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Subscribe to RSSI spent close to 14 hours on Capitol Hill yesterday -- and everyone on our team was there longer than I was. Our cameras and producers witnessed (and recorded) things never seen on camera before. We arrived on the Hill with a staff of 80 including 30 cameras in all. We recorded the entire day, during a critical time for the country. We are in the midst of culling through 75 hours of video -- and distilling it all down to one hour.
During our first production meeting, I got up and took this photo with my Blackberry today -- many of the folks in the room made the trip from DC to New York (walking through the Amtrak train at 9 am today, it looked like a staff meeting on rails) and this photo doesn't show half the people working on our Sunday night special. It's a very impressive group of people -- including some of the best producers, editors and Congressional experts in our news division. We are awfully excited for the broadcast on Sunday night's Dateline and we hope you will be, too.
First things first: we hope you can join us tonight.
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Hi Brian-I'd like to make a comment on something that I heard in your news clip for NN, from Mitch McConnell, when you interviewed him for your upcoming special. You asked him, "Why shouldn't rich people pay more taxes" His response of "They do pay more"....followed by something to the effect of"as a matter of fact, something like 50% of Americans DON'T pay income taxes".
Brian, I'm just going to say it...that statement by McConnell is SO off base and a lie. How is it possible that is even just a bad statement? I'd like to think that a lot less than 50% of American citizens are given a pass on paying income taxes, say, because they're retired, or disabled.
Seeya
Robert Fleming
Google "Tax Policy Center & Why Some Tax Units Pay No Income Tax" That's the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. Not exactly Rush and Levin lmao
Brian, I will tune in Sunday night for the Special. Which should be enlightening. Have a great
evening. Phyllis
Good Evening Mr.Williams, a fine broadcast this evening. Looking forward to your Dateline Special about Capital Hill. Quite an impressive group of people in the picture you took from your Blackberry. So many people working so hard on this Dateline Special. I'm sure it will be excellent. Will certainly tune in on Sunday evening to watch it!
Now on to the broadcast. First of all the reports by Kelly O'Donnell and Mr.Todd showed how the two political parties are cotinuing to disagree resolving the debt crisis. Each side not satisfied with plans being put forth by Mr.Boehner and Mr.Reid. The people in this nation are frustrated and angry with the fact no progress has been made towards a solution and a vote. One hopes that by Tuesday which is the deadline the two parties have reached and agreement. Time is of the ultimate essence.
On another note the report by Mr.Taibbi from Nalut, Libya showed how the rebel forces are continuing to attack Qadhafi forces. One hopes Qadhafi forces do not take over the border crossing which is a threat they have been making with their attacks. It is encouraging the rebel forces have better weapons and control in their battle with Qadhafi forces. Although, the rebels have taken over two towns outside Tripoli they are not ready to celebrate yet since they have not conquered Tripoli battling Qadhafi forces. Not quite a victory right now.
Hopefully, Tropical Storm Don will not cause too much damage when it comes ashore on the Texas coastline tomorrow evening. Although, the rain is certainly needed in a State that is experiencing a major drought.
The report by Mr.Kachroo from the border of Somalia and Kenya showed the famine crisis is a desperate situation. It is heartwrenching to see the babies crying in need if food and medicine since they are so sick from lack of food. It is terrible the aid workers are having difficulty bringing food to the people because there are not secure routes. One hopes so much the aid workers can deliver the necessary food and medicine to these people. It is heartbreaking to see all the suffering while knowing the aid is being blocked. One hopes it will arrive quickly.
Interesting piece by Mara Schiavocampo about the documentary "Life in A Day"
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Peace to You and to All!
Be Well Everyone!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
Lisa
75 hours of tape cut down to just one hour for Dateline this Sunday? I realize all 75 hours can't be shown, but I hope your saving some of those hours of tape for your "other show" starting up this Fall.
Robert, Do you think retired people are freed from paying federal taxes? You are quite mistaken.
thank goodness that i have a great mood lifter like tree-ripened peaches going on in my little front yard or i would really be a basket case from the mess in washington, d.c.! the peach smoothie i made this afternoon with fresh peaches, ice cream and milk did wonders for my nerves!
I'm going to take that comment about this not being like the good ole days when the Speaker could knock heads in the backroom as meaning there's not enough money left to pass out bribes. Always look on the bright side of life whistle whistle whistle.
Another thing I didn't hear was a figure on how much money wasn't going to be enough to get us past the next election. Just found out else where that it's 900 billion. Man remember when that use to be real money? Remember how much hell the democrats raised over the 700 billion Bush spent in Iraq. Comrades have us shovel ready.
Brian, I used to watch you religiously. Unfortunately, NBC's slide to the left has become so obvious and distasteful, I can no longer watch during the week. I will watch Lester Holt on the weekends, occasionally. He seems to be one of the few remaining people that I have a shred of respect for on the Network. So sad to watch an entire network's integrity be compromised by the anti-American left.
Lester Holt is straight forward and a great guy. Brian Williams has a terrific sense of humor,
likable, and I am sticking with him for now, but women are fickle. so many ways a man can
go wrong; woman is a mystery (a country song)
Brian: I'm impressed with the amount of work that was needed to produce "Taking the Hill." It is by no means difficult to compress 75 hours of shots and dialouge into a 1 hour special. There was a great team in place to pull this off. To my recollection. this type of program has never been produced until now. At this moment in time with the ongoing debt crises the special is more prevalent. I believe you said that the timing was a coincidence, and that the special was conceived way before the crises. I'll be looking forward to watching it. Again, another fine job by NBC News. I'll catch tou on tonight's broadcast.
Brian and staff if you want to know why your the most watched and trusted station in the USA try viewing your reports and news which is clearly FAIR/BALANCED. We all have a stake in this mess and all have our own opinions but you just give the facts for us to decide for ourselves. KEEP DOING WHAT YOUR DOING AND YOU WILL REMAIN NUMBER ONE, as we often say in church " and this to will pass". THANK YOU !!!!
ill to the innocent and time will tell.
I just got word online, through NBC News that a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Northeast Japan. It hit roughly in the area where the March eathquake and Tsunami hit. So far there have been no reports of serious damage or deaths. The Japanese government stated that no damage was inflicted on the nuclear power plants in the area. I hope that damage is held to a minimum. Those people have suffered enough already. I'll catch tonight's broadcast for further details. In the meantime, it looks like we are back to square one on the debt fiasco.
A Day In The Life Special. Thanks Brian. Now we get to view the actual physical location of where "the People's Work" doesn't get done!
We might make progress in Washington if, instead of not paying our troops and social security recipients, the very people who would find they will receive no paychecks or benefits of any kind would be those who are failing to do their jobs ---namely the folks in the Congress, the Senate, and the White House. Can the people demand an amendment to this effect?
I absolutely loved the show! NBC needs to do this more often - it was refreshing seeing our elected politicians at work, behind the scenes rather than scripted clips.
Love your work, Brian! But it's too bad that Senator Conrad's dog is more important than getting the job done. Who else in this country can take their dog, cat, or child to work with them? Seems like it would be hard to get anything accomplished. This certainly points out how frivolous the operation of this country has become.
I worked on the Hill, and you pegged it. But I have to say that Kent Conrad should just resign. Bohener smokes, Reid waffles, but Conrad prances around with a pampered pure bred dog in the people's house while I wonder how I can afford to send kids to college? Century farmers in the Dakotas are losing farms and he is coddling a dog in a taxpayer subsidized office? Really?
For God's sake...
Yes ... Senator Conrad has a "pampered pure bred dog". But what you probably do not know is that his bichon frise, Dakota, was a stray turned into the Montgomery County, MD animal shelter. After several applications to adopt the dog fell through, the shelter contacted Bichon Rescue to see if we would take him into our volunteer organization. We did .... and after he spent time in a foster home and received veterinary care, applicants were reviewed. A home visit was done and it was determined that Senator Conrad's family was the best match for this sweet boy. So from shelter dog to "pampered pure bred dog" .... I think the Senator and his wife should get kudos for not just saving this dog's life -- but giving him one that is full of love and devotion!
I have no problem with caring for pets and providing them with a loving home. It is unprofessional and unwarranted to have a pet at work, regardless of where you work.
And no tellin' where that pooch had been sniffing! Come on! This is the people's White House,
Taking The Hill Inside Congress was a very enjoyable program!! The cameras took us places the usual visitor's tour would not. Brian Williams is an excellent interviewer and I found all the interviews interesting.
Thank you, Mr. Williams, and thank you, NBC, for this fine program.
I had to write to tell you Mr Williams that last night Dateline special Taking the Hill was AWESOME!
I have been a video editor (for one of the news networks) for 16 years. Please tell your video editors that they KICKED ASS! that was one amazing piece of work. My hat is off to you and you fine team. I hope that it replays I would love to see it again. I'am not worthy as video editor after seeing that special. :-)
Brian, we thoroughly enjoyed the "Taking the Hill" special; extremely well done. The part of the show that detailed the stunningly ostentatious women's restroom was so startling, we didn't even get the responsible congresswoman's name. What audacity! What horrible excess! How many people were displaced from office space so this edifice could be built? How many millions did this cost? Why do we as taxpayers have to pony up the kind of money this toilet befitting the Palace of Versailles obviously took to build? If this is just a sample of how these prima donnas live, it's no wonder they start their reelection campaign work the day they take office.
I watched "Taking the Hill" last night. It was well done and very enlightening, however I didn't like some of the background music; i.e. "Big Bad John" Seriously? This was distracting and inappropiate.
NBC's Chuck Todd made the comparison between the Debt Crisis and the BP Crisis, but that it had been
plugged. Which I remember so well because my husband and our daughter plugged our hot tub leak
with G.E. Silcone when all this was happening. A great job by Stu and Lesley. But who wants to be
in the hot tub now when it is unsufferingly hot. And heaven forbid that we would skinny-dip and
scare 'em off. Or be harpooned. Either way, a dicey situation And the dices are loaded now.