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McMahon Report Examined

McMahon Report Examined

ABC News finds itself embroiled in yet another controversy, this time over a false report about Linda McMahon, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education. Hot on the heels of a $15 million settlement with Trump over George Stephanopoulos’ defamatory statements, the network now faces growing scrutiny for an unsubstantiated claim made by reporter Jay O’Brien. O’Brien asserted that McMahon “has no formal training and little experience in education.” This is patently false, as records show McMahon earned a teaching certificate while pursuing her degree at East Carolina University—a fact publicly documented for decades.

The erroneous reporting reflects more than just a lapse in journalistic integrity; it reveals a broader effort to undermine McMahon’s qualifications. Despite her background—including her service on Sacred Heart University’s Board of Trustees—O’Brien chose to amplify the criticism of National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle.

Pringle, a staunch supporter of the Biden administration, expressed “concern” over McMahon’s appointment, a sentiment O’Brien presented without context about Pringle’s political connections. In contrast, conservative voices, like Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, were portrayed in a negative light, with references to “anti-LGBTQ rhetoric” that detract from substantive discussions about parental involvement in education.

Tony Kinnett, a journalist and commentator, has been particularly vocal about the missteps in ABC’s reporting. In his article for The Daily Signal and on his podcast, Kinnett dismantled O’Brien’s claims, highlighting the absurdity of ignoring McMahon’s qualifications and the longstanding recognition of alternative paths to teaching, such as certification programs. These programs, which account for nearly 20% of U.S. teachers, are widely accepted as legitimate and effective.

Kinnett also pointed out a troubling moment in O’Brien’s report: a post-production audio edit awkwardly inserted to acknowledge McMahon’s role on the Connecticut Board of Education. This correction, however, did not address the larger inaccuracies in his report. Kinnett described this as either gross incompetence or deliberate dishonesty, underscoring the broader issue of biased and sloppy journalism within mainstream media.

The parallels between this incident and ABC’s previous legal woes are hard to ignore. Just as the network settled for defamation over Stephanopoulos’ false claims about Trump, it now faces potential legal challenges for its unfounded attack on McMahon. Newsmax’s Carl Higbie hinted that more lawsuits might be on the horizon, a sentiment echoed by Kinnett, who described ABC’s issues as systemic.

Written by Mark Stevens - December 18, 2024