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.”
Turley: you need to stop your pearl-clutching. Kamala was on for 1 minute 30 seconds late on Saturday night and NBC gave Trump 2 full minutes during an NFL football game on Sunday. Trump has been on SNL multiple times.
Turley: did the irony of Trump’s threats to go after comedians, pundits and media who criticize him, while Democrats have NEVER made such threats, even penetrate your consciousness?
Gigi: Turley: you need to stop your pearl-clutching.
Gigi, stop your vagina waving ranting lies in defense of your sister skanky ho, Kamala.
If you hate and disagree with Professor Turley so much, why do you come here every day?
On my way to the polling place in my new state of legal residence, Georgia.
Moved my residence to my house here in Cobb County this year, from a solid red state, so that I can cast my consequential vote for…
TRUMP!
Eat it, libtards.
It’s a bit counterintuitive that the leftists are authorizing the military to shoot civilians; erecting fences and barbwire around the Nation’s Capital; activating the state(s) National Guard, and conducting a psyops type prepping of the populace for a civil war because they fear their own leftist anarchy.
Sounds more like what happens when the squatters tear up the eviction notice.
Those are all (except the psyops lie) prudent precautions based on past MAGA actions and current MAGA plans. Lets hope for once the MAGAs are not dumb enough to do what they are planning.
What are they planning? Or is that more of your projection?
Turley,
Since Fox News has classified itself as entertainment and not news, does it no longer qualify under the news exception to FCC rules? Therefore, does every Trump appearance on the channel require equal time for Kamala?
It doesnt apply, dunce. Where have you been?
Kamala was offered time with Greg Gutfeld or Jease Waters.
The chickenshit refused.
Cable is not subject to equal time rules. Nor are networks, actually. The threat to NBC from the FCC is to its owned and operated broadcast stations, which are subject to that rule.
Kamala has been invited but i summize by your comment that you never watch the channel since you did not know this. Incidently, she showed cowardice by not subjecting herself to a good reporter with some good interviewing skills.
Actually, she did Brett Baer.
And all she did was word salads and deflection. When Baer tried to get her to answer the question, she talked over him and pulled the same crap she’s done with everyone else.
I wonder if they can afford to lose half of their audience?
What’s that, like six people?
Lawn boy answers his own comment again. Loser. Pathetic loser.
Fox more viewers than all other networks combined.
#1 show prime time Watters
#1 show late night Gutfeld
I wonder if they can afford to lose half of their audience?
SNL is like a bonus episode of the daily show The View.
They’ve been comforting and reassuring the same audience since Clinton lost to Trump in 2016. I don’t know why anyone would assume their performances for the audience are going to lose them half of their audience.
It’s not like they’re the Washington Post and lost many of their subscribers this election by refusing to give the same endorsement for the Democrat candidate that they’ve granted since JFK.
Americans have truly advanced as a civilized society. If this was anything like 1775 or 1860, there would be an onslaught of advertising for Sig Sauer, S&W, KelTec and Springfield Armory.
The lame stream media attempted to not just put lipstick on a pig, but to give the pig a complete makeover. In the end however, the makeup kit is empty and the pig is still ugly. No amount of trotting Kackala out is going to make her appear any smarter, or less communistic nor will it do anything to improve her image. She is a ‘low IQ indiv’ and unfortunately for her there is no one she can sleep with to improve her chances of being elected.
Ha! NBC created trump by giving him free air time in the ’16 R primary when he called in to Morning Joe nearly every morning in that campaign. Clearly there was an internal network mandate to put trump on in order to boost the flagging ratings for the failing show THE APPRENTICE at the time…, they didn’t think he’d actually be able to pull off pairing with the Russians for an electoral college victory.
So this uproar about Harris on SNL is laughable and is being generated by bitter trump surrogates such as Turley. The Rudolph/Harris character had made several appearances this season in much the same way as every politically represented characters have been on the show for years. Hell, there’s been a trump character making slapstick appearances, just like the Harris character, for years.
As for today…, I keep flashing back to a moment in the Harris/trump debate where a closeup shot of trump’s slimy lizard eyes were coming to grips real time with the fact he could never out debate Harris on any level. It was quite striking, and of course trump ran from the prospect of ever debating her again.
It will translate into a Harris win this week…, and then another trump steal attempt. Stay focused and light on your feet, sane people. We have 3 months of sheer insanity to deal with and rise above. My hope for Turley, for years, has been that he finally can recognize an off ramp from trump, but I think I’ve given up on that prospect ever manifesting.
Idiot. Trump will win 327 electoral votes and the “popular vote” by at least 8 million. Its not even close.
So you can rest easy about post election madness (right).
I’d had hopes you’d eventually stop huffing aerosols. Clearly those hopes were misplaced.
Give your mom her phone back and go clean your room.
And stop eating your boogers.
So, you are a supporter of Harris. If she wins the presidency the uptick in the national debt, the uptick in inflation, the further uptick in illegal border crossings and a host of other attempts by Harris to dilute the laws of the land will be on your shoulders. I am going to guess that your financial situation is a good one and you won’t be suffering like the rest of the population when having to decide between groceries and medication.
Trump said he would give Musk a role in his administration. Musk has openly said he plans to crash the US economy. Also Trumps planned tariffs will be a disaster.
Jonathan: Well, it’s finally election day. I voted by mail–safe and secure. I was even was provided with a tracking number for my ballot. Went online and found my ballot was received and counted. I urge everyone on this blog to get out and vote–if you haven’t already. It’s your civic DUTY!
And what concerns you the most? That SNL gave Kamala Harris a cameo appearance–which you falsely claim allowed NBC to “put a thumb on the scale of the election”. Really? I seriously doubt most voters would be swayed by SNL. They have already made their voting decisions.
But you think the SNL episode violates the “equal time rule”. That rule is often conflated with the Fairness Doctrine–a federal policy abandoned in 1987. The “equal time” rule doesn’t even apply to cable TV networks–like Fox News where you will offer election coverage today.
It should be noted that FCC guidelines state: “Equal opportunities generally mean providing comparable time and placement to opposing candidates; it does not require a station to provide candidates with programs identical to the initiating candidate”. NBC did offer DJT an opportunity on Sunday to appear on the NASCAR post-election race show. That would appear to satisfy FCC rules.
This is much ado about nothing. It’s “Ha-Ha” on DJT. Does anyone think he would go on SNL even if invited–to subject himself to humorous self-parody? DJT is not into humor–especially if the humor is at his expense!
Went online and found my ballot was received and counted
Counted for whom, moron? Did your notice say? No, it didnt. I intercepted your envelope and switched out the ballot inside. Thanks for your vote for Trump.
Thats 100.000,001
“That rule is often conflated with the Fairness Doctrine–a federal policy abandoned in 1987. The “equal time” rule doesn’t even apply to cable TV networks–like Fox News where you will offer election coverage today.”
Dennis plagiarized every bit of this from THE Guardian.
“Equal time” is often conflated with the Fairness Doctrine, a federal policy that was scrapped in 1987.
The “equal time” rule mandates that US television and radio broadcast outlets give equal access to competing political hopefuls. This requirement does not extend to cable television networks, such as Fox News, nor does it apply to content such as social media or podcasts.
Dennis McInliar is a pathetic, thieving POS, who loves to let The Guardian give him his “facts” and his opinion.
Jonathan: Well, it’s finally election day.
Dennis drops his Daily Deuce before swiftly turning to flee any response, like a seagull flying away after crapping on a statue.
Dennis, does this mean your campaign of acting as Baghdad Bob telling us “Nothing to see here about Biden/Harris – please don’t believe your lying eyes” is finally over.
Lol. Fox News has been a mouth of the Trump campaign for 9 years. Their lies and falsehoods are too many to count…every hour. But “FREE SPEECH”. Trump has charged and been convicted of crimes. But because he is a cult leader, MAGAs call it “lawfare”. Now suddenly MAGAs don’t care about free speech and have a sudden desire to enforce minor laws?
Enforce minor laws.
Sammy Metamucil, like his libtard friends, has lost it.
Trumps win today has them all soiling their britches.
Along with every sane person in the free world, and then some.
Soil ‘em Sammy!!!
Raskin is an imbecile! He is literally asking for Hell Fire to be brought down upon the entire nation as a 2020 shell game will not be taken kindly.
To all you libtards running your fat mouths. Where is the equal time for Jill Stein and RFK Jr.?
Because the rule states candidates must request it. RFK is no longer a candidate and Jill Stein has not requested time.
RFK is still a candidate. Still on the ballot.
And how the fvck do you know what stein has requested?
Cite your reference for any of those lies.
He’s dropped out of the race. He’s no longer a candidate. That he’s on the ballot that he’s tried desperately to get off of is pretty good evidence that his involvement is irrelevant.
Jill Stein has not made a request. Nobody has reported she has. Unless there is someone reporting that she has we can assert she has not.
You’re too stupid to figure things out for yourself. Shocking, shocking I say.
“Jill Stein has not made a request. Nobody has reported she has.”
Translated
“I am free to make up shit whenever i like”
Why did SNL mention “south Asian” in describing Harris in that knock-off of a funny Late Night Show piece? Harris NEVER acknowledges her Indian heritage, just as she never identifies as someone whose father called Jamaica his birthplace.
I noticed that, too.
A thinly veiled attempt to pretend they didn’t really do what they really did.
“Harris NEVER acknowledges her Indian heritage,…”
Yes she did, numerous times. Time for you get crawl out from your myopic news feeds and get real with actual facts on the ground.
To all the lefty morons here. One week until election day. Don’t forget to vote. Idiots.
Spoken in a true sense of camaraderie.
Why are MAGA people so gross?
I’m not Maga. I’m a Reagan Democrat.
Get a grip, ya gross, booger eating libtard.
Yep, your response is what I would expect from MAGA. Unable to be civil with those you disagree with, just like your cult leader herr trump.
Accept the result of the election then crawl in your cave and try to be civil when you come out in the daylight.
Libertarian Party of New Hampshire endorses Trump, says he’s best option to ‘Free New Hampshire’
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/libertarian-party-new-hampshire-endorses-trump-says-hes-best-option-free
“The most libertarian party in the most libertarian state,” as the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire calls itself, has spurned its own nominee Chase Oliver and thrown in its lot with Republican Donald Trump as its best option for “creating a Free New Hampshire…”Donald Trump is not a libertarian” but he’s better than Oliver, who “spends his time supporting tax-funded trans surgery for prisoners, advocating for literal murderers, and trying to kick our members out of the Libertarian Party entirely” and on top of that “cannot win,” the party wrote.
Look at Svelaz-George coming unglued. Reverting back to his old habit of responding to every post with the same bogus lie.
He doesnt even know the definition of equal time or understand FEC rules.
Today is a really bad day for him, so he is acting out.
Looks like anonymous is back to projecting his own faults.
Looks like Svelaz is loosing his mind on election day and posting like a triggered Tasmanian devil jacked up on 4 shots of espresso and a mountain dew.
Who is Svelaz? He must be that imaginary friend you keep thinking of that is always arguing with you when you’re alone with your thoughts.
Svelaz is so beside himself today he cant even remember his name.
For two years of Lawfare against Trump, the most common slogan used by the Left has been: “No one is above the Law”. Not a single leftist mouthing these words actually believed them.
Stupid. There are tens of millions of conservatives and former Republicans who find Trump absolutely reprehensible and will hold their noses to vote for Harris. We’re also looking forward to Trump’s trials over trying to overturn the 2020 election and over treason for sharing classified military secrets with people without a clearance.
Tens of millions LMAO
Bad day for you drunktard.
Throw away the Crack Pipe, it is bad for your brain…
If the shoe were on the other foot, and conservatives were in power and caught progressive opposition candidates breaking the law, don’t you think conservatives would be the ones saying “no one is above the law”?
The law must be blind to partisan identity. We need to get back to where candidates are squeaky clean, and don’t need to worry about lawsuits or prosecution.
“We need to get back to where candidates are squeaky clean,”
Idiot.
“If the shoe were on the other foot…”
NO, I don’t, because, as a general stereotype/rule, Republicans resign when caught, Democrats/Leftists use wrongdoing as resume enhancement.
Of course, the law should be blind. Unfortunately, the Democrats/Progressives/Left have so infected the courts that we see too much “rich man’s justice” where the little gets crushed and the rich/entitled/protected walk.
That’s why we need Trump and both houses, so that in his first 100 days, all those who have sold this country for personal gain should be arrested and charged, etc.
Trump is the first businessman President in our lifetimes who is not a politician, but has become successful in spite of all the corruption of the political machinery. He needs to take it down and the swamp will throw EVERYTHING to stop him.
If the shoe were on the other foot, and conservatives were in power and caught progressive opposition candidates breaking the law, don’t you think conservatives would be the ones saying “no one is above the law”?
The evidence shows that, no, they wouldn’t say that and accompany it with police state fascism as the “progressive opposition” has done.
Comey said HE decided not to indict Hillary Clinton for multiple felonies under various sections of the U.S.C. The FBI Director doesn’t have the power to give Clinton amnesty for those felonies, and then president Obama didn’t cover Clinton’s ass (and his for aiding and abetting those felonies) with a presidential amnesty.
Hillary Clinton was low hanging fruit to be picked for prosecution.
A few months later the Trump administration came to power and DIDN’T prosecute Clinton for those felonies. Nor did they prosecute either James Clapper or John Brennan for perjuring themselves to Congress.
The Trump administration didn’t prosecute a single one of Obama’s STASI in the FBI and Obama’s last two Attorney Generals who perjured themselves to FISA courts. I don’t know why they didn’t, but you claim they would have done the same as Obama and now Biden.
Need the whole, long list of Obama administration officials caught breaking the law and yet not prosecuted by the Trump administration?
By the way, why do you Anonymous Soviet Democrat police state fascists prefer to refer to yourselves as “progressives”? Rather than communists, Marxists, Stalinists, or even socialists?
Boy, there seems a new disease that has appeared overnight. I have not seen so much frothing at the mouth since the last rabies outbreak.
A few points
1-Do people still watch SNL, I know it’s been decades since I did. The old actors who made it real are nearly all retired now and the children playing on the old sets have no clue what made it work.
2-Are many people in the rest of the country going to watch a show from New York in the middle of the night. Use to they would but not anymore
3-There were better performances in sports that nite, The Big 10, since it now spans the nation, can start at 12 noon and still be going strong right on through SNL).
4-the full entertainment spectrum is on and all the streaming services are going full blast.
SNL timeslot should be great for showing some recordings captured through the week.
5-Other than just reinforcing the MSM disdain for the spirit and intent of the law, especially since they are so much smarter than the rest of us, but I guess they forgot how to read.
6-Some in New York should remember that it only takes a click of a remote and then they don’t exist. Most of the best programs and movies are now made in Atlanta, anyway.
They also need to remember that there are plenty of scenes of NY already in the can and you can reproduce the whole city on film or chip without being there.
Otherwise a forgettable night.
GEB,
Have not gone out of my way to watch SNL since the late 80s, early 90s. By chance I did catch part of an episode I think in the 2000s. Not funny.
I have read over the past few days no matter who wins the election, it is MSM who are the big losers. Some are questioning if they will ever recover.
MSM, violating FCC rules and laws. Is anyone really surprised?
NBC did not violate the FCC rule. They gave Trump equal time. Turley is being dishonest.
No they did not, you imbecile.
Your name calling shows you’ve been triggered by the truth.
Your ignorant lie shows you were triggered by Turley. Project much?
Yes they did. Trump aired an on-camera ad on. NBC Sunday during a NASCAR and after a football game. Equal time does not mean at the same time.
Only after they were called out for their blatant violation of Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. What NBC/Comcast/Universal did was like a bank robber telling the police after being caught that he will give back the money he stole.
There was no violation. The Trump campaign did not file a complaint. There can be no violation if they offer other candidate an opportunity and they did take the opportunity.
Stein, West, and rfk
They only did it after they were called out on it. It’s a clear violation. But I only practiced communications law for 40 years. And you?
“The “SNL” cast and crew appeared to take the opposite meaning from Michaels’ warning.” (JT)
Yet again, the Left’s Prime directive: Can we get away with it?
It’s a party without a moral compass. Need another example (among countless others)? That disgusting commercial promoting women lying to their husbands. And notice the pathetic view of women in that commercial: Weak, dependent, fearful, easily manipulated, deceitful.