Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Who cares what Newt Gingrich thinks? Newt Gingrich made headlines late last week during an interview with ABC News when he unloaded on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi regarding the unfolding Beltway process gotcha story about what she knew about the use of torture seven years ago. Gingrich made a news splash with his red-hot rhetoric, condemning Pelosi as a "trivial politician" who is either "incompetent or dishonest," and accusing her of having "lied to the House." He demanded a congressional investigation and noted that, as "an Army brat," he was appalled by the Democrats' disinterest in defending America. Read More After tea-party-like hyping of Notre Dame protests, Fox News concedes Obama "received a very warm welcome" For months, Fox News heavily promoted the idea that President Obama's commencement address at Notre Dame would spark widespread protests and controversy, but following Obama's address, Chris Wallace reported that Obama "received a very warm welcome from the Notre Dame community." Read More STUDY: Conservative guests again outnumber progressives on Lou Dobbs Tonight A Media Matters analysis of the guest appearances on Lou Dobbs Tonight in the first four months of 2009 found that 52 percent more Republicans and conservatives appeared than Democrats and progressives. Read More Kelly claimed Alito's wife was "crying hysterically after Ted Kennedy made her cry" Megyn Kelly claimed that during Justice Samuel Alito's confirmation hearing, his wife, Martha-Ann, was "crying hysterically after Ted Kennedy made her cry." In fact, Martha-Ann Alito broke down in tears during a series of questions and comments by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. Read More CNN's Bash wrong about Panetta response to Pelosi Dana Bash mischaracterized Leon Panetta's response to Nancy Pelosi's allegation that during secret briefings in 2002 and 2003, the CIA had misled her about its use of waterboarding. Read More Scarborough falsely claimed KSM and Zubaydah "were not asked" about an Iraq/Al Qaeda link Joe Scarborough falsely claimed that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah "were not asked" by the CIA about a relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda. In fact, according to a Senate report, the CIA questioned both about an Iraq/Al Qaeda relationship. Read More Media run with Republican strategist's "congressional coup" speculation In two days, a Republican strategist's baseless suggestion that Nancy Pelosi could fall victim to "a coup in Congress" spread from his Politico.com op-ed to all three cable news channels, TheFoxNation.com, a New York Times blog, and the print edition of The Wall Street Journal. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.