Law & Order presented a physician who performs abortions as a murderer and advanced anti-reproductive rights propaganda in an episode titled "Dignity" that aired on 10/23/09.

On his radio show, Glenn Beck had this to say about former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: "Good heavens! I'm sorry I just looked up at Madeleine Albright and she's . . . [screaming and laughter] No, normally it burns our eyes out . . . and look at the neck skin on her . . . does she kind of look like a turkey? . . . look at her eyes and her nose. She looks like a turkey."

The Huffington Post exposes its tabloid side in this cheesy and insulting poll. Readers are invited to look at photos of women celebrities in which their breasts are prominently featured and then rate them on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is "gross" and 10 is "gorgeous"

Two mornings in a row the Today show focused on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's feisty response to a question about President Obama that reportedly was mis-translated into an inquiry about her husband's opinion on a policy matter. Anchor Meredith Vieira claimed that "some" were speculating that Clinton was either jetlagged or "jealous" of her husband, while correspondent Andrea Mitchell added that Clinton was "having a bad hair day."

In a video segment called "Mouthpiece Theater" Dana Milbank and Chris Cillizza suggest beers that various political figures should have drank, had they been invited to President Obama's "beer summit." For Hillary Clinton, Milbank suggests "Mad Bitch" beer. The video has since been removed, but will things ever change?

We promised to honor positive examples from time to time, so NOW thanks Lifetime for bringing us Drop Dead Diva, the story of a skinny model who is reincarnated in the body of a "plus-size" attorney.

Google AdWords no longer accepts ads for abortion services in the following countries: Germany, Poland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, France, Italy and Spain.

The Washington Post published a lengthy article in its Style section on July 15 about Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry. The article painted an almost sympathetic portrayal of the man who had this to say about the recent killing of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller: "Tiller was a mass murderer, and, horrifically, he reaped what he sowed."
What The Post neglected to address was Terry's horrific brochure targeting Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor as a "radical supporter of child-killing." Also missing from the picture was the impact of Terry's words and actions on women seeking reproductive health services or the health care workers and clinics that provide those services.

Fast-food chain Carl's Jr. is currently holding a contest entitled "Hot Chicks Eating Burgers," which promises a grand prize of $1,000, an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas, and a chance to be in an upcoming commercial for the hottest chick eating a burger.

The Washington Post clearly didn't do its homework before posting a photo and caption implying that President Obama was checking out a young woman's rear end, just like all men do.

The ad promotes a new 7-inch sub suggestively positioned in front of the profile of a young woman, mouth agape (though clearly not prepared to bite), with the words "blow" and "taste" in notably large font beside it.

Vocal far-right conservative Ann Coulter took anti-choice hate speech to a level even Bill O'Reilly couldn't support while discussing Dr. George Tiller's murder: "I don't really like to think of it as a murder. It was terminating Tiller in the 203rd trimester," said Coulter.

Radio host Rush Limbaugh mocks and belittles Sonia Sotomayor's participation in a women's Club – the Belizean Grove – which she recently left as a result of pressure from those opposed to the "discrimination" inherent in a woman-centric group: "I think I'm going to send Sotomayor, and her club, a bunch of vacuum cleaners to help them clean up after their meetings."

The news lately has been a roller coaster of extremes -- shifting between hope and injustice, success and tragedy, gain and loss. The only consistent aspect is the major role the media play in telling these stories, and the abuse of their power to shape the news.

Late night TV host David Letterman "joked" that during their recent trip to New York, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter "was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez" during a Yankees baseball game. The next night Letterman said that the hardest part of Palin's trip was "keeping Eliot Spitzer away from her daughter."