Sinclair Broadcast Group pushes segment criticizing child detention reports
Sinclair Broadcasting Group is showing a video on its local broadcast news stations across the U.S. in which a political commentator attacks media coverage of the Trump administration's policy of separating immigrant children from their families.
Boris Epshteyn, chief political analyst for Sinclair, declares in the new video that the U.S. immigration system "is undeniably broken and the discourse around this topic is toxic."
"Many members of the media and opponents of the president have seized on this issue to make it seem as if those who are tough on immigration are somehow monsters," he adds.
Sinclair, which owns or operates more than 190 broadcast stations across the U.S., has come under increased scrutiny for what media watchdogs claim are efforts to push conservative viewpoints to viewers — many of whom do not realize that their local stations are owned by the TV company. Sinclair is known to require that their stations air segments produced by the company known as "must runs."
Media Matters, a left-leaning media analysis organization, reported that the segment had aired in at least 18 states, according to data from iQ Media, which tracks TV broadcasts.
Many of these segments feature Epshteyn, a former White House press officer whose recurring "Bottom Line" videos have defended President Donald Trump on everything from Trump's comments after the fatal Charlottesville rally to the North Korea summit.
Other segments have featured local anchors reading from a prepared script. A video from sports website Deadspin that stitched together various anchors reading one such script went viral, bringing attention to the company's practice of pushing conservative narratives.
Sinclair did not immediately respond to a request for comment.