EXEC SUMMARY: Oliver Darcy here, in for Brian Stelter on this busy Wednesday. Scroll down for Frank Pallotta's dispatch from "Galaxy's Edge," Christine Romans' interview with Bob Iger, Brian Lowry's review of "Rocketman," and much more...
Barr's credibility crisis
Attorney General William Barr is facing a full-blown credibility crisis. If Robert Muller's public statement made one thing clear, it's that Barr misrepresented Mueller's report to the American people. That's not just the message viewers are hearing on CNN and MSNBC -- it's also what viewers who tuned into Fox News for special coverage heard on Wednesday.
Bret Baier, Fox's chief political anchor, delivered the message bluntly: Mueller's conclusions were "not anywhere as clear-cut" as Barr presented it. "In fact, it was almost exactly the opposite: not clear-cut," Baier said. Judge Andrew Napolitano seemingly agreed, saying Barr "basically whitewashed what Mueller said."
It's one thing for Barr to face scrutiny from mainstream news organizations. But it's an entirely different game when personalities on Fox -- albeit not the pro-Trump prime time lineup -- are calling him out. Nicole Wallace pointed out that Trump "may like the things Barr is doing" but he "hates grown men who get bad press. And John Heilemann noted on MSNBC that Barr is on "shaky ground" as "Fox News and the conservative legal firmament is turning against him."
What will he say next?
Barr, in Alaska, ignored a question on Wednesday about Mueller's statement. But Barr won't be able to stay silent for long. He is scheduled to sit down with CBS chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford on Thursday for his first network interview since taking the job. Excerpts from that interview will air on "CBS This Morning" Friday. So what will Barr say? Will he be asked about his growing credibility problem? And if so, how will he address it?
Will we hear from Mueller again? | | Wednesday was the first time we have heard from Mueller since the start of the probe into Russian election meddling. And if Mueller has his way, it could also be the last time. While it seems highly unlikely he will be sitting down for any news interviews any time soon, there is growing pressure for Mueller to testify before Congress. The question is: Will he?
>> Jeffrey Toobin's take: "This notion that Mueller doesn't want to testify: Too bad! Most witnesses don't want to testify in front of Congress ... But the point is Congress needs the information."
Over in the Hannity Cinematic Universe...
Like I said earlier, while some Fox personalities did call out Bill Barr, things were different in the prime time lineup. On Sean Hannity's Fox show, things were as you'd expect. Hannity, recycling the same material he uses every night, attacked Mueller, the media, the dossier, etc. In the hour before, Tucker Carlson suggested Mueller is "sleazy and dishonest."
>> Related: Trump strangely complimented Hannity's program BEFORE it aired, calling it a "great show" and telling him to say hello to Mark Levin who was a guest on Wednesday's episode...
Maddow pressures Congress to act
Over on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made it clear she "would frankly rather stick a fork in her eye" than move forward with impeachment proceedings. But Maddow suggested that after Mueller's public statement, Democrats don't have much of a choice: "Congress, it is on you guys."
FOR THE RECORD, PART ONE
-- Read Patt Morrison's profile of Daniel Dale, "the man with the Herculean job of keeping track of Trump's lies..." (LA Times)
-- Twitter is doing research to "better understand how white nationalists and supremacists use the platform," Vice News reported on Wednesday, explaining that Twitter is "trying to decide" whether such users belong on the website... (Motherboard)
-- John Avlon unpacks the ways in which Trump and his administration are "trying to change official facts to fit his opinion" on climate change... (CNN)
WSJ reports stunning efforts to keep USS John McCain "out of sight" during Trump visit to Japan
| | Anderson Cooper's face says it all. WSJ's Rebecca Ballhaus and Gordon Lubold published a stunning story on Wednesday evening, detailing the lengths the White House went through to keep the USS John S. McCain "out of sight" ahead of Trump's trip to Japan. According to WSJ, "A tarp was hung over the ship's name ahead of the president's trip...and sailors were directed to remove any coverings from the ship that bore its name." Moreover, WSJ reported that "sailors on the ship, who typically wear caps bearing its name, were given the day off during Mr. Trump's visit."
A senior Navy official told CNN, "There were emails between lower level officers, but once leadership heard about it, they said knock it off." Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for 7th Fleet, added that all the ships ultimately "remained in normal configuration during POTUS' visit." For his part, Trump tweeted a response to the story, saying, "I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan."
>> Of note: Maggie Haberman tweeted, "Last week, when NYT asked the USS Navy about the name 'McCain' being covered up on the USS McCain and a day off being granted on Tuesday (based on a tip), the Navy denied it."
Widespread disgust
The story sparked widespread disgust from all sides of the political spectrum. MSNBC's Chris Hayes called the behavior "completely deranged." Ben Shapiro tweeted, "If this is true, it is disgusting." And others referred to Trump as a "snowflake" who is easily "triggered."
Meghan McCain: "It makes my grief unbearable"
Meghan McCain acknowledged that she receives "a lot of criticism" for how much she speaks about her father. But, in a tweet responding to WSJ's story, she said "Nine months since he passed, Trump won't let him RIP. So I have to stand up for him." McCain described Trump as a "child who will always be deeply threatened by my dads incredible life." McCain added of Trump's attacks, "It makes my grief unbearable."
Pelosi unleashes on Facebook
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laced into Facebook on Wednesday, saying that she believed the social media company had "proven" through its refusal to scrub its platform of a doctored video of her that they were "willing enablers of the Russian interference in our election." Pelosi said, "We have said all along, poor Facebook, they were unwittingly exploited by the Russians. I think wittingly, because right now they are putting up something that they know is false. I think it's wrong." That's quite the statement from the No. 3 most powerful gov't official in the United States...
Clinton: It "wasn't even a close call," the video is "sexist trash"
Pelosi wasn't alone in her condemnation of Facebook on Wednesday. Soon after her remarks, Hillary Clinton also spoke out against the social giant's decision not to remove the doctored video of Pelosi. Speaking at Hunter College, Clinton said social media companies "won't get serious about cleaning up their platforms" unless consumers demand it.
"And we saw why it's so important just last week, when Facebook refused to take down a fake video of Nancy Pelosi," Clinton said. "It wasn't even a close call, the video is sexist trash. And YouTube took it down but Facebook kept it up."
Facebook silent
Meanwhile, Facebook chose to stay silent on Wednesday. The company declined to respond to the criticism it received from both Pelosi and Clinton, per CNN's Donie O'Sullivan. That said, the company had previously defended its decision to keep the doctored Pelosi video up. Monika Bickert, Facebook's VP for product policy and counterterrorism, has said the company was instead choosing to alert users that the video was false.
What about Fox?!
NYT's Farhad Manjoo published an opinion piece on Wednesday, imploring people to step back and look at the big picture. In Manjoo's view, "Novel forms of digital misinformation still pale in comparison with Fox News' full-time hall of mirrors."
Manjoo pointed out that while Facebook is receiving a torrent of criticism for allowing the doctored video of Pelosi to stay up, Fox is sliding by, despite having also aired a misleading clip of Pelosi -- saying she "stammered" through a news conference -- which Trump later tweeted out. Manjoo also observed that Fox "is neither apologizing for airing its montage nor taking it down, because this sort of manipulated video fits within the network's ethical bounds."
"To focus on Facebook instead of Fox News is to mistake the symptom for the disease," Manjoo continued. "The disease is an entrenched, well-funded, decades-in-the-making, right-wing propaganda network, one that exists to turn faintly sourced rumors into full-blown, politically convenient narratives." Manjoo noted that "just about every political lie that has dominated American discourse in the past two decades...depended, for its mainstream dissemination, on the Fox News machine," calling the network "devastatingly effective." | |
FOR THE RECORD, PART TWO
-- "I feel the pressure is preserving the best of CBS." Jeanine Poggi is out with an excellent interview of Susan Zirinsky... (AdAge)
-- Speaking of CBS, incoming "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell nabbed an interview with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg. In the sit-down, Muilenburg apologized "for the loss of lives in both accidents..." (CBS News)
-- Laura Hazard Owen reports: "After four years of handing out money for European news projects, Google is expanding its funding to North America..." (NiemanLab)
-- ICYMI: ABC and Univision will have the third Dem debate... It is slated for September... (Politico)
How should journalists report on Wolff's book?
With days to go until Michael Wolff's "Siege" hits bookshelves, news organizations will soon be faced with a predicament: how to report the book's explosive claims. As has been well-documented, Wolff's "Fire and Fury" contained some disputed reporting and factual errors. And earlier this week, his claim that Robert Mueller had drafted an obstruction of justice indictment against Trump, was shot down by the spokesperson for the Special Counsel. So how should journalists report on the other information in the book? I asked a few media experts, who all suggested a healthy dose of wariness...
>> Frank Sesno: "Before the media feast on and amplify its claims, they should fact- and logic-check to determine what's real, what's credible, and what should - put charitably - be left on the cutting room floor."
>> Erik Wemple: "Proceed with extreme caution!"
>> Todd Gitlin: "They should seek to interview his named sources. They should seek corroboration of those unnamed. If they can or can't corroborate, they should say so."
"Some cringeworthy errors"
WaPo published Ryan Lizza's review of "Siege" on Wednesday. In it, Lizza writes that the book contains "some cringeworthy errors" and "sourcing that is so opaque it renders the scoops highly suspicious and unreliable."
More "Siege" features and excerpts will be hitting on Thursday...
It's been nearly one year since the Pentagon last held an on-camera briefing
The Trump administration has not only effectively eliminated the daily White House press briefing, but it has also done away with the Pentagon briefings as well. Politico's Michael Calderone observed in a Wednesday story that Friday will mark a year since a Pentagon spokesperson briefed reporters on camera.
The lack of briefings from the Pentagon is particularly noteworthy right now, Calderone noted, considering tensions with Iran have ratcheted up. "We're talking about some sort of strike on another country and nobody knows why," one unnamed Pentagon reporter told Calderone. "This is not just about having things on camera. But the reason we push on-camera is we want people to publicly stand by their decisions to send other people's children into harm's way."
Future of NRATV is uncertain after ad firm operating the network splits with NRA
The future of NRATV is up in the air. The Daily Beast's Betsy Woodruff and Asawin Suebsaeng reported on Wednesday that Ackerman McQueen, the ad agency responsible for operating the right-wing network, has severed its relationship with the NRA amid a dispute that has spilled into the public's view. As Woodruff and Suebsaeng explain, "The NRA pays Ackerman McQueen to run NRATV programing, meaning that people at the network technically work for the ad firm."
NRATV staff, according to The Beast, received a short internal memo that said there would be "internal discussions" when management was "able" to have them. When exactly that might be is unclear. Ackerman McQueen did not respond to The Beast's request for comment. Stay tuned...
FOR THE RECORD, PART THREE
-- Variety nabbed this year's Sun Valley invite list... (Variety)
-- "By a nearly unanimous vote, CBS shareholders re-elected 11 members of the board of directors during the company's annual meeting Wednesday, continuing the company's ongoing effort to stabilize itself after a turbulent 2018..." (Deadline)
-- David Uberti writes about how "shady political ads" are "pouring into Facebook," but notes "we still can't track them..." (Vice News)
Haberman responds to criticism
NYT's Maggie Haberman responded on Wednesday to a torrent of criticism she has received over a story she wrote last week about whether Hope Hicks will comply with a Congressional subpoena. If you've been on social media, you've probably seen some critics -- particularly those on the left -- lambasting Haberman for the headline on her story; the photo of Hicks; and other matters. At the same time, many others have come to her defense.
Appearing on CNN, where she is a contributor, John Berman asked Haberman about it. She said "it is never comfortable" when reporters "become the story" and explained that "reporters don't choose" the photos that appear alongside their stories. Haberman added that reporters "are not above criticism." But she noted, "The tenor has gotten extremely personal. That's unfortunate."
NBC News launches streaming service -- but who will watch?
NBC unveiled its new streaming play, NBC News Now, on Wednesday. Ad-supported and free to use, the service offers programming from 3 til 11 p.m. ET weekdays. Rashida Jones told Variety that the aim is to reach "news savvy, digitally savvy" audiences who "don't tune in to watch a specific show at a certain time." Brian Steinberg reports "it will feature content from across NBC News as well as other NBCUniversal-owned outlets." The big challenge: Getting people to tune in...
Alex Trebek says he's in "near remission" with his cancer
| | Alex Trebek has some good news. In a story published by People magazine on Wednesday, the "Jeopardy!" host said he's responding well to the treatment for his stage four pancreatic cancer. Trebek, who explained doctors have told him he is in "near remission," said "it's kind of mind-boggling." He added, "The doctors said they hadn't seen this kind of positive result in their memory ... some of the tumors have already shrunk by more than 50 percent."
FOR THE RECORD, PART FOUR
-- Maxwell Tani scoops that HuffPost's Ashley Feinberg is jumping to Slate. The publication is bolstering its staff for the 2020 election, with plans to bring on a politics editor and a national correspondent "in coming months..." (Beast)
-- Speaking of job moves, CNN Business has named our own Jill Disis as Asia editor. She'll be moving to Hong Kong to take the helm "as the struggle between the United States and China over trade and technology enters a new dangerous phase..." (Talking Biz News)
-- Meet the founder of RateMyStation.com, inspired by "RateMyProfessor" to share info about employment at local stations across the country... (CJR)
| | Time to explore Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Frank Pallotta is at Disneyland for this week's opening of the "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" land. He says it's a "game changer for Disney's parks division." The doors will open to guests on Friday, but Wednesday evening was the dedication ceremony. Here's what Pallotta has noticed already...
>> Plus: Here's his "everything you need to see" video... and our live updates page...
Disney spared no expense...
"Disney reportedly spent $1 billion on the sprawling 14-acre land in Disneyland in Anaheim, California," Pallotta wrote. "A second Galaxy's Edge is opening later this summer in Florida's Disney World."
>> "We think this is going to set a new high watermark for Disney theme parks, let alone all other theme parks," Bob Chapek, Disney's chairman of parks, experience and products, told Pallotta...
Iger speaks with CNN Business | | CNN's Christine Romans sat down with Disney CEO Bob Iger at the new attraction on Wednesday... Here are some of the highlights...
-- At the new land, "you're leaving your reality, and entering the reality of Star Wars."
-- "We wanted this to be both in homage to the past... but also a strong eye or a directional sign into the future," Iger said. "I think our Imagineers are never going to stop tinkering with this from a detail perspective."
-- Iger talking about the streaming market: "I think we're in the early innings."
-- "Consolidation is ahead and necessary as the consumer migrates to a different form of television consumption," Iger added. Read/watch more here...
Iger says Disney will likely stop production in Georgia if abortion ban is implemented
Disney filmed "Black Panther," "Avengers: Endgame," and other blockbusters in Georgia. But when Reuters asked "if Disney would keep filming in Georgia, Iger said it would be 'very difficult to do so' if the abortion law is implemented."
Key quote: "I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully." If the law takes effect, "I don't see how it's practical for us to continue to shoot there."
Spotted at the "Big Little Lies" premiere
Brian Stelter emails: Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, and Meryl Streep were all on hand for HBO's season two premiere of "Big Little Lies" in NYC on Wednesday night. I arrived late, but here are some of my sightings: David E. Kelley, Kevin Brockman, Paul Rudd, Donald Glover, Adam Scott, Keegan Michael Key, Jeff Zucker, Matthew Ball, Quentin Schaffer, Jeff Cusson, Keith Cocozza, Larry David, Andrew Reynolds, Bill Brink, Michael Grynbaum, Juli Weiner, Callie Schweitzer, Josh Backer, Gina Gershon, Chris Taylor, Sara Nathan, Stephanie Abrutyn, many more...
| | By Lisa Respers France:
-- "Booksmart" is getting a boost of social media support from some major stars...
-- Jay Z and Tidal will showcase new Prince music with album celebrations...
-- "Blue's Clues" is returning and people have mixed feelings about it...
Lowry reviews "Rocketman"
Brian Lowry emails: Taron Egerton's electric performance is the fuel that powers "Rocketman," a jukebox musical rendition of Elton John's life that will draw inevitable comparisons to "Bohemian Rhapsody" but that feels much different. The music and Egerton's star turn are great, but the format — while admirably ambitious — is occasionally an awkward way of telling the story.
>> Read Lowry's full review here...
From the streaming service to the broadcast network...
Lowry emails: CBS will air "The Good Fight" this summer, providing a wider showcase for the CBS All Access series. The tradeoff is that if you can get shows free, then why ante up for the streaming service? The rationale for that seems pretty clear in this case, as CBS is seeking Emmy love for the show, noting in the press release that the first four episodes of the legal drama will air within the Emmy nomination voting period. The Emmy eligibility window closes May 31, yielding a flurry of campaigning — and a lot of trade ads — before the nominations are announced in July...
NBA Finals start Thursday
Brian Lowry emails: If you want to play a game within a game during the NBA Finals, count the summer number of movie ads, in what's the last best couple of weeks to reach a whole lot of male viewers, especially, until the fall. Of course, maximizing that showcase will depend on the series going six or seven games...
| | | Thank you for reading! Send me your feedback, tips, ideas here. Brian will be back tomorrow... | | | |
