The news media has provided intensive coverage of the ongoing woes of Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, and the coverage often showcases melodrama, speculation and sensationalism. Reporters and anchors, in fact, frequently repeat the same “damning accusations” and key phrases against Mr. Moore says Rich Noyes, research director of the Media Research Center, a conservative press watchdog now monitoring the news about Mr. Moore produced by the “Big Three” broadcast networks.

“From the evening of November 9 through the morning of November 13, the ABC, CBS and NBC morning and evening newscasts have generated 79 minutes, 42 seconds of coverage of the Moore case,” says Mr. Noyes, who compared what kind of attention the networks have been giving the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, New Jersey Democrat.

The coverage is downright “paltry,” according to the analyst, who says that since the lawmaker’s trial began Sept. 5, ABC and CBS managed to produce two minutes of coverage combined and NBC has offered none. Find the analysis here.

“The media’s reaction to Moore makes their double standard on scandals all the more glaring. Since early September, a sitting United States Senator has been on trial for corruption involving the abuse of his office — and the media have essentially buried the story,” says Mr. Noyes. “Add it all up, and the Moore scandal has already consumed nearly 40 times more airtime on the networks than a Democrat’s corruption trial — even though the Menendez case is based on an actual federal prosecution, as opposed to a story in The Washington Post.”

He refers to an expose published by the newspaper on Thursday claiming Mr. Moore has “initiated a sexual encounter” with a 14-year-old girl and other young women in 1979. More women have independently stepped forward with similar claims since the story was published. The special election in Alabama is scheduled for Dec. 12.

“A Democrat’s corruption scandal is kept under wraps, while a Republican’s alleged transgressions are given saturation coverage,” Mr. Noyes concludes.

FINE-TUNING THEIR MILLENNIAL MARKETING

The ongoing National Football League controversy over players who choose to “take a knee” during the national anthem has just gotten more complicated. Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh now suggests that the NFL could be employing the phenomenon as a marketing tool to attract younger fans from the huge millennial generation.

“Everything in our culture is politicized, and young millennials accept it. You politicize the game, you steer it to the Left where you think most of young people are because you believe the polling data and the surveys. So what if all this is a conscious effort to take a hit for a while — angering your current-but-aged fan base in an effort to attract the young demographic of 18 to 34?” Mr. Limbaugh asked his 10 million listeners on Tuesday.

“If you believe all the stuff about how liberal millennials are, and how much they admire socialism, then that’s what you would want your league to appear to be — or at least sympathetic to it. If they buy into the idea that millennials are indeed social justice warriors, then would it make sense for the NFL to be doing what they’re doing to try to grab those young people and convert them into lifetime fans and customers?” Mr. Limbaugh suggested.

COLBERT IS ACTUALLY BORED BY THE PRESIDENT

Late night host Stephen Colbert says he is a “white guy in white-guy drag,” according to an interview in GQ, which has named Mr. Colbert one if its men-of-the year, along with Colin Kaepernick and Kevin Durant. The host also had an observation about President Trump.

“Trump is actually kind of a boring guest. My brother Ed was in the audience the night that Trump was on, in 2015. And after the show, he goes, ‘OK, so he’s not a dummy,’” Mr. Colbert recalled, describing Mr. Trump’s presence on the program two years ago as “very, very, very safe.”

He also had a judgment call on a former Fox News host and author.

“I had the same experience when I interviewed Bill O’Reilly back in the day. It was like, ‘Wow, that was really boring.’ Bill O’Reilly wouldn’t be Bill O’Reilly on my show. That was the red meat he threw for his own fans,” Mr. Colbert noted.

THE MILLION-DOLLAR METER

Ever-vigilant Judicial Watch has pored over the expensive ironies of big government.

“A government agency with a sordid history paid $1.5 million for subsidized and unoccupied parking spaces in violation of executive orders designed to save taxpayer dollars and the environment by cracking down on parking subsidies in the federal workforce. The waste occurred over a two-year period at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington D.C. and a regional office in Atlanta, Georgia. The two locations doled out more than $840,000 to subsidize employee parking and around $690,000 for unoccupied spaces, according to a federal audit released this week,” the watchdog group reported.

“In the 42-page report, the EPA Inspector General points out the irony of an agency charged with promoting air quality disobeying various federal orders enacted to improve air quality and public health in the capital area,” Judicial Watch noted.

FOXIFIED

According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News Channel once again trounced its rivals across the entire cable realm, attracted more viewers than such competitors as Hallmark, ESPN and MSNBC.

Fox News remains the top cable news channel, as it has for the last 16 years. In addition, “Hannity” claimed three of the 10 cable telecasts, while Fox News programs made up 12 of the top 30 programs across all networks.

Fox Business Network, meanwhile, continued its winning streak over CNBC for the 23rd consecutive week, according to Nielsen numbers, with “Lou Dobbs Tonight” remaining the No. 1 rated program in business television — as it has for the 64 consecutive weeks.

POLL DU JOUR

• 77 percent of Americans say National Football League players should stand for the national anthem.

• 66 percent say NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should not resign over the anthem controversy.

• 60 percent disapprove of the way he has handled the situation.

• 59 percent say the NFL should have a rule requiring players to stand during the anthem.

• 55 percent say Mr. Goodell’s treatment of the controversy has “made both sides unhappy.”

Source: The Hill/Harris poll of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 12-13.

• Murmurs and asides to [email protected]

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