Eric Boehlert: Biden's universal pre-K would transform America -- the press ignores it

[babylonsister]

https://pressrun.media/p/bidens-universal-pre-k-would-transform

Biden's universal pre-K would transform America — the press ignores it
Process over substance
Eric Boehlert
7 hr ago


Even though he’s paid to be a straight-ahead news reporter, ABC’s Terry Moran had no problem editorializing about President Joe Biden last week, and what a “devastating” failure he’s been as a leader. Moran’s public put-down was in reference to a new poll that shows only 1 in 5 Americans have heard “a lot” about the Democrats sprawling investment bill, dubbed Build Back Better.

As with other recent surveys, the poll showed that when voters are specifically told what’s in the bill, a clear majority support it. It’s just that most Americans aren’t hearing about the legislation’s sweeping proposals, including the fact that the current framework includes $200 billion in funding to cover free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Build Back Better also contains billions to help families cover the costs of child care. Together, it amounts to the largest expansion of public education in 100 years.

snip//

The press is in heated agreement that Biden is to blame for Americans not knowing about the contents of Build Back Better. There’s zero self-reflection involved.

For much of the year, the price tag attached to the bill was $3.5 trillion, and that was a constant point of reference for the press. According to Nexis, here’s how many times news outlets mentioned “Build Back Better” and “$3.5 trillion”: ABC (8), CBS (36), NBC ( 8), and the New York Times (58). How many times they mentioned “Build Back Better,” “$3.5 trillion” and “universal pre-K” or “preschool” in those same reports? ABC (4), CBS (5), NBC (1), and New York Times (5).

Here’s a perfect example of the misguided coverage. Last week, after the White House released the framework for the final Build Back Better bill and Biden went to the Hill to rally Democrats in favor of the legislation, CNN posted a long piece all about the vote-counting maneuvering. (Dems in Disarray!) It wasn’t until the 43rd paragraph that CNN got around to explaining what was in the historic bill. The report was 1,900 words long. Just 27 words were set aside from universal pre-K.

Hyper-focused on the price tag, which is precisely where Republicans want the public attention to be, the press has paid lip service to the contents of the bill. The process by which the bill might pass, and how much the legislation costs, far exceeds the importance of what’s in the bill itself, including universal pre-K, which would change American education forever.

[Freddie]

1. Why get our hopes up, it's not going to happen

Thanks Manchin.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. One thing I think my party leadership

Needs to do a better job at -

Is focusing on WHAT is in it for people and pushing it over and over again. Never give the price, give the impact.