TV networks, streaming services add features to win election night
TV networks, streaming services and newspapers are all bringing out the latest technological advancements to win election night coverage. From virtual reality sets to election integrity teams, outlets are pulling out all stops to be the destination for American voters looking for the latest results and analysis.
MSNBC will present a virtual reality set for its election night coverage. That will see reporters appearing to stand near the White House, while in reality, they’ll be inside the 30 Rock studios in New York City.
Its sister network, NBC News also will unveil a VR set where its anchors will appear to be delivering news from outside the studio. NBC’s streaming service Peacock will debut its multiview experience for the first time beyond a sporting event.
It will give viewers three livestreams at once including the Kornacki Cam. The Kornacki Cam is a feed on correspondent Steve Kornacki analyzing the latest results.
ABC News is touting its 72 hours plus of election coverage which includes its “ballot watch” desk overseen by the ABC News Investigative Unit. ABC says it will be “monitoring all storylines related to election integrity.”
Fox News says it will debut new immersive graphics technology as part of its special coverage of the 2024 election. This includes a 3D “Path to 270 Map” showing the candidates’ options at reaching the critical number of electoral votes.
The network was the most-watched cable network last election night in 2020 setting a record with 13.7 million viewers.
Over at NewsNation, the channel will be covering its first presidential election since becoming a full-time 24-hour national news network earlier this year. Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo will be at the anchor desk covering the election.
The CW network will simulcast part of NewsNation’s coverage.
Former NBC News anchor Brian Williams leads Amazon Prime Video’s entry into election night coverage.
Comedy Central will have a special edition of “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart.
CNBC will focus on the economy during its special programming from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
CNN is adding its Magic Wall experience to its app. CBS News, not to be outdone by NBC, will also be debuting its new AR-VR presidential election center.
Beyond TV and streaming, The Associated Press will be using its “state-of-the-art analytics tools” as well as its AP VoteCast. The VoteCast surveys American voters across the country as the polls close in its reporting.
The Washington Post is unveiling a slate of new features to its coverage including an election dashboard that provides live updates from key swing states.
The New York Times will have its famous needle as election results come in.
As for Straight Arrow News, we’ll be bringing you updates throughout election night and viewers will get a full recap of the evening’s events on Wednesday, Nov. 6, during SAN’s morning show “Unbiased Updates.”
According to Nielsen, an estimated 56.9 million people tuned in to watch primetime coverage of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. That was down from 71 million viewers in 2016.
It will be interesting to see not just now how many people show up at the polls this election, but how many show up to watch the results
Americans’ trust in media, US government reaches all-time low
Americans’ trust in the media and Congress has hit a historic low, according to a new Gallup poll, while confidence in local government remains significantly higher. The poll highlights a deep partisan divide, with Republicans expressing particularly low confidence in the media.
According to the survey, only 31% of Americans trust mass media to report news fully, accurately and fairly, making it the least trusted civic institution.
Gallup/Straight Arrow News
By comparison, 67% of respondents say they trust their local government, and 34% express trust in Congress.
The survey also shows that only 12% of Republicans trust the media, compared to 54% of Democrats and 27% of Independents.
Media trust saw a slight rebound after falling to 32% in 2016, but the latest numbers suggest any recovery has evaporated. The implications of this declining trust remain unclear, though it points to growing demand for transparency and accountability in national institutions.
Secret Pentagon UFO program allegedly operating without Congress’ knowledge
A whistleblower came forward with claims of a secret Pentagon program, allegedly tasked with gathering information on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs. The program, referred to as “Immaculate Constellation,” reportedly operated without congressional oversight for years, according to independent journalist Michael Shellenberger.
In an interview with NewsNation, Shellenberger said the whistleblower stumbled upon the program by accident and detailed several UFO incidents.
In one instance, orbs reportedly surrounded an F-22 fighter jet, forcing it to leave its patrol area. In another, a Navy aircraft crew witnessed an orange-red sphere descending from high altitude, leaving them with an unsettling sense of unease.
The whistleblower, whose identity remains confidential due to concerns for their safety, also claimed that the Department of Defense created “Immaculate Constellation” in 2017 after The New York Times revealed the existence of another Pentagon program, the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which investigated UAP encounters.
The Department of Defense has strongly denied the allegations.
“The Department of Defense has no record, present or historical, of any type of SAP (Special Access Program) called ‘Immaculate Constellation,’” spokesperson Sue Gough said in a statement to NewsNation.
Despite the Pentagon’s denial, the whistleblower’s claims echo previous allegations made by former intelligence officials.
In 2023, former Air Force officer David Grusch testified to Congress about a secret UAP retrieval program, asserting that the Pentagon had been operating such programs without public knowledge or oversight.
The disclosure adds to the growing interest in UAPs, with bipartisan calls for greater transparency. Lawmakers, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have been pressing for more information on the government’s handling of UAP investigations.
Earlier this year, Congress held hearings to explore UAP phenomena and potential national security risks associated with unexplained aerial sightings.
While the Pentagon maintains that UAP reports are often misidentified drones, classified military projects, or known aerial objects, the whistleblower’s report has renewed demands for accountability and disclosure.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
We’re getting our most in-depth look so far at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And there’s new skin in the game in the battle over who actually caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
The new filing, revealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, also claims Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate and not the President of the United States when he sought to overturn his loss.
The latest court filing comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer that said Trump had immunity for official actions taken while still in office. The filing also alleges the former president knew his claims about the 2020 election being stolen were lies, but he spread them anyways as a ploy to stay in power.
It also includes evidence of Trump’s phone usage during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — when, it claims, the former president was scrolling Twitter. The filing also claims Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Electoral College votes.
“This was a weaponization of government and that’s why it was released 30 days before the election,” he said. “And it’s nothing new in there, by the way, nothing new. They rigged the election. I didn’t rig the election. They rigged the election.”
The new filing was unsealed just 33 days before the election coming up on Nov. 5.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, accusing him of a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of the election, attempting to defraud the U.S. out of accurate results and interfering with Americans’ voting rights.
At least 6 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
It comes after Israeli forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front since clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah started almost a year ago. At least seven Israeli soldiers died in Israel’s recent offensive.
Lebanese health officials say in addition to those killed, at least seven more people were wounded in what Israel says was a precise strike on Lebanon’s capitol, which happened not far from the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it downed at least two drones and more than two dozen rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday.
FEMA warns of funding shortages for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 191 across six states, making it the second-deadliest U.S. Hurricane in the past 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm hit Florida last week before sweeping through the southeast, causing widespread flooding and devastation, especially in North Carolina, where at least 95 people have died.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Congress recently replenished $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, but lawmakers may need to reconvene before the election to approve more money if necessary.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
Prosecutors ask for indefinite delay in would-be Trump assassin’s trial
Federal prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They say they’ve collected a “massive” amount of evidence since the Secret Service, with the help of local police in Florida, arrested Ryan Routh last month after authorities say an agent spotted him with a gun outside the Mar-a-Lago golf course where the former president was playing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to officially designate the case as “complex,” saying they’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses across various states and have thousands of videos to review from electronic devices they’ve seized. They also say more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns are still pending.
According to the filing, Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the prosecutors’ request to delay the trial date. Routh’s lawyers have entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, on the attempted assassination charges.
ATF says broken power line caused deadly Maui wildfire
We now know what caused the massive and deadly wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that claimed 102 lives and caused more than $5 billion in damage. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has classified the fire as accidental, saying it started when a re-energized broken power line sparked, igniting the fire in an unmaintained vegetation area.
ATF also ruled out the possibility there had been two separate fires saying definitively, “This, in fact, was one fire.”
More than 100 people died and flames destroyed much of the historic city of Lahaina. The fire also sparked other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.
Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball
The battle over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has intensified. A second fan filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the valuable souvenir.
The ball, hit during Ohtani’s historic Sept. 19 game for the L.A. Dodgers against the Miami Marlins, has reached about $1.5 million in auction bids.
Joseph Davidov, who filed the latest lawsuit in Florida, claims he had possession of the ball before another fan jumped on him, causing it to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski, who later auctioned it. Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
This follows 18-year-old Max Matus’ earlier lawsuit, alleging Belanski forcibly took the ball from him during a scramble in the stands. Both fans are pursuing rightful ownership of the ball, which celebrates Ohtani’s achievement as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The ongoing legal disputes have delayed the auction, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. The ball’s rising value has garnered widespread attention, rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.
Texas Gov. Abbott issues another warning about alligators in Rio Grande
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, has once again issued a warning to migrants about the potential dangers in the Rio Grande, citing evidence of alligators in the river along the U.S.-Mexico border. The governor shared new footage on social media, highlighting potential wildlife threats in areas where migrants often attempt illegal crossings.
Abbott shared a video on social media platform X showing an alligator swimming in the river. The footage, originally posted by a NewsNation reporter, highlights a large alligator in the area, which Texas Department of Public Safety troopers say is regularly spotted where many migrants attempt to cross the border illegally.
This is not the first time Abbott has raised concerns about alligators in the Rio Grande. In April, the governor issued a similar warning, noting that alligators pose a serious threat in certain sections of the river and that signs are posted in some areas to alert migrants to the danger.
Getty Images
Abbott’s latest warning comes as tensions continue to rise over U.S. immigration policies, particularly ahead of the upcoming November presidential election. The Biden administration has faced ongoing criticism from Republicans over border security, with Abbott taking particularly strong measures, including installing razor wire along portions of the border to deter illegal crossings.
While alligator attacks are rare, they do occur. In Florida, the state’s Wildlife Conservation Commission has recorded more than 450 alligator bites and 30 fatalities since 1948.
Candidates, networks debate over future of second presidential debate
In the weeks after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term in the Oval Office, many questions came up about who would replace him on the ticket and how the rest of the race would play out. Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, more questions arose surrounding the second presidential debate.
Many questions remain unanswered, including who will host the debate, when it will be and whether it will actually happen. All of those remain unclear.
Biden and former President Donald Trump agreed to debate on ABC News on Sept. 10. Harris agreed to debate on the same stage when she took over as presumptive Democratic nominee.
However, on Friday, Aug. 2, Trump said he would not be there. In a series of posts on Truth Social, the former president said since Biden is no longer a candidate, the debate is “terminated.”
Trump also said ongoing defamation lawsuit against ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos created a conflict of interest with the network.
Stephanopoulos was not scheduled to moderate.
Instead, Trump suggested a debate on Sept. 4, hosted by Fox News in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. Trump said if Harris does not accept, he would hold a town hall during that time slot instead.
A Harris campaign spokesperson said Trump is “running scared” and that he was “trying to back out of a debate he already agreed to.”
Harris said if Trump did not appear at the Sept. 10 debate, she would also hold a town hall during the slot.
Fox and ABC News are not the only two candidates to host the second debate. Other networks like NewsNation, which hosted a GOP debate in 2023, sent letters to both candidates’ campaigns on Sunday. The letter proposed a debate in a battleground state, but said the network was flexible on the date and time.
The Washington Post reported that CBS News offered to host the debate on Sept. 4, one day after it hosts the vice presidential debate.
The Commission on Presidential Debates also said that it is ready to carry out its originally scheduled debate plans if Trump and Harris agree to them. Trump and Biden had previously chose to participate in independent debates, like the one CNN hosted on June 27. Biden’s performance during that debate ultimately led him to drop out of the race.
Google scrambles to improve AI after strange answers and major outage
Google is addressing the inaccuracies that emerged with its AI-generated search results. Earlier this month, the results began providing incorrect and sometimes dangerous responses. Meanwhile, Google is recovering from an unexplained outage Friday, May 31, that disrupted news searches worldwide.
The company announced plans to scale back some features and implement at least a dozen technical improvements. Google’s head of search, Liz Reid, explained in a recent blog post that the issues were due to “data voids” and searches designed to generate bizarre results. In a notable example that went viral, the AI suggested adding non-toxic glue to pizza to help the cheese stick better, a tip traced back to an old Reddit post.
Reid elaborated on the challenges of interpreting nonsensical queries and satirical content, using the query, “How many rocks should I eat?” as an example, which gained attention only after screenshots went viral.
As Google strives to refine its search results, it encountered another setback when its Google News services failed, leaving users without results under the “News” panel. DownDetector.com reported a spike in global outages, causing widespread frustration among users.
These incidents underscore the critical importance of reliability as Google aggressively expands into the AI market. The company has not yet confirmed if the new AI-enhanced features were responsible for the recent service disruptions.
Reporters film immigrant smugglers cutting fence, call Border Patrol
NewsNation journalists covering the immigration crisis at the southern border recorded apparent human smugglers in action. Following some provocative behavior from the smugglers, the news crew seemingly had no choice but to become part of their story.
According to the network, the news team was reporting from Lukeville, Arizona, when they saw a group of alleged human smugglers leading a family of migrants to the border wall. Once at the wall, NewsNation says the group cut a hole in the wall using power tools.
The network’s cameras captured the family making their way through the breach point — including a young child and an older man with one leg who needed help. The migrants told NewsNation they were from Peru.
NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley says she was then motioned over to the wall by the leader of the apparent smuggling group. Bradley asked him his name and how much he was paid to smuggle the migrants, however the man did not answer.
NewsNation says their cameras also recorded the group returning two hours later, cutting a new hole in the wall using an electric saw and a generator. Bradley recapped what happened during an on-air report on Thursday, Nov. 30.
While they were out there, they’re standing out there taunting us. They were blowing kisses at me, they were laughing, they just continued to cut through that wall. This is pretty much of a game to them at this point — a very lucrative game at that
Ali Bradley, NewsNation Reporter
“While they were out there, they’re standing out there taunting us. They were blowing kisses at me, they were laughing, they just continued to cut through that wall,” Bradley said. “This is pretty much of a game to them at this point — a very lucrative game at that.”
The NewsNation crew took action and called Border Patrol. Once an agent arrived on the scene, the network says the alleged smugglers retreated.
As news outlets continue to cover the ongoing immigration crisis, a study released Thursday, Nov. 30, by the Center for Immigration Studies, a non-partisan, independent research organization, says the foreign-born population in the United States is 49.5 million people. That is about 15% of the population, including immigrants in the U.S. both legally and illegally.
The center says the foreign-born population has grown by 4.5 million since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. The center estimates that over half of that increase is due to illegal immigration.
The study notes, however, that while a large share of recent foreign-born growth is due to illegal immigration, legal immigrants still account for three-fourths of the total foreign-born population.
