Journalists inside our broadcast networks have a sensitivity to any criticism of , bred by their loathing of conservatives. The term “Islamophobia” is on their lips when anyone recalls anything from 9/11 to people chanting “Death to America.” When a violent or potentially event unfolds, theyre hoping the assailant isnt Muslim, as happened after an attempted terror attack this week.
When Muslim Army doctor Nidal Hasan shot up Fort Hood in 2009, killing 13, Newsweeks Evan Thomas proclaimed on televised pundit roundtable: “I cringe that hes a Muslim. I mean, because it inflames all the fears. I think hes probably just a nut case. But with that label attached to him, it will get the right wing going.” NPRs Nina Totenberg chimed in: “It really is tragic that he was a Muslim.”
That reflex certainly applied to the March 7 protests outside Gracie Mansion, where New York Mayor lives. Two Muslim teenagers turned up at an anti-Islam protest with homemade bombs, and the broadcast networks were extremely reluctant to describe them with the “M word.”
On Saturdays “World News Tonight,” on ABC, anchor Linsey Davis was brief, describing ” a suspicious device went off during an anti-Muslim protest here in New York. The protests outside Gracie Mansion, the mayors residence, prompting counter-protesters to show up as well. Two were arrested for allegedly throwing what is believed to be a smoke bomb. No injuries reported.” Thrown by whom? The anchor didn’t specify. And it certainly didn’t turn out to be a “smoke bomb.” It was a potential mass casualty event.
On Sunday morning, ABCs “Good Morning America” was even vaguer, with Gio Benitez reporting “the FBIs joint terrorism task force is now investigating thrown during a protest as possible acts of terrorism.” Here again, it’s a maddeningly passive phrasing of “devices thrown.” Thrown by whom?
Later in the show, ABCs Janai Norman recounted: “Police say two suspicious devices were found. Jars filled with nuts, bolts and screws, and a hobby fuse. They say one protest of about twenty people was organized by far-right, anti-immigrant figure Jake Lang. About 125 people were part of the counter-protest.”
So, one side is “far-right” and “anti-immigrant,” and the other cant be identified with an ideological or religious affiliation. That report was so vague you might think the Lang group threw the bombs.
NBC “Sunday Today” host Willie Geist at least seemed to get the targeting right: the “incendiary devices” were thrown “towards a small group of anti-Islam protesters led by a right-wing influencer.”
On Sunday nights “CBS Evening News,” anchor Jericka Duncan again meandered around it: “Tonight, the FBI is investigating two men after an explosive device with bolts and screws was thrown into a crowd. It happened in on Saturday during a protest that turned violent outside the mayors official residence.” Who turned it violent?
CBS reporter Shanelle Kaul identified Mamdani as a Muslim, but not the assailants. They were just “two men,” she repeated. Viewers could get a clue when the teens were identified as Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, but Kaul blamed the incident on the “anti-Islam demonstration led by Jake Lang ⦠a pardoned U.S. Capitol insurrectionist who has frequently sought out political confrontations in the months after President Trump gave him clemency.” Lang served four years in prison after wielding a baseball bat on January 6.
On Monday morning, ABCs Aaron Katersky again tagged right-wing extremists. The bombs were thrown “during the chaotic, dueling protests that were started by far-right provocateur Jake Lang under the banner, Stop the Islamic takeover of New York City that Mamdani denounced as rooted in bigotry and racism.” Katersky then added the bomb plotters “told investigators they had watched videos and were there to defend Muslims.”
On Mondays “Today” program on NBC, reporter Sam Brock relayed that “both men alleg
