On Tuesday, NBC Nightly Information stunned some by taking on the border disaster (although they continued to keep away from that time period) and warning that unprecedented ranges of fentanyl and different medication have been making their manner throughout the border. However come Wednesday, the community flipped on a dime and took to scoffing at Republican efforts in Texas to curb the smuggling of the lethal substance together with ending unlawful immigrant crossings.
“We have now reported on the hovering variety of migrants on the border however now one other troubling development, the staggering rise of drug smuggling,” introduced anchor Lester Holt on Tuesday. Correspondent Gabe Gutierrez backing him up, noting that “Now with authorities tied up processing a historic variety of migrants, extra drug smuggling within the desert.”
Including: “Fentanyl being pushed by way of the desert round El Paso is up greater than 355 p.c in comparison with final 12 months and 4,000 p.c greater than 2018.” Gutierrez additionally defined that the drug cartels have been now making the drug themselves with supplies sourced from China.
He additionally recounted the tragic story of a 20-year-old lady who died after she ingested “what she thought was an oxycodone tablet.” It was fentanyl.
But on Wednesday, Holt scoffed at Republicans and recommended they solely wished to make the border a marketing campaign concern for the midterms. “And right this moment the previous president was on the southern border becoming a member of the Texas governor who’s aiming to select up the place Donald Trump left off. As Republicans attempt to make immigration key to their get together’s future,” declared.
Gutierrez was again and able to mock Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) for desirous to assemble his personal border wall and his look with former President Trump:
GUTIERREZ: As new video emerges of a Border Patrol agent saving a migrant little one from drowning within the Rio Grande, the highway to subsequent 12 months’s midterms is already hitting a wall.
ABBOTT: Persons are coming throughout our border from greater than 150 international locations throughout your entire globe. It’s time to make sure that we seal this border and shut it down.
GUTIERREZ: Texas Governor Greg Abbott is doubling down on plans to put aside $250 million to renew development of the border wall that the Biden administration had halted. At this time, former President Trump joined him on the border for the primary time since leaving workplace.
“Neither the previous President nor the Governor took questions, however the political optics are clear,” he added. “Texas Republicans overwhelmingly help Abbott’s wall effort, and Republican governors from different states, together with Florida and South Dakota are additionally sending legislation enforcement personnel to the border.”
Gutierrez confirmed viewers a clip of himself shouting a query at Abbott and Trump. However he got here off as silly as a result of he was a number of yards away from them and on the opposite aspect of a loud crowd.
“Governor Abbott has additionally requested the general public for donations to assist crowdfund the wall, although he hasn’t given particulars how a lot it can value or how lengthy it can take,” Gutierrez chided as he wrapped up the section.
NBC’s flip-flop on caring about what’s crossing the border primarily based on political messaging was made doable due to profitable sponsorships from Capital One and GEICO. Their contact info is linked so you’ll be able to inform them in regards to the biased information they fund.
The transcript is beneath, click on “develop” to learn:
NBC Nightly Information
June 30, 2021
7:15:31 p.m. JapLESTER HOLT: And right this moment the previous president was on the southern border becoming a member of the Texas governor who’s aiming to select up the place Donald Trump left off. As Republicans attempt to make immigration key to their get together’s future. Gabe Gutierrez is there.
[Cuts to video]
GABE GUTIERREZ: As new video emerges of a Border Patrol agent saving a migrant little one from drowning within the Rio Grande, the highway to subsequent 12 months’s midterms is already hitting a wall.
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): Persons are coming throughout our border from greater than 150 international locations throughout your entire globe. It’s time to make sure that we seal this border and shut it down.
GUTIERREZ: Texas Governor Greg Abbott is doubling down on plans to put aside $250 million to renew development of the border wall that the Biden administration had halted. At this time, former President Trump joined him on the border for the primary time since leaving workplace.
FMR. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We labored with the governor on this. It is the precise wall that Border Patrol, ICE and all the professionals wished.
GUTIERREZ: After the picture op –
Governor, you have got the authorized authority to construct this wall with state cash?
– Neither the previous President nor the Governor took questions, however the political optics are clear. Texas Republicans overwhelmingly help Abbott’s wall effort, and Republican governors from different states, together with Florida and South Dakota are additionally sending legislation enforcement personnel to the border.
RAQUEL MARTINEZ (border wall opponent): Completely political theater.
GUTIERREZ: Democrats are livid that at the least among the cash had been allotted for COVID reduction.
MARTINEZ: He has no authorized authority over federal points. He’s a state governor. He cannot do what the federal authorities is meant to do.
[Cuts to video]
GUTIERREZ: Governor Abbott has additionally requested the general public for donations to assist crowd fund the wall, although he hasn’t given particulars how a lot it can value or how lengthy it can take. Lester?
HOLT: All proper, Gabe, thanks.
