The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.
Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.
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We suddenly have a full broadcast on this day that has no overarching, slam-dunk, compelling, must-run lead story. And I'm going to hedge our bets a bit on story order. Veterans of this blog know that we like to call our broadcast rundown a "living, breathing document" just as we were all taught to call the Constitution. This intended-to-be-humorous delusion of grandeur on our part has some truth to it: I can't think of the last broadcast we did that exactly equaled on the air what was agreed to at 2:30 p.m. That said, Iraq will be at or near the very top tonight. Today saw the worst attack in three weeks, and we now know more about the 10 Marines who lost their lives there last week. The Saddam trial continues (fascinating profile of Ramsey Clark in this morning's New York Times) and the defendant is getting downright out of control.
The topic of Katrina was back on the Hill today, a hearing designed to elicit testimony of horror stories suffered at the height of it all.. .say nothing of the suffering still going on. Some of those testifying gave voice to a widely-held theory in some areas of New Orleans that the government overtly or covertly "allowed" (or more directly "caused") the flooding to happen where it did. Some of the talk is incendiary. The word "genocide" was used in the hearing today. Some of the talk has to do with the areas that were spared the water, compared to the areas now barren and desolate. It's emotional, but it is a very real subplot, one that cannot be ignored, as it's something you hear being talked about throughout that city. It's also reportedly the topic of a documentary Spike Lee is now shooting in New Orleans. And it's an issue this broadcast will deal with at greater length in the very near future.
The Great Louisiana Document Dump continues to pay off... and as our journalists continue to pore over its pages, we're finding more to point out. We'll look at the current atmosphere on Capitol Hill as well (six Members of Congress under investigation, by our count) and ask what's going on there.
Also tonight, we'll examine whether pensions are a thing of the past. And we'll look at whether or not there are lessons in how President Gerald R. Ford handled the Swine Flu scare in the 1970s (we Presidential history buffs will do ANYTHING to inject it into the broadcast) that we can learn from today.
Our piece on the military dog last night lit up the ranks of e-mailers overnight. I'm always struck by the fact that no matter how much other journalism we have in the broadcast... no matter that our correspondents and producers and crews are risking their lives on a daily basis to bring the news home to us and our viewers... it's the German Shepherd that gets the e-mail attention. Apparently, viewers of Nightly News last night included Virginia Republican Senator John Warner, who has vowed to negotiate the Rex Amendment into the next Defense funding bill. Good dog, Rex.
We hope you can join us tonight.
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Tonight's promoted story
So,we have another story of Katrina in NO. Did only local Mississippians see our Govenor testify before congress too? I won't be personally involved in it but the locals are so appreciative and are already making plans for the money raised by Bush/Clinton.
Jean, South MS. (Sent Dec 8, 2005 10:51:30 AM)
It was nice to see all the people from New Orleans telling the Congress how it is and not using Washington-speak. There was no political correctness, no concern with public image, no jobs to be lost for not saying the right words, no promotions to be gained for making the company look good - just blunt, to the heart of the matter, straight-talk.
I could see that most members of the Congressional committee was taken back by the bluntness. They are use to people that come before the committees to be in awe of the proceding and deferential to the committee members, these people didn't care. They told it like it was and how it is now.
The spirit of the City of New Orleans will never die.
Dewey Quong, Reno NV (Sent Dec 7, 2005 2:30:34 PM)
Last evening, December 6, you reported that Verizon will discontinue pensions. The report did not include the very critical piece of information that the discontinuation applies only to certain current employees. It gave me and, I am sure, thousands of other Verizon retirees a huge scare. I would appreciate if you would clarify the report on the air.
Also, the follow-up comment by Mr. Cramer was very creul. It would have been better not to air it.
Sandra K. Hunter, East Hampton, NY (Sent Dec 7, 2005 11:44:52 AM)
Speaking of Spike Lee shooting a documentary in NOLA, I've been holding my breath for Michael Moore to announce plans for an "expose" (I don't have that little accent thingy to go over the E) on how FEMA dropped the ball and it's all GW's fault. It's only a matter of time, I'm guessing...
Elizabeth Berman, Seattle, WA (Sent Dec 7, 2005 6:17:52 AM)
Brian,
There are so many things about Katrina that I don't know what to think, but the fact is with "not blaming anyone" just won't fix the problem and communication. Just like the 9/11 Commission, giving a grade report and finding out what improvements need to be done will prevent another disaster much like the New Orleans diaster.
John Meyer, Las Vegas, Nevada (Sent Dec 6, 2005 11:41:58 PM)
I myself am a little upset. Upset at the federal government, and by the way Bush is protraying arrogance. If we are truly one nation, then why is it that we cannot get nothing done in Louisiana, but we can try to get something done in Iraq, after 9/11 we justified an attack in Afgahnastan, but it took us almost six months to justify the war in Iraq. I feel sorry for the victims of this years hurricanes and the families that have lost their sons and daughters in a place that has no justification to even being their. I love my country, the people, and the military, but I will not change my opinion about Bush, not since the Vietnam war has this country been so divided on all issues foreign and domestic. Finally, I wish somebody would stand up to Bush and ask him for his resignation, he is leading this country to a depression.
Michael Devine, Vincennes, Indiana (Sent Dec 6, 2005 7:33:56 PM)
I feel we have had several options to relieve ourselves of Iraq. Misson accomplished applies to the capture of Saddam. We also had ths option of allowing nature to take it's course by letting the Iraqi's figure out for themselves what the next step was to be post Saddam. Just as the British were the occupiers in the begginning of our history we are the occupiers of Iraq. the British the saw the value of the Colonies and tried to make the Colonies an extension of themselves to exploit the commddoties of the land. We seem to be hanging on for the commoddities of Iraq. Oil! We also appear to be steering the electorial process and not letting the Iraqi's truly decide for themselves. Suppose they elect a leader that is not friendly to the US? Democracy works best when folks are left to their own devices and decisions to establish an Iraqi identity. Democracy and Freedom are just ten cent words when spoken by the Bush administration.
David Hutchinson (Sent Dec 6, 2005 7:17:48 PM)
As a retired Producer, hard core news addict, and fellow Presidential buff, I can't believe the Broadcast is even better than it was under Tom. Kudos to you and the staff, I know they deserve all the credit and hardly get it. I told you I was an ex Producer. Some time in the future I will share my memory of Mr. Brokaw with you, but I'm trying to watch Schieffer.
Michael Dodgson, Pittsburgh PA (Sent Dec 6, 2005 7:13:24 PM)
"(six Members of Congress under investigation, by our count) and ask what's going on there." No kidding! Check out a quality blog "TalkingPointsMemo.com" for the ever-expanding web.(And I mean that in the old fashioned way.) Thanks for doing a great job and the blog is wonderful.
d'Aulan Gentry, Carmel, CA. (Sent Dec 6, 2005 6:26:33 PM)
Brian,
I'm enjoying the blog. I really liked your hourlong newscast that used to be on CNBC/MSNBC. The blog helps make up for some of the lack of time you can spend on stories. In reference to the dog story you mention above, I found it a heartwarming story, but a little too sentimental given there was so much to cover last night. I'm happy the dog will be going to a good home, but it seemed a little too much for me. Nonetheless, I watch every night.
John M, New York, NY (Sent Dec 6, 2005 5:42:37 PM)
Brian,
Didn't W.C. Fields say something about kids and animals? If the girl gets the dog it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy!! And there sure isn't much on the news now days that make that happen. You can separate families, but don't take the dog away from the person who loves it.
A big burly policeman will spend hours rescueing a kitten from a sewer drain. That same man will go home, have a few beers, and slap his wife around. Not sure what this says about us as a society, but that's just the way it is.
Lorna Jackson, Lima, Ohio (Sent Dec 6, 2005 5:33:42 PM)
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