If you watched CBS’s election night coverage, you’d think the world was ending. As the results rolled in, the assembled liberal journalists were doing their best to keep a lid on their frustration, but it was clear from the beginning that things were not going as they had hoped. Instead of the “blue wave” they’d imagined, they found themselves faced with a very different reality: a triumphant Donald Trump taking back the presidency.
The coverage kicked off with a somber tone, and that mood only intensified as Florida voters decisively shut down a state constitutional amendment that would’ve expanded abortion access. CBS analyst John Dickerson, in particular, looked as though he’d just bitten into something sour. Right from the start, he was questioning why Trump was even on the ballot, pointing yet again to January 6. It was the usual lineup of talking points, but as the night wore on and Trump’s path to victory became clear, CBS commentators couldn’t hide their dismay.
MELTDOWN: CBS’s Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell were not having fun when having to talk about the result of Florida’s #VoteNoOn4Florida, protecting unborn babies pic.twitter.com/jwILC76XWi
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 6, 2024
As results from Florida came in, CBS’s Margaret Brennan zeroed in on the failed abortion amendment, a subject she clearly hoped would drive voters to the Democratic side. She described it as a “unique” issue—one that, in her view, was supposed to galvanize women and sway voters away from Trump. Yet, despite months of intense campaigning on this issue, Florida voters didn’t budge. Brennan’s analysis was painfully lopsided, as she seemed more invested in a narrative of reproductive rights than in understanding why Floridians might vote to keep these restrictions in place.
CBS’s Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell sound so sad when they officially announce CBS News’s projection that #VoteNo4Florida would prevail, protecting life starting at 15 weeks.
“Very restrictive,” “reproductive rights were restricted, not expanded.” pic.twitter.com/XQbJKmDNbh
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 6, 2024
One of the more dramatic moments came when CBS correspondent Cecilia Vega labeled Trump’s messaging “dark,” calling it “factually untrue” and accusing him of spewing “lies about criminal migrants.” Vega couldn’t understand why Trump would appeal to “young men who feel aggrieved” rather than push a more “hopeful” message. This disconnect between Vega and the voters she reported on was glaring—Trump’s message clearly resonates with millions of Americans who are frustrated with the current state of the nation.
Meanwhile, when the topic of black voter turnout came up, former BET anchor Ed Gordon expressed pessimism about Kamala Harris’s role in driving minority votes. It was yet another sign that the Democratic coalition isn’t as unified as CBS would like viewers to believe. Voters aren’t automatically swayed by identity politics, despite the media’s persistent push to suggest otherwise.
This is maybe just me, but former longtime BET anchor Ed Gordon seems VERY nervous on CBS about things for his candidate Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/3sleSqOgWa
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 6, 2024
As the night wore on, the frustration at CBS only grew. Brennan and Vega, bracing themselves for Pennsylvania results, issued ominous predictions about Trump stirring up “violence in the streets” if he didn’t win the Keystone State. They painted an image of a dark, chaotic Trumpian America, yet what they failed to understand was that Trump’s supporters see his victory as a pushback against exactly the type of elite condescension and doomsaying CBS was so busy broadcasting.
Fear porn on CBS News: Cecilia Vega predicts “violence in the streets” of Pennsylvania if the vote isn’t counted fast enough and Donald Trump isn’t stopped from his “strategy” of “laying the groundwork to challenge the results” pic.twitter.com/vmT9PmAwfR
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 6, 2024
When the final calls came in, CBS anchors fell silent, unable to muster enthusiasm for a Trump presidency that clearly did not fit their worldview. It was a sobering reminder of just how out of touch much of the media is with the concerns of everyday Americans.
The takeaway here? Americans aren’t buying into the fear-mongering about “violence in the streets” or the incessant focus on identity politics and social issues. They’re voting with an eye on the bigger picture: securing their borders, restoring the economy, and holding fast to their values.
