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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Having spent a good bit of my formative years in upstate New York, my favorite story of the day is the snowstorm they received in the Buffalo area. Out of nowhere. Instant winter. While it's not our lead story, it may be the most interesting. And now there's a sad side to this surprise weather: three deaths in the area being blamed on the storm. Would that we could just treat it as a fun and surprising weather event.
At or near the top of the broadcast tonight: the situation in Iraq... specifically, a pronounced change in what's being said about the American mission. We'll also look at the exodus of people from there. And we will cover the advance buzz over a book (not yet out) on the administration -- with emphasis on one specific issue and a crucial (in this case, political) demographic group. We are planning yet another piece on politics, an update on the crime stats, and stories on an embattled member of Congress and an embattled liberal radio network.
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN... THE ANCHORMAN
Tonight's "Making a Difference" segment is about Bono. Having met with President Bush on board Air Force One in Chicago last night, he today launched the new "Red" campaign, aimed at raising money (by just making everyday purchases) to eradicate AIDS in Africa. I spent time with him earlier in the week, and today he visited 30 Rock so we could sit with him for an interview. The Bono that I feel so fortunate to have come to know is a lot of things: enormously talented, extremely energetic, sentimental, oddly introverted, charmingly self-deprecating... and very mischievous. So it was that we found ourselves near the elevators, just outside the NBC Nightly newsroom.
At my request, Bono had just appeared before an impromptu gathering of staffers to thank them for their coverage of his efforts. We posed for a still picture in front of what's called a "light box," an embarassingly large promotional picture of yours truly designed to get the attention of the tour groups that walk by all day long. Bono asked if anyone had a Sharpie. The result is now on display for all to see. I've been defaced. I'm now wearing something of a Zorro/raccoon mask. Passing tour groups this afternoon in the hallway [Image link] shake their heads in disgust, picturing a common prankster with a permanent pen. This was no common prankster. What they don't know is -- the small initial "B" [Image link] at the bottom of the graffiti stands for the frontman of U2. I shared with Bono a common American adage about "paybacks" -- which ends with a word that is not family reading material -- and told him that while it might take me a while, I'll get him back. It was a fun afternoon, and a good interview. It will all make for a great "Making a Difference" segment tonight.
I hope you can join us this evening. Have a good weekend.
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Dramatic Day
I think you may have got it wrong Brian, I don't think the sharpie was used to give you "something of a Zorro/raccoon mask", i think Bono was trying to draw a pair of his trade mark wrap around sunglasses on you. The shape fits and the scribble inside the shape looks like shading... Ask the man himself, i've a sneaking suspicion he was trying to make you look cool.
Val Farrelly, Falls Church, VA (Sent Oct 19, 2006 4:33:08 PM)
Brian,
Don't be so quick to judge, the Zorro/racoon mask is "quite becoming"--it draws the attention to the eyes :)...tehe, hee, hee. Of course, we have to admit, Bono's about the only one who could get away with something like that. Anyway, I hope you get him back reeeal gooood.
Tiffany, Beijing (Sent Oct 18, 2006 3:07:51 AM)
dirty harry purchased a condo for $750,000 with campaign funds. this is illegal, i refer you to the campaign laws. if this info did'nt come out, dirty harry would'nt be asking to amend his forms or to pay back the money now would he???
(Sent Oct 16, 2006 6:06:38 PM)
LOL about what Bono did to your picture! He and has "Red" campaign were an excellent choice for "Making a Difference" last night. His touching story about the African man who pleaded with him to take his son home with him made me think Madonna (who's been trying to adopt an African baby) should have been travelling along with Bono.
U2's unsung hero, The Edge, whose good works haven't been getting the publicity Bono's have, also merits a "Making a Difference" segment or at least a report. This is because of The Edge's charitable contributions to Music Rising, an organization devoted to helping New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Katrina. Most of New Orleans' 2500 professional musicians were uprooted and scattered to the four winds, and many had instruments destroyed in the flood--so this is a worthy cause indeed. The Edge has also been shooting a documentary in New Orleans that he hopes will revive interest in the plight of her people. And you may recall that The Edge, along with New Orleans musicians, performed at the Saints' first game at home in the Superdome after Katrina.
Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Oct 14, 2006 2:39:44 PM)
Answer the inquiry: Where is NBC's outrage, coverage, and investigative reporting on Dirty Harry Reid's possible / probable criminal behavior? Surely the IRS is checking into this yahoo's activity.
Ohn Eppen, Racy, WI (Sent Oct 14, 2006 10:41:13 AM)
Harry Reid did not disclose his 2001 land deal or his ties to the LLC on his annual ethics report which violated Senate Rules. In 2004, Reid made 1.1 million off the sale of the land and reported it as a personal land sale instead of a sale by the LLC. First he violated Senate rules then he lied. And all the while he has been on the evening news telling us about the Republican "Culture of Corruption". He is a hypocrite. If it was investigated thoroughly, there would probably be more wrong doing.
(Sent Oct 13, 2006 11:01:13 PM)
For Shelby in Oklahoma, what Congressman Reid did is no where near a scandal, you are allowed to purchase land that's for sale in America and invest in the land. You should look up how many people have purchased land in Nevada it's like the new gold rush. There is nothing more heinous than preying on children, give me a break, you know if it was your son or daughter you would be highly agitated. This is beyond the bizarre when people put their political party above the welfare of a minor. I believe some Americans are becoming just as radical as the terrorists. For Air America, I hope they can continue and grow even stronger, God knows they're the only people telling the plain truth. People just don't want to hear the truth.
(Sent Oct 13, 2006 7:28:30 PM)
The real October surprise is extraordinary rise in American casualties this month. Followed by the lies this adminstration and military are telling America. The corruption and cost of this war keeps getting pushed out of the limelight by the media because the media is afraid. It is a sad day for America and those families with members fighting in this war.
john koeppen Racine wisconsin (Sent Oct 13, 2006 6:19:17 PM)
For the past couple of days, I have read posts saying "how come you aren't covering the SCANDAL with Reid?". If it were news...it would be covered. I think the protestations are just a pathetic grasp at trying to allay the criticism of all the crap going on on the other side of the aisle by trying to cite that "someone else is just as corrupt". Firstly, showing that someone else is as bad as you does not make your being bad any better. SEcondly, the guy made money on an investment in land in Vegas. How extraordinary!! Everyone who has sold land in Vegas after holding it a couple of years has made money. THe guy transferred the land into an LLC in which he had an interest, and made money when the LLC sold it. I just don't see the "scandal" in that. It's not as if he used the money to buy votes, or to enlist adolescent teenaged boys to do his bidding or anything like that.
Jeff de Lapp , Laguna Beach, CA (Sent Oct 13, 2006 5:50:43 PM)
Brian ... I think those are Bono's "artistic rendition" of his RED glasses. Apparently he hasn't heard the tales about what a prankster you are, as well. If those stories have any truth behind them, well ... Bono, when you least expect it, expect it -- LOL!!!
Cyrena, Vicksburg, Mississippi (Sent Oct 13, 2006 5:43:09 PM)
Where is NBC's coverage of the Harry Reid land scandal? It is certainly much bigger news than a former perverted congressman from Florida.
tim shelby, Tulsa, Oklahoma (Sent Oct 13, 2006 5:25:08 PM)
Unlike your standard/overdone love/sex songs by pop groups, Bono is very much engaged with the realities of life. One of the main threads present in all religions is "a purpose beyond self." As much as I like U2 I must say the message coming from classic metal bands like Maiden, Priest, Dio, Sabbath, Widowmaker, WASP, and so on is all the more vocal about the need for sweeping changes. Most view metal as just loud noise that corrupts teens, but it is actually much the opposite. There really are some issues worth screaming about: antiwar, anti-pornography, anti-drug, anti-corruption, pro-environmental, and most of all the encouragement of the self-belief that is so vital if we are ever to have the courage to be engaged in changing things. Bar the band WASP, these groups don’t even mention the word “party” and their passion is clearly in evidence. Sometimes I think U2 has chosen the easy path not to be associated with Metal and to some extent I can see why. That being said, I wouldn’t mind to hear U2 with an even heavier message worth screaming about. Don’t do a Ray Neigan where you have a Cat 5 hurricane bearing down on you and all you do is “politely ask people to leave” at some point you get on the bull horn and demand action NOW! GO ONE.org-WE CAN ALL BE FREE!
Author Christopher Eldridge, Harrisburg PA (Sent Oct 13, 2006 5:00:41 PM)
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