Brian, as a displaced New Orleanian, about to return home in 4 days...I beg you to keep FEMA in the spotlight. I also want to commend you on the reporting that NBC Nightly News is doing on Post Katrina New Orleans & Mississippi. I often times feel like we have been forgotten in New Orleans. We are but a "blip" on the radar now. But, your newscast has made such a committment to focusing on NOLA's woes. These reports have brought me to tears many an evening. They have been my only connection to my beloved home that has been so far away these last few months. Thank you for keeping the pressure on FEMA to do right by the Gulf Coast Region. And, thank you for not letting the nation forget that New Orleans has a long way to go before she will ever be back to normal. As a NOLA jazz musician said, "If New Orleans was a woman. She would be in critical care right now." That is the painful truth and we need our country's help more than ever.

I too am a devout Nightly News fan. Brain we appreciate your commentary and enjoy your humor. Now to the main reason for my writing. What do we need to do to convince the network to extend Nightly News to an hour? In our area local stations have a half hour news at 5:00, NBC Nightly news, then another half hour of local news. We're not just in Kansas (or in this case Iowa) any more. There are so many important world events that deserve more indepth analysis 30 minutes doesn't allow. If you think it would help, we could picket Rockefeller Center. As an alternative would they consider a 30-minute commercial-free broadcast. I'm happy to admit, no one in this household uses any product advertised on the Nightly News. Here's hoping you'll be in our living room more than just 30-minutes some day.

Ha ha... I love that Scarborough. Try this 'Weakest Link' twist: 'You are the most screwed, good bye.' Apologies for the language, but it fits the situation.

On the Ferberizing story, no story is perfect and I'm very sure you know that. I myself really didn't catch that. Though bats see better than I do.

On FEMA (Federal 'You thought Katrina was bad? Wait to see what other stupid things we can do.' Agency), those guys need to get their heads out of the sand and look at what is going on. How many? 22 thousand from my state alone? I mean good Lord... I work with a guy from N.O. Though he is in good spirits, he is lucky to even have a job, and he knows it. Let alone a roof over his head, any sort of income, food... The only thing FEMA and Katrina haven't taken away from these people is their faith. And in times like these, I pray they keep it. A long though road is ahead. With little help from our government, it's up to us, the people and you, Brian... the media. To keep up with their situation. Though what am I saying. They didn't have it that hard. At least they weren't hit by THREE hurricanes...

Well, I'll be on here tomorrow night, if this cold doesn't go away.

You're a good man Mr. Williams. Keep the stories rollin' bro.

Hi Brian,

Enjoyed your description of the last-minute scramble when the weather story wasn't ready. Nice to know stuff like that also happens at the network level. Hardly a day goes by without similar crash and burn scenarios here at Fox11 Los Angeles. Usually, the viewers never suspect... at least we hope they don't.
Hope you're doing well.

Keep FEMA on the hot seat. This is uncalled for. Our government should represent our compassion for those in need. Hopefully FEMA will retract from this horrible course.

Hello Brian.

As an NBC watcher since I was 10, I am happy to see the NBC Nightly News go onto the web. I can now watch the best nightly news on TV. Despite the first week "techinical issues", I am glad that I can now watch ya'll when I please.

Secondly, I have come across Katrina victims in Oregon and here in Washington. The fact that FEMA is telling everyone that they are out of luck in tow weeks A WEEK befre Thanksgiving is amazing. Typical stance of the current administration that doesn't care about real people.

Wait... aren't big oil CEO's real people?

Drudge carried a story yesterday about how NBC is expaning its lead in the ratings. That's great news. I think its because NBC is bolder at getting out the truth than the other networks. This is especially true since Brian took over. Tonight was another excellent broadcast.

I think there is still a way to go though. NBC's coverage of secret torture facilities in Iraq is just starting to catch up with the British press. A series in the Observer last July unearthed a "ghost network of secret detention centers across the country, inaccessable to human rights agencies, where torture is taking place."

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1520186,00.html

Thanks for tonight's great broadcast.

I do not understand why the people who are being "evicted" have not begun to make other arrangements for housing and to find employment. It has now been almost three months. How long should the federal government pay their expenses?

Brian,
As a producer at an NBC Affiliate it is nice to know we aren't the only ones scrambling at the last second with story changes. If viewers only knew the number of times a tape almost DIDN'T make air or a script was handed to the anchor and read cold 2 seconds later... I wonder what viewers would think of us then???
Keep up the good work!

We are moved to help these FEMA evictees over the hump and into permanent quarters. Is there a group working on this problem that could be contacted?

Good evening Brian,
I wish to send you and the entire NBC news division a big THANK YOU for all of your hard work this year! Your Blog, the Web cast news option, and engaging stories make me watch night after night, as well as Tim on Meet the Press. Although it has been a year of changes, my wife and I are impressed and wish everyone there the best this holiday season.

I was trained as a journalist; worked briefly at the now defunct Newark Evening News and New York Herald Tribune, before marriage and life intervened with that career. But I have never lost my respect for the profession.

How could you have let the amazingly telling story of Bob Woodward's "lapse" regarding the Plame/Wilson leak go so unreported? Woodward is an icon of the Nixon administration misdeeds, and now he has shamefully contributed a misdeed of significant proportion to the current situation. His action (or, specifically, inaction)should not stand without being given the proper light of day.

After watching your 'FEMA is back in the news' segment tonight, I was more than disgusted by FEMA's seemingly cold-hearted response to the horrible predicament in which Hurricane Katrina victims now find themselves; namely, after surviving one of America's worst if not 'the worst' natural disasters in history, these poor displaced families, and just as the Christmas holiday season is getting started, are being told, ironically enough, THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE INN. Has FEMA lost its mind? These poor families, many of whom are with small children, had nothing when they were displaced by Katrina, and now it appears FEMA is telling them to return to their previous lives of nothing in only two short weeks, and without any options available to them, especially during a season in which American's celebrate the spirit of giving. I believe our government can do better than this. If the government doesn't want to pay to keep these families in hotel rooms, and that's understandable, why can't families without options be housed in quarters vacated by the closure of military bases under the recent actions of the BRAC Commission? I and many of my fellow Americans believe this alternative approach to this nation's problem, while it may not be popular or devoid of cost, would be far more humane than the government's present course of action, namely, victimizing for a second time the poor families already victimized by Hurricane Katrina. If anyone has a better suggestion, I would like to hear it.

fema and your out! I was stunned by your report regarding the December 1st eviction notices, to the Katrina victims. How can such a country ( that I adpoted from the age of 13) turn it's back on people that have no way of helping themselves. I'm almost ashamed to say I am an American.

I am sure I was not the only one moved to tears by the Katrina victims who apparently are to be displaced again by FEMA. Can you let your viewers know of organizations that will be organizing Christmas presents for these children?

Brian:

I am a devout Nightly News person (one of the few things I can feel "devout" about these days). I'm an aging Boomer who appreciates getting his news from someone who can match and best Jon Stewart on wit and world view -- without the unnecessary gravitas of Brokow (yes, I'm the one writing about the SHADOW of "The Greatest Generation."

Anyway, I had no idea this blog existed until you mentioned it on the broadcast tonight. Have I been asleep? Ckearly. Please keep mentioning it. In a world of enormous cynicism, this is important.

My request: your piece on the kid from Buffalo . . . your pieces on families being tossed out of motels . . . SOME of us can DO something to help these people and an ACTION column here after each broadcast could change the world. Just give us a credible means to reach out and help those who are either in need . . . or who are trying to help others. Targeted giving . . . it's what, as Thanksgiving approaches, MANY of us want to do. We distrust organizations . . . I trust real lives.

I never cease to marvel at the information I get about the broadcast by reading Brian's blog. Understanding what it takes when news is breaking so quickly is one of them. The broadcast itself comes off so slick (sometimes a bit too much, I suppose) I'm glad to read of the underlying energy that creates and informs. It makes my experience more "real".

After reading your blog today, I can only say I wish I was Steve Carell. Keep up the good work Brian.