ABC, CBS, and NBC popped the clutch Thursday morning and went full-speed in defending "progressive" Michigan senatorial candidate Abdul el-Sayed, brushing off the "blistering attack" by President Trump and the GOP as a distraction from "Americans' concerns over the economy" and proof they've "seiz[ed] on" some of his policy views. 

While they weren't the worst, CBS Mornings has to come first here for congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns's use of an all-too-predictable jab at the right that's well past a pejorative and reached drinking-game-word territory: "Seized."

Before that, featured co-host Vladimir Duthiers referred to Trump's predictable criticisms of el-Sayed as somehow "a blistering attack." Take note of the b-word as we'll see it again on another network.

Duthiers also cued up Huey-Burns, stating in part "Republicans are already on the attack" after the primary by "accusing progressive Democrat Abdul el-Sayed of being too extreme[.]"

Huey-Burns started with the correct framing of the story, which was the challenge el-Sayed will have in bringing aboard Haley Stevens voters due to the "bitter and contentious primary."

She also threw around the "progressive" label: "41-year-old Abdul el-Sayed, an epidemiologist and progressive Democrat, has another uphill battle after emerging as the victor following a bitter primary."

It's true "el-Sayed is already facing attacks from his opponent, Republican former congressman and FBI agent, Mike Rogers, and from President Trump," but why are these liberal, elitist journalists acting like this is beyond the pale?

Then came the seizing: "The GOP has seized quickly on el-Sayed's opposition to American military aid for Israel...And making a point to use his full name in campaign ads."

As always, ABC's Good Morning America was unabashedly pro-el-Sayed. Co-host and former Clinton official George Stephanopoulos engaged in a bait-and-switch, huffing in a tease that Trump had the gall to launch a "new attack on progressive Democrat Abdul el-Sayed" as the President "dismisses Americans' concerns over the economy."

Later, co-host Michael Strahan framed Trump as out of line and unfocused, "lashing out at the Democratic candidate for Senate in Michigan, Abdul el-Sayyad [sic] — Sayed, as Democrats try to unite around him after his narrow primary victory."

Senior political correspondent and virulent Trump hater Rachel Scott said the President "wasted no time going after Michigan's new progressive candidate" by wasting his "economic speech" in favor of "a blistering attack on progressive Democrat Abdul el-Sayed[.]"

"This morning, el-Sayed punching back," she gushed, to which she added Trump has "dismiss[ed]" the reality of Americans being "concerned about the economy and rising costs."

Lacking any shame, Scott parroted el-Sayed talking points directly, asserting Trump's criticism of liberals as too extreme is an out-of-touch position (click "expand"):

SCOTT: The President trying to focus on el-Sayed branding him as a communist. El-Sayed saying he's ready for the attacks.

EL-SAYED: They're going to point at me and go point at other names, like, well, he's different. That's the best you got? You can't actually talk about what you want to do. My name is not raising your gas prices. My name is not taking us to war. My name is not the reason you can't afford groceries. You know what is? They're BS policies.

SCOTT: So, el-Sayyad will be running against Republican Mike Rogers. President Trump seemed to imply that having a progressive on the ticket would ultimately help Republicans. But of course, Democrats plan to put the frustrations that Americans have with his economic policies front and center in this midterm election.

Going to NBC's Today, co-host Craig Melvin touted the "war of words" with "progressive" el-Sayed and Trump "trading jabs" amid the latter's "series of attacks."

Chief White House correspondent Garrett Haake had some bizarre fawning praise for el-Sayed (although he at least admitted the Michigander holds "controversial stances"):

Craig, this one is fascinating because El-Sayed is now the rare political figure who generates excitement on the wings of both parties, albeit for very different reasons. Progressives see him as a fighter, fresh off a tough primary, ready to battle for causes that the left cares deeply about. But Republicans now, led by the President, are painting him as an extremist, and they're hoping to make Democrats running for office all across the country answer for his sometimes controversial stances.

Haake touted el-Sayed's Wednesday night CNN interview, explaining he "respond[ed] to critics highlighting his opposition to aid to Israel" with the GOP "also trying to link the outspoken progressive, a supporter of programs like Medicare for All, to Democrats nationwide."

"Opposition to aid to Israel" is a unique way to describe objecting to the Jewish nation's right to exist.

To see the relevant transcripts from August 6, click here (for ABC), here (for CBS), and here (for NBC).