Media, Politics

Ha, Ha, Thump: Why the Last Minute SNL Pitch for Harris is No Laughing Matter

Below is my column in USA Today on the controversy at NBC after Vice President Kamala Harris was given a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live just days before the election. It was the latest push by media companies to put a thumb on the scale of the election.

Here is the column:

Will Rogers said, “Everything is funny as long as it’s happening to somebody else.”

Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign can attest to the truism after the vice president appeared on “Saturday Night Live” three days before the presidential election.

Make no mistake, there is nothing funny about an apparent violation of federal law by NBC and “SNL.”

With Harris and Trump locked in a close race, the appearance was a bonanza for the campaign. It also was presumptively unlawful.

Lorne Michaels said candidates wouldn’t appear on SNL

A month ago, The Hollywood Reporter quoted “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels saying it was implausible that either Trump or Harris would appear on the show given the clear federal rules: “You can’t bring the actual people who are running on because of election laws and the equal time provisions. You can’t have the main candidates without having all the candidates, and there are lots of minor candidates that are only on the ballot in, like, three states and that becomes really complicated.”

The “SNL” cast and crew appeared to take the opposite meaning from Michaels’ warning. They decided to broadcast a virtual campaign commercial for Harris and later ask for forgiveness rather than permission.

The skit was hardly subtle in jettisoning comedy for sycophancy. Former “SNL” cast member Maya Rudolph, impersonating Harris, said she wished she “could talk to someone who’s been in my shoes. You know, a Black, South Asian woman running for president. Preferably from the Bay Area.”

Harris responded, “You and me both, sister.”

“SNL” used a faux comedic skit to echo the Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign themes. Harris assured her doppelgänger, “I’m just here to remind you, you got this. Because you can do something your opponent cannot do. You can open doors.”

Rudolph even mouthed the campaign theme for Harris, declaring, “The American people want to stop the chaos and end the drama-la.” Both then espoused their “belief in the promise of America.”

NBC lawyers were clearly among the viewers who were not laughing Saturday night.

On Sunday, Trump was given a chance to speak on NBC after a NASCAR race.

FCC’s rules try to ensure equal time for candidates

Since 1934, the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule has required radio and television broadcast stations to give competing political candidates the same amount of time.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Republican, denounced NBC’s move as a premeditated and gross violation of the equal-time regulation. He said that the federal rules were designed for this very purpose, and that NBC discarded the rules to trawl for undecided voters for Harris, particularly young voters who have been a challenge for the vice president.

“NBC has structured this in a way that’s plainly designed to evade the FCC’s rules,” Carr told Fox News on Sunday. “We’re talking 50 hours before Election Day starts, without any notice to other candidates, as far as I can tell.”

The Trump campaign has confirmed that an offer was not extended to appear.

“SNL” discarded any semblance of restraint and also featured Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who is in a race with Republican challenger Hung Cao.

“In the 2016 cycle, President Obama’s FCC Chair made clear that the agency would enforce the Equal Time rule when candidate Trump went on SNL,” Carr tweeted Saturday night.

So the producers of “SNL” were not only warned by its creator as the new season began but also were warned by the FCC in 2016. They decided to ignore the warnings.

On Sunday, NBC seemed to acknowledge the violation by filing an FCC notice under the equal-time provision acknowledging that it gave free exposure to Harris and Kaine − only days before voters went to the polls.

The true joke is on the public. With virtually all the news media supporting her, Harris has fielded a united front of celebrities from Hollywood to New York. By claiming that democracy is about to die, violations of FCC rules likely seem a trivial concern.

To save democracy, there is little time for legal niceties.

Indeed, some Democrats appear to be morphing into the very people they are vilifying. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., appeared on “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Friday to declare that Democrats will accept the result of a Trump victory only if they believe it is a “free and fair election.”

Trump was widely criticized for the same position when he said, “If everything’s honest, I will gladly accept the results.”

On Maher’s show, Raskin said, “We’re not going to allow them to steal it in the states, or steal it in the Department of Justice, or steal it with any other election official in the country.”

Whether on “SNL” or “Real Time,” it is always funnier if it happens to someone else.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”

213 thoughts on “Ha, Ha, Thump: Why the Last Minute SNL Pitch for Harris is No Laughing Matter”

  1. Susan Wild (D-PA) addressed the GW Law School graduates (2022?) and told them “do what you know is right and let the law catch up to you” which boils down to it’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission, the Dem mantra.

  3. “[T]he appearance was a bonanza for the campaign. It also was presumptively unlawful.” (JT)

    If Trump had done that, the Left would be hyperventilating:

    “You see! He thinks that laws don’t apply to him — that, thanks to the Supreme Court, he has blanket immunity to commit any crime — just like a king, a dictator. Hitler thought he was above the law.”

    KH: “Because you can do something your opponent cannot do. You can open doors.”

    If Trump had said that, the Left would be apoplectic:

    “You see! More violent rhetoric. ‘Open doors’ is code to his garbage, fascist-loving supporters to bust down the Capitol doors. Yet another demand for yet another insurrection.”

    1. In defending Trump, you’re defending a nasty sexual predator and a criminal. Just sayin.

          1. And we win! You lose. Sore loser. Curl up and suck your thumb, ya booger eating libtard.

      2. In defending Trump, you’re defending a nasty sexual predator and a criminal. Just sayin.

        Nope. That would be Biden.

  4. “The true joke is on the public. With virtually all the news media supporting her, Harris has fielded a united front of celebrities from Hollywood to New York.”

    There must be some diabolical conspiracy going on. Why would anyone support her?

    Yes Trump frequently makes false or misleading statements, as noted by fact-checking organizations that have documented a high volume of inaccuracies during his time in office and beyond. Yes he places his own interests over everything, to the point of mental illness, such as in his obsession with crowd size. Yes, he’s insensitive… his responses to tragedies or issues affecting marginalized communities seem dismissive or lacking compassion. Yes, he’s divisive, sowing division and inflaming tensions between political, racial, and socioeconomic groups. Yes, there’s a hell of a lot of smoke around his interactions with women from sexualizing his daughter to more than 30 women claiming he sexually assaulted them, to his close involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Yes, he says outrageous and intolerant things about immigrants, women, and disabled individuals. Yes, he’s impulsive, lacks accountability, and says things reminiscent of authoritarians. Yes he’s had numerous accusations of unethical business practices since the 1980s. Yes he’s vindictive toward anyone he doesn’t like. Yes, he places excessive value on loyalty to himself. Yes, he has shown a pattern of acting above the law, illustrated by the numerous legal battles and charges he has faced post-presidency, as well as his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots and attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

    Obviously, Trump supporters read that list and salivate at the thought of him as POTUS. With a list like that, how could anyone — in the media or not, celebrities or not — support Harris and not him?????

      1. It didn’t “magically disappear”. It was dropped because it was completely bogus. There is no evidence the alleged plaintiff even exists. Certainly the court was unable to make contact with her. The entire story appears to have been made up out of whole cloth by Norm Lubow, formerly a producer at the Jerry Springer Show.

    2. You’ve sure got the dem talking points, LIES, down pat… what flavor is the kool aid?

    3. Wow, it looks like you couldn’t find enough lies to write that whole screed, and had to pad it out with a few true points as well.

    1. I’m so old that when a young woman asked me for my number I told her it was 140/85.

  6. Benjamin Franklin had the last word on this. Those who care will remind themselves of it going forward.

      1. “It” being the administrative state. You have to be blind or brainwashed not to see that it’s been the dems trampling “our democracy” by their lawlessness.

  7. There’s a reason Turley’s an ivory tower “attorney” and doesn’t practice in the courtroom, he’d be eviscerated. Turley’s a hack.

    Trump was NOT widely criticized for MERELY saying, “If everything’s honest, I will gladly accept the results.” Turley fails to provide full context. The full meaning of includes what he also said, “the only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged.”

    Trump is saying if we win then it’s fair, if we lose then it’s rigged. Raskin is not saying that.

    Trump has complained of things being rigged against him since the 1980s. He’s a BS artist.

  8. There can be no doubt that NBC producers intentionally violated FCC regulations, hoping to get away with it (puerile pathetic pleas posted here to the contrary do not come close to credibility). Regarding the redress for that, it is probably close enough to equitable that the Trump campaign will not have grounds to prevail in a lawsuit. On SNL, Harris was likely talking mostly to her base of voters, and likewise for Trump at a NASCAR event. I unfortunately also see no grounds for legal action against DNC; afaik the regulations are incumbent on time providers, not campaigns. However, I think there may be grounds for minority candidates to sue the crap out of SNL & NBC, and I look forward to seeing that happen. Since many states have refused to remove JFK Jr. from the ballot, maybe even he could get a piece of that action.

  9. Would Trump even have shown up for SNL? He played golf instead of showing up to defend himself in his rape trial. Granted, guilty people take the 5th, (At a rally in Iowa on September 28, 2016, he stated: “The mob takes the 5th. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the 5th Amendment?”), but you get the point. Trump’s not reliable to show up.

  10. Trump would have been a hit on SNL. Any of his bizarre musings from whining the 2020 election was stolen, to choosing electrocution vs shark, to dancing to Ave Maria, to Hannibal Lector, to selling Trump Bibles made in China… would have been a laugh riot.

    [gives blowjob to mic] “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!”

  12. Turley is being dishonest…again. NBC did not violate the equal-time rule. I gave the Trump campaign an opportunity to air their own content the next day. Turley conveniently left out the fact that there was indeed a Trump campaign video during a NASCAR race. Turley acknowledged it but left out the fact that the video aired.

    “ On Sunday, Trump was given a chance to speak on NBC after a NASCAR race.”

    He did ‘speak’ on NBC and therefore given equal-time when the Trump campaign aired the video. The professor’s disingenuous omission of the fact that a video was aired speaks of his dishonesty.

    “ A Trump campaign spokesperson told VERIFY that NBC reached out, offering to give it the opportunity to satisfy the FCC’s equal time requirements. In response, Trump filmed a direct-to-camera video that aired during NBC’s broadcast of a NASCAR race and again during the postgame show of Sunday Night Football.
    The FCC would not act on a potential rules violation unless the Trump campaign submitted a complaint.”

    https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/elections-verify/nbc-snl-equal-time-fcc-harris-trump-fact-check/536-ae29358b-8d50-411a-9cfc-237634f1c19c

    Also, Brendan Carr is one of five members of the FCC board, he’s the lone Trump appointee. Furthermore, Turley “forgot” to mention that the FCC cannot act on the violation if there is a complaint. Surprise, surprise, the Trump campaign did not file a complaint because it got to air its on-camera video twice on NBC the next day. Once during a NASCAR race and again following a post-game show of Sunday night football.

      1. That’s not an argument. Provide your reason it’s wrong. Even Just the news points out this is true.

        1. Neither was yours, imbecile LMAO.

          I said the same thing you did, in fewer words.

          You didnt cite a goddam thing, and made shot up out of thin air.

          The proper response to that is…

          WRONG

        2. “That’s not an argument. Provide your reason it’s wrong. Even Just the news points out this is true.”

          George, your reading comprehension problems with what Professor Turley writes are daily evidence you should use your legal skills to sue the public school system that failed you so badly.

    2. Turley is being dishonest…again. NBC did not violate the equal-time rule.

      Curious George the Democrat Monkey (and renowned Internet Lawyer and Constitutional Authority) is attacking his host professor Turley while masquerading that it’s his reading comprehension problems that lead to him publishing his latest Daily Dump.

      Is it a fair question to ask why Curious George and Baghdad Bob Mcintyre come here every day like parasites, using Professor Turley’s comments section as their personal blog? It’s a rare post where they don’t insure they include at least one insult and attack on their host.

      It’s not like they get the gratification of other readers here approving and agreeing with them, other readers going “By George, you’re right!”.

      Talk about self-licking ice cream cones.

  13. The SNL/NBC blatant premeditated violation, is little compared to the warning issued by Bill Maher and Jamie Raskin (D-MD). Raskin’s diatribe of the DNC Plan is exactly as President Trump and his Legal team led by Sidney Powell said and did in 2020 and were charged with crimes and disbarment proceedings. Maybe an extended article by Professor Turley on that history would be in order…….

    1. NBC did not violate the equal-time rule. Turley is lying. Trump was given the chance to air a video Sunday and they did. Turley’s criticism deliberately left out that particular tidbit of information. The FCC cannot act on the violation if the Trump campaign does not file a complaint. They did not. Because they got to air their own on-camera video on Sunday after the SNL skit.

      1. “Trump was given the chance to air a video Sunday and they did. *Turley’s criticism deliberately left out that particular tidbit of information*.” (Emphasis added)

        JT: “On Sunday, Trump was given a chance to speak on NBC after a NASCAR race.”

        Your lies and daily smears of JT are getting a bit transparent.

        1. Sam, Turley did not say Trump got to air an on-camera video.

          He’s falsely implying Trump did not get to air anything after Harris’ SNL appearance.

          NBC did not violate the FCC rule.

          He said Trump was given a chance, what he did not elaborate on is the fact that Trump did indeed get to air his piece which does not comport with the claim that NBC violated the equal-time rule. Turley is posting this column to rile up his gullible readers into thinking NBC did something wrong. They did not.

  14. NCC, parent of MSNBC, knew what it was doing and they out right new they were violating the laws but they are so woke and pro DEM/Harris and anti Trump they decided to go ahead, somebody on top had to approve. I am sure their lawyers warned them, I hope. They got caught had to give free time to Trump, actually NFL/NASCAR bigger audience much bigger than SNL. If Trump does gets in, he has vowed to reform the whole election system to be Fair andtry to take out the little games/cheating. I am sure this incident is one of the areas that he will reform and most hold accountable violators with serious punishment and fines. NBC knew they were wrong and tried to make amends, especially offering valuable NFL time slot.

    DEMS are in trouble and they know it just look at their actions. Raskin is far Left Radical DEM who says he and the DEMS will do whatever they can to allow Democracy and election results/will of the people to take effect. Raskin is protecting Democracy???? sure he is like a good little dictator.

    Main street media along with the DEMS will go into a major melt down if Trump wins but the smarter ones like Bezos are using this to move back to the center and real journalism. Perhaps MSM leadership will do the same with their staff kicking and screaming all the way.

    1. They didn’t “get caught” they offered equal time to the Trump campaign as they are required by law. Trump did air a video and NBC is not in violation of the FCC rule.

      Turley is falsely implying that Trump was not given equal time. If he want to be take seriously as a ‘journalist’ he should offer a correction pointing out that NBC did indeed offer Trump equal time.

      He should also mention that the FCC cannot act on the violation if the candidate does not file a complaint. The Trump campaign did not file a complaint.

  15. Maybe have a Republican version of Alvin Bragg or Letitita James charge someone at NBC with election interference as a way to give them a taste of their own medicine.

    If paying someone to have them sin a NDA as with Stormy Daniels is election interference (everyone knows it isn’t, as SCOTUS stated in the Edwards case) then this too should be charged.

    1. Trump will sue and will probably need a furlough from his treason conviction to show up in court.

  17. Suspending NBC’s broadcast license for a year is the only sanction that will have any effect on them.

    1. DNC/Democrats know the rules, they wrote them. Hit the DNC hard, NBC who cares.

    2. Why? They did not violate the FCC rule. They gave Trump equal time the next day. There’s nothing in the rule that requires them to air a Trump ad the same day. Only that it offers the other candidate an equal opportunity to appear on their network. NBC did offer them an opportunity as required by the rule.

  18. Are their any real consequences that can happen to hold the network accountable, Im sure they have prepared to pay a fine but what about making them go dark for a day, preferably a Sunday when HUT leaves are highest

  19. Our laws mean nothing, especially if we have a Harris presidency (God help us). Not a damned thing will happen to NBC, it will all get swept under the carpet. Personally I think this country is toast and that even if Trump wins it will be a road to recovery that I do not even think he can pull off. From the beginning I have said that is someone like RFK Jr got the Dem nomination I would be able to sleep at night if he won. He is an old time Democrat, but these 2 lunatics they appointed? We are in deep doo doo should they win- our demise will be on a freefall where with Trump we may stand a chance. Forget abortion, forget the economy- I am genuinely afraid for the actual physical lives of Americans should these 2 gain power.

    1. “I am genuinely afraid for the actual physical lives of Americans should these 2 gain power.”

      The amount of brainwashing you’ve gone through to make that statement is astounding.

      Trump has said journalists, political opponents and others should be shot. He wants to put immigrants (legal or otherwise) into concentration camps. He said polls not flattering to him should illegal. He would be an agent of Russia, subservient to any two bit dictator that flatters him enough. He’s raped and assaulted women, and is likely a pedophile. His best friend was Epstein after all.

      And you’re worried about Harris? Have you been in a coma or just watching too much Newsmax?

      1. The amount of brainwashing you’ve gone through to make that statement is astounding.

        Excellent GAvoter. You’ve managed to set such a high bar for projection that it will be difficult for even Gigi or Fishwings to get over.

      3. Lying sack of shit claims to be from Georgia. Where in Georgia? Then we can discuss a few landmarks and local intricacies and expose you for the low life pretender that you are, Lawn Boy.

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