Vice Presidential Debate Moderator's Spouse Found to Have Donated to Controversial Lincoln Project
The spouse of one of the moderators for the upcoming CBS News vice presidential debate, featuring candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Walz, has been discovered to have made two donations of $250 each to the Lincoln Project during the 2020 election. The Lincoln Project is a controversial anti-Trump super-PAC.
Donations Made by Ali "Yado" Yakub
Federal Election Commission records indicate that Ali "Yado" Yakub, the husband of Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan, made these contributions on July 2 and September 26 of that year. The address listed in the voting records matches that of Yakub and Brennan's residence. Yakub is registered as a Republican and Brennan is registered as an independent. However, party registration does not necessarily reflect political preference. Yakub also made contributions to ActBlue in 2019, including two that were earmarked for the primary campaign of future Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The Lincoln Project Controversy
The Lincoln Project was initially seen as a principled response by GOP establishment members to Trump's takeover of the party. However, the group lost credibility when allegations emerged in January 2021 that co-founder John Weaver had engaged in sexual misconduct with young, male staffers and had allegedly solicited boys as young as 14. This led to an exodus of the group’s more influential figures. The group has also been accused of engaging in radical and outlandish behavior, such as staging a fake neo-Nazi rally and attempting to blame Trump supporters.
Implications for CBS News
It is unclear whether Yakub’s donations would violate any CBS newsroom ethical policies. However, CBS News, like many mainstream media outlets, recently amplified attacks on Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. This has led to perceptions of bias by its own standard, particularly if Brennan’s moderation is believed to favor Walz over Vance in the Oct. 1 matchup.
Allegations of Moderator Bias
The revelation of Brennan’s indirect ties to the Lincoln Project via Yakub comes amid lingering sensitivities about moderator bias. Reports have suggested that ABC News may have colluded with the Kamala Harris campaign in the Sept. 10 presidential debate. A whistleblower affidavit alleged that the network agreed to give Harris access to question topics, avoid certain questions and unilaterally “fact check” the statements of former President Donald Trump. The Senate has pledged to investigate these allegations.
Previous Accusations of CBS News Bias
CBS’s top leadership has been revealed to be loaded with Democrat donors. The network has been notorious for its bias in years past. Bernard Goldberg’s 2002 book Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News reflects on his 30-year career at the network. Another prominent CBS News alumna and well-known media-bias critic, Sharyl Attkisson, has also expressed her belief that corporate influences had impacted journalistic integrity over the past decade.
Bottom Line
The connection between a vice presidential debate moderator and controversial political donations raises questions about potential bias and the integrity of the debate process. It's a reminder of the importance of transparency and impartiality in the media, particularly during election seasons. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think it could impact the fairness of the upcoming debate? Share this article with your friends and let's start a conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.
