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George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos8 posts
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21 Nov, 2016

Trump meets top media execs, anchors

Meeting0 Comments

wolf-blitzer-trumpIn a meeting organised by Conway, Trump meets executives and on-air anchors from CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC and CBS, the five largest television networks in the United States, for an off-the-record discussion. ABC News is represented by president Goldston and anchors Stephanopoulos, Muir, and Raddatz; NBC by anchors Holt and Todd, along with president Turness; CBS by Rose, King, O’Donnell and Dickerson; CNN by president Zucker, with anchors Blitzer and Burnett; Fox News by several executives including co-presidents Shine and Abernathy; and MSNBC by president Griffin. Transition officials wouldn’t discuss the purpose for the meeting. Sources:

It was like a f-cking firing squad. Trump started with [CNN chief] Jeff Zucker and said ‘I hate your network, everyone at CNN is a liar and you should be ashamed. The meeting was a total disaster. The TV execs and anchors went in there thinking they would be discussing the access they would get to the Trump administration, but instead they got a Trump-style dressing down…Trump didn’t say [NBC reporter] Katy Tur by name, but talked about an NBC female correspondent who got it wrong, then he referred to a horrible network correspondent who cried when Hillary lost who hosted a debate – which was Martha Raddatz who was also in the room.

Conway:

Excellent meetings with the top executives of the major networks. Pretty unprecedented meeting we put together in two days.

15 May, 2015

Pulls out of debate

Appearance Cancellation0 Comments

In a phone interview Stephanopoulos calls the donations a mistake and reiterates his earlier apology.

I gave the donations for the right reasons, for the best of intentions, to support causes I believe in. In retrospect, I realize that even though that falls within our guidelines, I should have gone above and beyond that, just to avoid anything that would even raise any possible appearance of a conflict. That’s why it was a mistake, and that’s why I’m sorry — to our viewers and to my colleagues.

He also says he will not host the February 2016 Republican primary debate

I don’t want to be a distraction, so I’m not going to moderate that debate…I am going to continue to cover the 2016 campaign. I think I’ll be able to prove every single day that I do it with intelligence and fairness, just as I’ve done for the last 17-plus years.

On air apology

Apology0 Comments

Stephanopoulos apologizes live on Good Morning America:

Over the last several years, I have made substantial donations to dozens of charities, including the Clinton Global Foundation. Those donations were a matter of public record. But I should have made additional disclosures on-air when we covered the foundation and I now believe directing personal donations to that foundation was a mistake. Even though I made them strictly to support work done to stop the spread of AIDS, help children and protect the environment in poor countries, I should have gone the extra mile to avoid even the appearance of a conflict. I apologize to all of you for failing to do that.

14 May, 2015

Clinton donations apology

Apology0 Comments

Politico reports that Stephanopoulos has not disclosed donations of $75,000 to The Clinton Foundation, while reporting on the Clintons or the organization. Stephanopoulos issues an apology:

I made charitable donations to the Foundation in support of the work they’re doing on global AIDS prevention and deforestation, causes I care about deeply,” he said. “I thought that my contributions were a matter of public record. However, in hindsight, I should have taken the extra step of personally disclosing my donations to my employer and to the viewers on air during the recent news stories about the Foundation. I apologize.

ABC also issues a statement:

He should have taken the extra step to notify us and our viewers during the recent news reports about the Foundation. He’s admitted to an honest mistake and apologized for that omission. We stand behind him.

Sources say Stephanopoulos gives to dozens of charities every year and that the total sum of these annual contributions is in the millions of dollars.

4 May, 2015

Runs for President

Runs for Office0 Comments

Fiorina announces her candidacy for president on Good Morning America, becoming the first declared female candidate to seek the Republican Party’s nomination.

Yes, I am running. I think I’m the best person for the job because I understand how the economy actually works. I understand the world; who’s in it.

She also criticizes Hillary Clinton saying  she is “clearly is not trustworthy.”

She has not been transparent about a whole set of things that matter.

A video posted on her campaign website, carlyforpresident.com, starts with a shot of Fiorina watching Clinton’s campaign announcement video.

If you’re tired of the sound bites, the vitriol, the pettiness, the egos, the corruption; if you believe that it’s time to declare the end of identity politics; if you believe that it’s time to declare the end of lowered expectations; if you believe that it’s time for citizens to stand up to the political class and say enough, then join us.

25 Nov, 2014

Wilson’s first TV interview

Interview0 Comments

Stephanopolous conducts the first interview of Darren Wilson in a ‘secret location’. The hour long interview is set to air Tuesday, November 25 on World News with David Muir and Nightline and Wednesday, Nov. 26, on Good Morning America. Stephanopolous says Wilson told him that while he is sorry for the death of Brown, he would not change how he handled the situation. Stephanopolous:

He does not think he could have done anything differently. He says he did what he was trained to do. He has a clean conscience over his actions that day.

1 Nov, 2011

ABC interview

Interview0 Comments

Rice discusses Iraq War, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and her new memoir.

The Middle East is the most volatile area in the world. We now know that it is also the cradle of Al Qaeda and extremism…We didn’t go to Iraq to bring democracy to the Iraqis…We were very clear about this. This was a security threat. And I, as much as anybody, understand and really regret the cost, particularly in lives. But I also know that nothing of value is ever won without sacrifice.