PBS News Lauds 'Progressive' Minority Victors, Skipping Their Hard-Left Edges

The day after the Blue Wave swept over America, Wednesday's PBS News Hour lauded "progressive" left victors and triumphant minority candidates, while sanding off their hard-left edges. Co-anchor Geoff Bennett brought a list of electoral "historic firsts," but left out Florida electing its first black governor, Republican Bryon Donalds.

Geoff Bennett: ….yesterday's election brought a number of historic firsts. In New Hampshire, Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate. In Colorado, Melat Kiros became the first Generation Z woman elected to Congress. And, in Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first black woman elected governor. Among those making history is Deb Haaland, who will become the first Native American woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state. Haaland previously served as interior secretary under President Biden and was one of the first Native American women elected to Congress. 

FL Gov Byron Donalds, anyone? PBS on yesterday's "historic firsts": "Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the Senate...Melat Kiros became the first Generation Z woman elected to Congress....Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first black woman elected governor..." pic.twitter.com/5AOHCVrVk7

— Clay Waters 🇮🇱 (@claywaters44) November 5, 2026

After offering congratulations, Bennett offered just a smidgeon of journalistic questioning:

….You made history, of course, but voters are also expecting results. So how will you balance the symbolism of this victory with the responsibility now of governing a state that has faced persistent challenges?....

Then it was back to full fawning mode.

Bennett: ….I hear you when you say that you did not run for the sole goal of making history. But you have broken barriers before, as we mentioned, the first Native American woman -- among the first Native American women elected to Congress, the first Native American Cabinet secretary. Does this victory feel different, serving as governor?

That same night, co-anchor Amna Nawaz flattered another new congressperson in waiting, a "progressive Democrat" in Michigan, William Lawrence, who campaigned against data centers, while skipping his controversial past, including a nasty song-rant about then-serving Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV):

"[D]eleted posts show Lawrence writing 'f**k' the nuclear-family home and calling it an 'isolating, individualistic, violent way of organizing society,' envisioning 'a world of free and open migration,' and calling to 'Abolish the Senate.'

"Lawrence even wrote a song inspired by moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's resistance to Democrats' climate agenda: 'Our generation says f**k you for everything,' Lawrence wrote in lyrics he posted in December 2021. 'Hurry up and die so that we can get started.'"

Nawaz seemed politely out for Republican blood.

Nawaz: ….On the accountability front, if I can ask you, where do you think Democrats' priority should be? Where should you go first in oversight hearings or impeachment or some other step?

Reporter Liz Landers' electoral rundown opened with a montage of happy Democratic winners while sanitizing the nasty U.S. Senate victory speech of radical Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

Landers: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's Senate race, beating Republican Mike Rogers, despite a last-minute defection from fellow Democrat Haley Stevens. He'll become the first Muslim ever elected to the Senate and withstanding ugly campaign attacks on his faith, including when the president called him a jihadist. El-Sayed did not hold back in addressing his opponent.

Abdul El-Sayed [on stage]: So, Mike, enjoy your retirement. I know you got a house in Florida and two yachts. See, you chose hate and Michigan chose hope.

Speaking of ugly attacks, the clip cut off before the personally nasty part from El-Sayed's speech: "May we never have to see the likes of you in this state again." How very "inclusive"!

Landers acknowledged but tucked away the milestone of Republican Byron Donalds becoming Florida's first black governor far down her list of election "firsts," in seventh out of eight place. The first was New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas, "the first openly gay man elected to the Senate in U.S. history." The 8th: "And a new milestone for youth. Melat Kiros is the first woman from Gen Z elected to Congress…." Donalds made do with Landers' noting "Republican Byron Donalds becomes the state of Florida's first black governor."