[More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.]
ABC and NBC's morning newscasts on 8 December 2014 both touted the upcoming congressional report on the CIA's post-9/11 interrogation techniques as "explosive" and "damning." However, neither network pointed out that it was Democratic members on the Senate Intelligence Committee that commissioned the document. By contrast, CBS This Morning reported that "Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee are set to release a controversial report on the CIA."
NBC's Matt Lauer first used the "explosive" label on Today, as he previewed correspondent Andrea Mitchell's report: "U.S. embassies around the world bracing for the release of an explosive Senate report on torture techniques used by the CIA. Will the findings spark deadly terror attacks?" Moments later, the anchor led into the segment by highlighting "the imminent release of a damning report on harsh CIA interrogations in the wake of 9/11."