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Steve Doocy
President Joe Biden doesn't usually get a lot of praise on Fox & Friends, and to be clear, it's not their jobs (or the jobs of any journalists) to be the president's cheerleaders. But Steve Doocy's comments Monday morning deserve to be highlighted for their nuanced and balanced take.
The second hour of the program began with a review of Fox News’ poll numbers on Biden’s first 100 days in office. The data shows that even though Biden gets high marks on health care, the economy, and the coronavirus, giving him a net positive of 52 percent -- above the ratings former President Donald Trump had at this point in his presidency.
Ainsley Earhardt pointed out an NBC poll showing that 82 percent of Americans say the country is “totally divided" and criticized Biden for campaigning that he would unify the country but so far not being able to do that.
However, said Doocy, “ultimately right now Joe Biden has pretty doggone high approval ratings," so while his "rosey bipartisanship" might be more talk than action, it still was remarkable to get such high approval ratings with the country so divided.
Doocy didn't sugarcoat anything, but it was a fair and objective analysis. |
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 | MEDIA LOSER:
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum found himself under fire for a speech before a conservative youth group where he said that there was “nothing” in America when European colonizers arrived, and that now “there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”
The CNN senior political analyst and former Republican senator made the remarks in a speech about religious freedom to the Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth group.
"We birthed a nation from nothing," Santorum said. "I mean, there was nothing here. I mean, yes, we have Native Americans, but candidly that — there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture."
Santorum drew searing criticism for the comments from a litany of voices, including cable news hosts like Joy Reid and Mehdi Hasan, former CNN personalities like Soledad O’Brien, Reza Aslan and Kathy Griffin, and Congressman Eric Swalwell.
Many on Twitter argued that other CNN pundits had been fired from the network for less offensive comments.
Santorum has yet to address the comments, or provide an explanation for an alternate intention. Either way, the attention is not a good look for Santorum, or the network that employs him.
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| An unusual Oscars ceremony after an unusual year
“It has been quite a year, and we are still smack dab in the middle of it,” said Regina King on Sunday night to open the 93rd Academy Awards -- an understatement to be sure.
There were lighthearted moments, like when Daniel Kaluuya awkwardly thanked his parents for having sex during his acceptance speech for his Best Supporting Actor award, or Glenn Close rocking a little Oscar musical trivia, and then really setting Twitter abuzz with her dance skills.
And history was made, too, when Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color, and only the second woman in Oscars history, to win an Oscar for Best Director for Nomadland. Nomadland was a big winner last night, scoring a Best Actress win for the film's star, Frances McDormand, and the Best Picture award as well.
Chinese social media blew up in celebration in response to Zhao's win, but several hours later, those posts were almost all erased.
Tyler Perry was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and delivered a poignant acceptance speech that many called a must-watch. "And in this time, with all of the internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way, the 24-hour news cycle, it is my hope that all of us would teach our kids, and I want to remember: just refuse hate," said Perry.
The evening ended on a stumble, as producers had shifted the Best Actress and Best Actor awards to the end, clearly anticipating that the late Chadwick Boseman would win, setting up an emotional tribute to close the show. If anyone ever doubted that PriceWaterhouseCoopers maintains secrecy of the Oscars ballots, last night was strong proof of their security. Anthony Hopkins was awarded Best Actor, awarded in absentia since he was unable to travel due to the pandemic. Joaquin Phoenix announced Hopkins' win, mumbled bye to the audience, and that was it.
Twitter users were unimpressed.
Also drawing criticism: the ceremony's "In Memoriam" video montage, which many viewers felt was rushed and omitted some worthy names.
Dr. Charles Krauthammer Memorial Scholarship
Congratulations to Marin Martin, who is this year's recipient of the annual Dr. Charles Krauthammer Memorial Scholarship.
Martin, the daughter of FOX News Digital Senior Opinion Editor Lynne Jordal Martin, is the second ever recipient of the scholarship named for longtime Fox News contributor and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dr. Charles Krauthammer. The award is granted in conjunction with the National Merit Scholarship Program and provides $2,000 per year for up to four years of college. Martin intends to study English literature this fall at a higher learning institution to be determined.
In Other News... • Van Jones Urges to Restore Trust Between Police, Black Community: 'Without Trust, Nothing Works' • Zip-a-Dee-Doo-DUMB: Disney Fanatic Whining That Disney World is Too Woke Needs to Chill Out • Republican Support for Chauvin Guilty Verdict Plummets in Days Following Trial, Nearly HALF Now Say it Was ‘Wrong’ • Liz Cheney Says DOJ Should Decide Whether Trump Should Be Prosecuted For Capitol Attack 6.5.0 |
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| GRONK
Rob Gronkowski is a national treasure, period. The perennially cheerful Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end swung by his alma mater, the University of Arizona, for the football team's spring scrimmage game this weekend.
And he just so happened to set a new Guinness world record while he was there.
Watch the fun moment here. |
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