More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.
On Tuesday’s NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer welcomed Congress back from its summer recess by warning of a government shutdown: “Congress back in session, okay, after a long recess. One of the topics we're going to hear about in the coming months or weeks the possible shutdown of the government again.” The headline on screen announced: “Congress Back to Work; Top Priority: Preventing Government Shutdown.”
Turning to political analyst Nicolle Wallace and Bloomberg Politics editor Mark Halperin, Lauer wondered: “How might that play into the campaign, the race?” Surprisingly, both pundits concluded that a budget stalemate would benefit Donald Trump. Wallace proclaimed: “I think people – this whole Republican side of the race at least – was about outsiders. And I think to the degree that the men and women in Washington look like the typical gridlocked insiders, I think that could serve Trump's interests.”