twitter/X: @MariaBartiromo~~

I don’t have a Bray post today. Bray, no problem, post it into the thread when you can, or take the day off; all’s cool!

#4 — Trump’s Diplomatic Success in Greenland

Heh, loose cannon carney and useless ursula thought they were going to control Artic supply routes and resources.

Now, President Trump has military control with Greenland, smack dab in the middle of an Artic supply route.

Bonus: President Trump has loose cannon carney surrounded on three sides. Northern US States to Canada’s south, Alaska to the northwest, and Greenland to the North East.
Canada has the Pacific ocean to the west, Atlantic to the east, and artic ocean to the north. Canada does not have a Navy, nor ports, to break out

Early MSnow talking point seems to be trying to get a footing on JD’s give us another chance message.

Thanks for doing this tortuous task! For the record Erick Erickson is about... his obese nasty self. Anti-Trump since the beginning, he weaseled his way into Rush’s time slots as a “conservative” (opposed to say Vince Colignese sp who is a conservative).
RINO on steroids, like holdover bushiebots. Likes talking about his.... meals. An absolute fraud who weaves verbage while crushing the fence he’s been sitting on all his life. Ignore everything this clown says- not from Georgia at all, and fake as it gets. So naturally is on this show with all the other spectrum participants on the Disney/ABC snoooze with little Georgie Staphlococcus (Lewis Grizzard’s name for him when he “worked” for Billy Cokenose Clintoon prezydent.

Again, Alas! Thank you for monitoring this outfall stream. Bring Back Maria, hopefully but probably not gonna happen.

Let’s hope Democrat Ro Khanna on “Face The Nation” is asked
to explain his virulent opposition to AIPAC and its agenda.
<><>Kahanna became the first member of Congress to sign the Anti-AIPAC Pledge .......
<><>Khanna pledged to reject campaign money from AIPAC and its affiliates.
<><>Khanna refuses campaign contributions from AIPAC, its affiliate DMFI, and similar PACs.
<><>Khanna is routinely targeted by big buck AIPAC political ads in his district.

A truly loathsome character, Khanna wants to strip Section 219 from the NDAA defense bill,
a provision personally endorsed by Prime Minister Netanyahu and lobbied for by AIPAC.

It would seem the “full court press” for the election has started, a lineup of TDS anti anything but our agenda leftists, with a couple of TDS self loathing RINOs thrown in for balance. You would think CNN and MSNut would have expanded panels featuring their WH people to whine about the injustice of it all!

Your analysis,the Buthcers Thumb, is brilliant and takes hours to produce.

And as you say there will be stories not covered. Here's one I found without hardly even trying.

What is going on?

Of course we have it first here on FR.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4396197/posts

Trump cuts short Camp David stay amid rising Middle East tensions (also Netanyahu calls off Elon Musk meeting as U.S. trip is sharply shortened) Anadolu Agency (official Turkey) ^

Posted on 9/19/2026, 9:42:56 PM by C210N

President returning to White House as State Department urges Americans to reconsider Mideast travel No reason given for change to Trump's schedule.

US President Donald Trump cut short his weekend stay at Camp David and was expected to return to the White House late Saturday, according to a White House pool report.

The White House updated the president’s schedule to show his return to Washington on Marine One, with the presidential helicopter expected to arrive at the Ellipse at about 7 pm local time (2300GMT), USA Today reporter Joey Garrison reported in a pool report.

(Excerpt) Read more at aa.com.tr ...

heres gateway:

BREAKING:

President Trump Cuts Short His Trip to Camp David – At Same Time Netanyahu Abruptly Cuts Trip to US, Cancels Visit to Texas, and Returns to Israel by Jim Hoft Sep. 19, 2026 9:15 pm673 Comments

Nick Sortor 🚨 UPDATE: President Trump has touched down at the White House aboard Marine One after abruptly cutting his trip to Camp David short.

A lid has been called.

We still do NOT know why POTUS made this last-second schedule change.

But some are speculating it's related to the State Dept. issuing an increased "SECURITY ALERT" for Americans in the Middle East, mere minutes before 47's schedule changed.

Great catch!

Here's more on Greenland and why it's important:

Greenland’s importance stems from its strategic Arctic location, critical mineral resources, and pivotal role in global climate systems.

As the world’s largest island, it serves as a key vantage point for military surveillance and early warning systems, particularly for the United States and NATO, while also guarding the GIUK Gap, a vital maritime choke point linking the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Strategic & Military Value

Hosts Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), a cornerstone for U.S. missile warning and space surveillance. Controls access to emerging Arctic shipping routes, such as the Northwest Passage, which could significantly reduce trade times between Asia, Europe, and North America.

Serves as a geographic buffer against Russia and China, both of which are expanding their presence in the Arctic.

Resources & Climate Impact

Contains vast, untapped deposits of rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense technology, offering a potential alternative to China's dominance in these supply chains.

Holds the second-largest ice sheet on Earth; its meltwater contributes significantly to global sea-level rise and affects ocean circulation patterns like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

Political Context Since 2025, Donald Trump has renewed U.S. efforts to acquire the territory, citing national security and economic advantages, which has triggered significant diplomatic tensions with Denmark and the autonomous government of Greenland, whose population of ~56,000 mostly Inuit people strongly asserts its right to self-determination.

Thule air base:

Great catch!

Here's more on Greenland and why it's important:

Greenland’s importance stems from its strategic Arctic location, critical mineral resources, and pivotal role in global climate systems.

As the world’s largest island, it serves as a key vantage point for military surveillance and early warning systems, particularly for the United States and NATO, while also guarding the GIUK Gap, a vital maritime choke point linking the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Strategic & Military Value

Hosts Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), a cornerstone for U.S. missile warning and space surveillance. Controls access to emerging Arctic shipping routes, such as the Northwest Passage, which could significantly reduce trade times between Asia, Europe, and North America.

Serves as a geographic buffer against Russia and China, both of which are expanding their presence in the Arctic.

Resources & Climate Impact

Contains vast, untapped deposits of rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense technology, offering a potential alternative to China's dominance in these supply chains.

Holds the second-largest ice sheet on Earth; its meltwater contributes significantly to global sea-level rise and affects ocean circulation patterns like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

Political Context Since 2025, Donald Trump has renewed U.S. efforts to acquire the territory, citing national security and economic advantages, which has triggered significant diplomatic tensions with Denmark and the autonomous government of Greenland, whose population of ~56,000 mostly Inuit people strongly asserts its right to self-determination.

Thule air base:

CNN round table just now voicing big concern about the ramifications of press bans on reporting the Xi visit. One panelist voicing "concern" about who will be there to report on it?

Xi visits and the media is laying the groundwork for making themselves the story. These people!

The mineral resources have always been there available for any mining company to invest the resources required for extraction

They minerals are still in the Frozen Greenland ground because mining is not economically feasible

Good catch and one of the biggest problems with much of rare earth.It's almost everywhere but hard to get at.

The secret to making money with rare earth is how to cut costs. The chicoms have it figured out. Use slave labor to cut labor costs!

Not likely to happen in the rest of the world but when you play all games dealing from the bottom of the deck the rules don't matter.Just ask the democrats.

You win a lot dealing from the bottom of the deck

That’s rich, considering CNN has direct access to the CCP based on their coverage of China. And they are worried who will be there to report it? As if CNN,MSNut and Politico are THE only sources of news? Or just the only ones creating the narratives for the others to follow?

Finished reading another post.

USA holds a 1957 (???) treaty giving USA access to Greenland to protect the North Atlantic.

Treaty in effect so long as US is part of a North Atlantic defense group(NATO)

Now, US can exit NATO and keep it’s Greenland bases....

Does NewsMax, Right Side, OneAmerica or NewsNation have a Sunday .orning talk show?

$15 a dozen for eggs in Democrat Rep sydney Kamlager- Dove’s district. Holy Smokes folks. It’s getting deeper and deeper.

Exact claim fom her mouth on MSnow.