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The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.

Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.



RAINING CATS AND DOGS

Posted: Friday, July 27, 2007 4:38 PM by Rob Merrill
Filed Under:

by Brian Williams, Anchor and Managing Editor

There are dog people and there are cat people. There are also people who love both animals, and folks who don't like animals at all. After last night's feature story [video link] on the nursing-home cat in Rhode Island, we received a ton of e-mails -- including several accusing me of a distinct pro-dog bias. I am sorting through the stack right now and hope to read some of these on the air tonight.

Top of mind is the markets: I just made the mistake of having CNBC on for the past 30 minutes -- I say that because I heard the always-measured Art Cashin, among others, hinting at a possible downward "spiral" to come. That, along with fears of hedge fund failures (that sound you hear is financial columnists and editorial writers saying "I told you so"), is enough to scare anyone. Erin Burnett will be with us from CNBC tonight to talk us through this.

We've just been watching a scene play out in Phoenix, Ariz. -- something I fear everytime I cover a major spot news event: two helicopters have apparently collided while covering a story on live television. We'll know more by airtime.

The NASA story today is bizarre (I've just ordered up a clip of the mermaid bar scene from "The Right Stuff"), as is the Tillman story. We'll cover both. Since it's Friday night, we'll have our Making A Difference report.

Please make time to read about today's featured Medal of Honor recipient.

I hope you have a good weekend. I also hope you can join us for tonight's NBC Nightly News.

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Comments

Although Brian Williams may be Pro-Dog...the fact is, he is human, but he doesn't seem to know the difference between a "Parrot" and a "Macaw"
To post this message, you require my name and address, please don't give it to the cat!!!
07/27/07 News Broadcast

Mark ZImmerman, Watervliet, New York 12189 (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 7:02 PM)

I always watch your news, it is the BEST!
I loved the cat and dog comments.
Keep up the great work that you do.
The Today Show is also my favourite morning show.
From a senior viewer.

Janet Anderson, Omaha, NE (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 7:08 PM)

Not so sure the NASA story should have trumped Tillman???  Perhaps he - Tillman - saw torture or war crimes and threatened to report it??

I was sorry you chose not to report Gorbachev's statement today about US imperialism and "empire building."  It's only been the cause of the deaths of hundreds of thousand of innocent civilians and the senseless/WASTED death of our sons and daughters, but I guess the NASA story and viewer e-mails about cats trumps that too.  Of note is that IT IS NOT an opinion to report that this is why we are in IRAQ.  It is indeed a sad sad FACT!  Though on the brighter side (not) I guess I finally know how the German people felt in 1939 as their nation stormed into other sovereign nations... How did they feel?  Little concern, little empathy, and – apparently - TOTAL INDIFFERENCE to what their nation was doing.  Maybe I'm the only one but I just can't turn a blind eye to tyranny.  

Chris Eldridge, HBG PA (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 7:10 PM)

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Regarding the report on the Nasa astronauts being under the influence before the launch. Why would there be a question as to whether or not this is accepted. One shouldn't be drunk while driving a car or flying a plane and certainly not while flying in the space shuttle. That shouldn't even be a question for debate. The answer is flat out NO. It is just common sense. On the story about the bottled water I thought it was funny that it comes from the tap. We all tend to think it comes from great mountain springs when it is just plain old water. I do recall the days when bottled water was not on the market and everybody drank from the tap. And no automatic ice makers either. Finally, I will say that I like dogs and cats, but I like cats a little more. I was not offended by your sign off last evening Mr.Williams. You always do a fine job. Have a good weekend! Enjoy time with the family and your dog Lucy! Peace to all! And all the animals too!

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 7:12 PM)

Have a great weekend as well Mr. Williams! I always enjoy your broadcast. You are the real deal. And I love your blog.

For the record, I am an animal lover, but I am partial to dogs. Especially my sweet pound puppy of 6 1/2 years. We hope to be back from the dog park to enjoy your broadcast.

Ali, Tarzana, CA (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 7:20 PM)

What if my Social Security was invested in the market?  Ugh

Ralph Wallis, Bentonville, AR (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 7:23 PM)

I'm a dog, an immigrant dog(I moved here to the United States legally) and I really enjoyed your story about Oscar the cat.
By the way what's your dog name?

Lick and kisses,
Girasol

Girasol, Arlington, Virginia (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 7:59 PM)

INCREDIBLE!  HOW COULD ANY VIEWER FIND YOUR COMMENT ABOUT YOUR DOG TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN AWARENESS OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO NOT FEEL ALONE!!!  wE ARE CONNECTED BY THE INVISIBLE , UNBREAKABLE BONDS OF LOVING ENERGY.  LOVE IS LOVE, WHETHER FROM A CAT OR A DOG, BIRD OR ANY LIVING CREATURE. THANK YOU FOR BEING REAL FOR YOUR VIEWERS!!!

Anne Toller, Santa Maria, CA. (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 9:10 PM)

Hello from Canada.  I watch CNBC on a regular basis.  Over the years I have watched Art Cashin being interviewed on CNBC many, many times.  I would totally agree with your analysis of Art Cashin's demeaner when he made those downward spiral comments.  I was watching CNBC just before the markets closed today when Art Cashin was being interviewed.  When he made the comments of a possible downward spiral occurring in the markets, he made them with a tone of real worry and concern in his voice and expressions.  The reason why I discovered your post is that I googled "Art Cashin" downward spiral, and your post was the only one on the results page.

Ron Stevens, Vancouver, Canada (Sent Friday, July 27, 2007 9:47 PM)

You are still doing a fine job at NBC and you folks are still my favorite network. On a trustworthy scale you folks are still above the other two networks (we won't call them by name).  CNN has their little niche.  NBC is still my overall first choice.  Like the Daily Nightly.  It shows a bit more of the personal side of the people there.  Keep up the good work.

Robert Price, Blackstone, VA (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:17 AM)

Hello Mr. Williams,
I had a great chuckle with you're dog comment, and yes I am a dog and cat person - I have 2 worthless cats and a 1/2 lab and 1/2 char pei dog.  I always find NBC News to be the best, and even though you don't verbal express your feelings after a depressing news night, your eyes give it away everytime.  Thank you for being real - a real human being - with real human emotions.

Liz E. in Spokane, WA (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:37 PM)

I laughed out loud when you were reading the back-to-back cat e-mails at the end of Friday's broadcast. Just goes to show you can't please everyone. However, I was not happy to hear that you'll be doing YouTube-like viewer comments. That is too trendy and beneath the dignity of your broadcast. Brian, it's been said before but I'll echo it: You are my generation's Walter Cronkite. If (or when) we have a national tragedy, I can't imagine getting my news from anyone but you.

Joyce, Royal Oak, MI (Sent Monday, July 30, 2007 9:11 AM)

Brian, what kind of dog do you have?

Marcia Tewksbury Ashton, Il. (Sent Wednesday, August 01, 2007 5:45 PM)

http://dogmation.info/
Our site displays different Dog Breeds and Dog Species.
Dogs have been selectively bred for hundreds of years.
There are various types of Dog Breeds and Dog Species recognized today.
Initially the selections had centered on domestication and useful
qualities of dogs such as hunting ability.
<a href="http://dogmation.info/">Dogmation/</a>

Dogmation (Sent Monday, March 10, 2008 3:55 AM)

This is TERRIRISM in its rarest form, talk about wishing on a star.  She might as well hire a assassine put the gun in their hand and pull the trigger, not matter how you cut it if anything was to happen to Obama she should be brought up on chargers to accessory to murder, YEAH I SAID IT.  MURDER!!!  We have to remember she served as the first lady for 8 years and had privilege to information such as records on the different assassinations and this is her last and desperate driving ambition  attempt to be president and even twisted motive to become VP puts her in a great position to become president thru hook or crook.  We need to open our eyes to this blatant acknowledgement of hers.  We have very far to go as a country and as a united people.
On the hip of what this front page paper of Obama in cross hairs of a gun site Hillary sought to put out a bid for Obama’s assassination.   Keith Olbermann saids it best, he talks about Hillary unforgiveable hopes that Obama would be assassinated so she can be President and her husband ridiculous bid for his wife to be VP on Obama’s ticket because he saids “she deserves it”, that way she is only a step away from President in a unforeseen incident.  Question is how come this is not grown legs and talked about more in the media.

G.O. Mullen, Sumter SC (Sent Wednesday, May 28, 2008 10:17 AM)



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