THE DAILY NEWSLETTER  - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

“Facts are stubborn things."
34-year-old John Adams is an up-and-coming attorney, and the most controversial criminal case of 1770 just landed on his desk. Buy 'John Adams Under Fire' today!

Media Winners & Losers

MEDIA WINNER:
David Muir

ABC News’s World News Tonight  is the top evening newscast among viewers this year, with anchor David Muir leading the program to number one in both the total viewers and the key demo.

It is the first time in over 20 years that World News Tonight has taken both top spots. A pretty big win.

For the week of February 17, Muir's newscast took total viewers, at 9.028 million, adults 25-54 at 1.808 million, and adults 18-49 at 1.176 million, besting NBC Nightly News (at 7.788) by 1.24 million in total viewers. And the margin over the competitors is the widest its been in at least 28 years -- since  start of Nielsen electronic database.

It's the third consecutive year for World News Tonight to have the lead at this point in the season, which combined with the other superlatives is a major win to start out 2020. 

 
MEDIA LOSER:
Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh, talk radio host and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, doubled down Tuesday on his odd claim that coronavirus "is being weaponized as yet another element to bring down Donald Trump.”

On his show Tuesday, Limbaugh stood by those comments. He also took aim at the media for its coverage of the pandemic, arguing that fears were being stoked in a nefarious effort to sabotage Trump.

"It’s being hyped because, as you heard in the first audio sound bite, the montage, the media thinks this is the new Russia! This is gonna get Trump! They’re gleeful, they’re happy. This is gonna destroy the economy magically by November," Limbaugh said. "And it won’t.”

His comments were received just as poorly as the confounding ones he made on Monday. They also reminded one reporter of that time Limbaugh alleged Obama wanted to punish the U.S. for slavery with Ebola. Not a good look.

The A-Block

Shakeup at the House of Mouse

Some developing news to start today's A-Block, as we are learning that Disney CEO Bob Iger has stepped down from his role “effective immediately.” Disney Parks Chairman Bob Chapek will take over Iger’s position as CEO, and Iger will serve as executive chairman of the company.

The abrupt announcement was followed by a statement, in which Iger brought up his "successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses" as well as the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox.

Presser Cooker 

Donald Trump and Jim Acosta went another round on Tuesday during the president's early presser in India. 

Trump told Acosta he and CNN should be "ashamed", and Acosta told Trump that CNN's record on truth is " a lot better than yours." 

Judges are still scoring the bout.

War Reporting

It's not always the case that cable news battles are between Fox News Channel and CNN. Sometimes the networks switch things up and, like today, throw us the curveball of Fox BUSINESS fighting with CNN.

Stuart Varney and Maria Bartiromo are both former CNNers, and they unleashed heck on their onetime home, calling it a "propaganda machine."

Iced

U.S. Hockey legend Mike Eruzione of Miracle on Ice fame is regretful, Tuesday, over his appearance at a MAGA rally wearing a MAGA hat, which he didn't mean to be political exactly.

“I just put it on. I wasn’t thinking. Maybe this shows I’m naive, shows I’m stupid. I don’t know. I don’t follow politics,' he said. And more, in an interview following the backlash.

An apology

MSNBC's Chris Matthews took a lot of heat, and earned himself Monday's 'Media Loser', over his comments about Sen. Bernie Sanders winning the Nevada caucuses over the weekend.

Last night, he apologized on air.

Coronavirus confusion

Chad Wolf, a Trump appointee serving as acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, appeared rattled over questions relating to the novel coronavirus spreading and the government’s readiness while being questioned by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA).

And if that is not confidence-inspiring enough, consider this: after the CDC issued warnings and made statements about the seriousness of the virus and the potential impact it could have on the country, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow went on CNBC to say never mind it's all good.

Rumble in the Spox

Bloomberg spox vs. Warren spox, Sanders spox vs Warren spox ... tonight's debate could be very lit.

🎤

"The Establishment at CNN Doesn’t Want Sanders to Win"

In Their Words: Cable news insiders talk with Mediaite about the way their outlets are covering the election, the Democrats, and the lessons learned from 2016. Mediaite's Adrian Carrasquillo has the revealing story...

Must-See Clip of the Day

Cough it up, Iran

Iranian Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, tested positive for the coronavirus last week. Yesterday, he was on air for an interview.

In that interview, he had a coughing fit. Seriously. 

“Maybe I should cover my mouth like this,” he said, with a gesture. It is without a doubt the bonkers video that the zombies will be laughing about during the apocalypse. 

Check it out here.

Links We Like

Blame being stuck with Bernie on the Democrat “Establishment” getting stuck on Biden
via Slate
Coronavirus dangers loom. Complacency is one of them.
- via Washington Post

Rosanna Arquette, Jessica Barth and other silence breakers praise Weinstein guilty verdict
- via Variety
The fight over whether religion is a license to discriminate is back before SCOTUS
- via Vox
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