With a number of timely polls suggesting good fortune for Democrats in the November midterms — recall Hillary Clinton’s 90-plus percent chance of winning in 2016 — ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl appeared to have trouble containing his enthusiasm.
Amid recent projections that Democrats may not only maintain control of the Senate, but even gain a seat or two, the ever-reliable water carrier for the Democratic Party saw an opportunity to heap praise on frail, 79-year-old President Joe Biden.
“It looks like Democrats could pick up, maybe even a couple of seats in the Senate. No first-term president has picked up Senate seats in the midterms since JFK. Is it going to happen this time?” Karl asked Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”
Of course, that’s not true but it’s hard to fault Karl for offering a false analogy here — after all, you have to go all the way back to… the Trump presidency to find a similar occurrence.
The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway was more than willing to do her civic duty and point Karl in the right direction.
“ABC News’s @jonkarl out there pushing completely fake news as part of its obsessive pro-Democrat election meddling, as per usual. Donald Trump picked up Senate seats in his first mid-term and he did it against an absolutely deranged media and establishment resistance,” she tweeted.
ABC News’s @jonkarl out there pushing completely fake news as part of its obsessive pro-Democrat election meddling, as per usual. Donald Trump picked up Senate seats in his first mid-term and he did it against an absolutely deranged media and establishment resistance. pic.twitter.com/JBidRWd09A
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) August 21, 2022
Real Clear Politics’ Tom Bevan was a little more… shall we say animated in his objection to Karl’s antics.
“Other than DJT in 2018, GWB in 2002 and Nixon in 1970, he’s spot f*cking on,” Bevan tweeted, before hitting it a second time to say, “I’m still shaking my head over this. It literally happened in THE LAST MIDTERM ELECTION.”
I’m still shaking my head over this. It literally happened in THE LAST MIDTERM ELECTION…..https://t.co/VYcXNN4Xah
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) August 21, 2022
Considering Karl showcased U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney on Sunday’s show after her devastating Republican primary loss in Wyoming to besmirch the GOP’s election hopes, his agenda was on full display.
Social media was hip to the jive… here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
probably pretty easy, since they downplayed it at the time, and lied about every other success of his as well.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) August 21, 2022
In defense of @jonkarl he probably doesn’t believe Trump was actually President.
— Ronald Wier (@kometfan4841) August 21, 2022
Probably won’t point out that obama, who pushed the same exact demented agenda as biden, lost more democrat congressional seats, state legislatures & Governors than any other president in history.
Sad it takes this much damage to get Americans to vote & vote right.
— MephibinAz.🌵 (@Az61Ronin) August 21, 2022
Remember these are the people who see themselves as your betters. What a joke they are
— MC Rosie💨 (@MC_Rosie4) August 21, 2022
@jonkarl – correction anytime soon? Nah. Because ABC is fake news.
— gcourtney (@gcourtney3) August 22, 2022
Karl was there in 2002. He knows this. He also should know the 2002 midterms exceeded JFK’s achievement as W. picked up seats in both House and Senate!
— Jim Stinson (@jimstinson) August 22, 2022
MSM: ‘Republican presidents don’t count.’
— Robert (@Robert__33) August 21, 2022
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Fetterman slams NYC ‘a**holes’ chanting for Hamas near Jewish school - January 9, 2026
- JD Vance calls out an ‘absolutely insane headline’ – and for good reason! - January 9, 2026
- Australian mass shooting hero praises Trump: ‘I love him’ - January 9, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.