ABOUT THIS BLOG

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.



Weird week

Posted: Friday, September 21, 2007 4:17 PM by Daily Nightly Editor
Filed Under:

by Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor

 

People I know who are normally NOT given to conspiracy theories are having a field day with this week’s dual, rare occurrences.

Two cabs went up in flames, days apart, both in Midtown Manhattan, both of them parked outside the headquarters of major media outlets, NBC and the New York Times. A friend of mine in law enforcement today did admit these dual incidents set off “alarm bells” with him, though he says the cab driver in the NBC incident tells a story that “sounded at first as if it checked out.”  Thankfully, both fires were among the most photographed in recent memory, as we streamed out of our headquarters building, cameras ready to shoot...as did our friends at the Times. With the massive U.N. gathering next week, a friend says the “tempo has been upped” in Midtown in terms of security, both visible and invisible. Step away from this situation and think of what 9-11 continues to do to us. While cabs don’t customarily burst into flames while on their daily rounds, and while it’s probable that this was an odd coincidence... that shadow of a doubt... is a relatively new dynamic in this City and in this country.

In the same conspiratorial vein (though this one’s harmless) some are having a field day on YouTube with the fact that Rudy Giuliani has now been interrupted TWICE... while giving a major speech... by a cell phone call from his wife.

Today, I can officially leak some special coverage we’re planning: look for Nightly News to take an expanded role soon in honoring the men I serve in a volunteer capacity: the recipients of the Medal of Honor. Speaking of whom, please don’t miss today's biography.

We have a good broadcast planned for tonight, with some first-rate reporting—and since its Friday, our popular Making A Difference segment, which never disappoints. Thanks to all those who wrote me/us this week—we continue to enjoy your emails (okay, well, except 1 or 2 now and then) and obviously we read and reflect on all of them.

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here (as the man says) on Monday night. I hope you can join us for tonight’s Friday edition of Nightly News.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Brian - "Expect the unexpected" has been a favorite phrase of mine for a while - Keeps me from really flipping out about stuff.

Re: Rudy on the phone, all I can say is "which wife?".

Enjoy the weekend -

Joan Chapman, Cheshire CT. (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 4:36 PM)

Let me see if I have this correct, Rudy Giuliani wants the American public to vote for him to be the next President of the United States but he is not smart enough to turn off his cell phone or at least change it to silent mode?  Adding to this stupidity the campaign is not smart enough to make sure his wife has a copy of his schedule so she doesn't call him during speeches?  It is either terrible organization by his campaign or a planned stunt to make him look like a "regular guy", a persona he keeps striving for and missing the mark.  Was she calling him to bring home a quart of milk and a loaf of bread?

Just heard that HSBC is closing down their subprime division in the US.  I dare say that will have an impact on this continuing real estate debacle.  

As midtown Manhattan gears up for the UN General Assembly sessions, the obvious and hidden security measures in place, I can only hope that the most exciting story of the whole thing is the nightmare traffic created by the gridlock and frozen zones.  

A good weekend to all!

Amanda - Ridgewood, NJ (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 4:56 PM)

Please... Rudy takes a call during a speech, with cameras present, and it just happens to be his wife? Please, it's a stunt, it was planned.... he just answers the phone and doesn't know who it is? Stunt, stunt, stunt!

Anthony (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 5:46 PM)

Does the Giuliani campaign really think we are that gullible? Is Brooklyn Bridge for sale?

Dot, Illinois (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 5:52 PM)

You forgot the conspiracy theories surrounding OJ.

Clark Matthews, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 5:59 PM)

Brian, as always, a stellar newscast so far. However, I noticed there was a change in the cold open where the camera does this sort of 360 movement while you tease the stories for the newscast...it reminds me of watching a local newscast with that sort in-your-face open. I always loved Nightly because it was subtle and easy on the eyes.

In any case, just wanted to put in my two cents that while this open looks pretty cool, I liked the original full screen one.

Have a good weekend!

Jay, Washington, DC (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 6:44 PM)

The new way you begin the broadcast by telling what the major stories will be even before you are introduced is excellent.  I am sure it will increase veiewership.  Somebody had a great idea there...don't drop it.

Richard, El Paso, TX (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 7:01 PM)

Good Evening Mr.Williams, I certainly hope everything goes smoothly and without incident during the U.N. gathering next week. If everyone is vigilant and does there job nothing will occur. And I agree with Amanda the only problem should be traffic. I am glad that you enjoy all the e-mails from us. I like the fact that you "read and reflect on all of them." I always try to send nice e-mails to you and I hope it makes you feel appreciated for your hard work. Now on to the broadcast, regarding Mr.Maceda's report about the Blackwater Security and the partial ban that has been lifted. It is good for the people who need the protection in order that they can do their jobs, but the incident doesn't make it easier for them to operate. The civilians who were injured in the incident are of course angry and it is terrible to be caught in the middle. I hope the investigation is done quickly and fairly so that it does not happen anymore. The Making a Difference" segment was especially touching. Mr. Jacobs is doing such a lovely memorial to the men who were lost in the Third Infantry Division. The rosebud trees with the mementos around them are wonderful and touching tributes to the brave men and women because they are loved ones of families who hold them dear to their hearts. Far too many losses of these soldiers, but I'm sure the families are grateful for Mr.Jacob's effort to create these beautiful walkways for their fallen heroes. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams. I hope you have a restful and relaxing weekend with your family. See you back on Monday. Peace to you and to all!    

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 7:15 PM)

Brian - A bit disappointed here that you didn't reference on tonight's broadcast (or any editions of your afternoon "blog" this week) Ken Burns forthcoming series about World War II.

I understand competition and financial commitments.  However, as someone who respects the "greatest generation" enough to feature profiles of particularly brave individuals on your Web site as a long-running series, I do not think it would be out of character for you to give a tip o' the hat to one of our very best living filmmakers who, like you, is dedicated to getting it right more often than not and who is gifted in helping his fellow citizens appreciate where they live just a little bit more.

I believe "The War" will be well worth watching, most likely every bit as compelling as "The Civil War" was when it debuted 17 years ago.

No matter where your personal opinion lies regarding our current conflict, I think we can agree that the men and women who served in World War II made supreme sacrifices to help make our world just a little bit better today.

Even with all of our flaws and current problems, it is hard to imagine the possibilities of what may have been had these good people not won the good fight for us all.  

Brian -- Charlotte, NC (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 7:26 PM)

Hi Brian-

I appreciate the introspect you offer on your thread, but I'm a bit preturbed. All too often society only seems to focus upon the 'here and now'. The lingering problems this sort of perspective of near term observations creates can be monumental.

The superficial character of so many news events tends to detract from other matters which cry out for urgent attention as they become cast more into a sense of obscurity. And sometimes the slant of view changes.    

At this moment, your sidebar links to: "Walter Reed, no place for pity". Have we truly forgotten the half million Vets still waiting for compensation hearings from the VA? While our representatives doubled the requested budget for VA services, not much has changed for Vets. The VA has hired outside contractors to help provide services, but this misses the entire point. During congressional hearings aired on CSpan, Rep. Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, expressed his disdain for the lengthy processes involved in processing VA claims, hence the dramatic increase in budget. The administration responds with political pork.

With no end in sight for the current conflicts, and deaths of American service personnel becoming a resigned predictability, it's just old news.

Thanks for the audience,
Another disposable Vet        

James Arledge, West Monroe, Louisiana (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 7:34 PM)

Hi Brian, I've become a loyal viewer of NBC News since 2005 when I took the NBC Studios Tour with my daughter, and again in 2006 with my son.  The pages showed your news studio and were respectful and informative.  After Jennings died, I watched all 3 networks, and was happy to choose your nightly newscast, as I had done when much younger, watching Huntley and Brinkley.  Keep up the good work and the substantive stories.  With respect, Chris Newton, California

Chris Newton, Petaluma, California (Sent Friday, September 21, 2007 7:35 PM)

RE: 21 Sept News, person of the week
hey -  what's the address of Prof dying of liver cancer - i may have some hope for him ... thanks sj

j barrett (Sent Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:51 AM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

NBC NEWS IN THE BLOGOSPHERE

More Daily Nightly

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Categories:

RECENT STORIES FROM NIGHTLY NEWS

  • Nightly News section front

CONNECT WITH US

About the broadcast | Biographies

RSS is an easy way to get the news you want as it is updated even if you are not on MSNBC.com. More information about MSNBC.com's RSS feeds.

Subscribe to feed

Podcasting brings you audio and video from each weekday broadcast on your iPod or other portable MP3 player anytime, anywhere. More information about MSNBC.com's podcasts.

Subscribe to podcast

Sign-up for our daily e-mail newsletter. It offers a preview of the stories and special reports featured on each weekday broadcast.


Syndicate This Site

Add The Daily Nightly to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google

MSNBC Weblogs