Sunday Talk Shows

Sunday shows preview: Leaders weigh in as country erupts in protest over George Floyd death

Outrage and discourse that has arisen in response to the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn., on Monday, is expected to dominate the Sunday show circuit. 

Demonstrations erupted as news broke about Floyd’s death in over 30 cities across the country this week, some have turned violent as protestors clash with police.

Floyd was arrested and handcuffed by Minneapolis police on Monday after they responded to reports of a forgery.

Bystander footage captured of the situation shows former officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes, with Floyd pleading for air, saying that he couldn’t breath.

Chauvin continued to kneel on Floyd’s neck after Floyd was unresponsive. Floyd died in police custody.

Protests erupted in the Powderhorn neighborhood where Floyd was killed.

The four officers involved in Floyd’s death were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department, but Chauvin wasn’t arrested until Friday morning.

Later that day, he was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter by Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman. Lawmakers weighed in on the situation throughout the week as protests escalated and the Minnesota  National Guard was mobilized.

Protests have also escalated in cities across the country, including Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Ga., Louisville, Ky., New York City and Chicago.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who will appear on ABC’s “This Week,” said that Floyd was “murdered on TV.” 

Also appearing on “This Week” will be Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) who helped author a House resolution on Friday that condemned “all acts of brutality” by law enforcement and called for “the end of militarized policing practices.”

Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), a former police chief, wrote a scathing op-ed in The Washington Post Friday.

“We all know that the level of force must meet the level of resistance,” she wrote. “We all can see that there was absolutely zero resistance from George Floyd. He posed no threat to anyone, especially law enforcement.”

Demings will appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Fox’s “Fox News Sunday” will feature two Minnesota officials: State Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) and Andy Skoogman, the executive directors of Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association.

Also appearing on the morning circuit is national security adviser Robert O’Brien, U.S. trade representative Peter Navarro, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.).

Below is a full lineup of the shows.

ABC’s “This Week” — Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.); White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.).

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for the family of George Floyd; Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner; David Brown, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department; Tom Wyatt, CEO of KinderCare Education.

CNN’s “State of the Union” — O’Brien; Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)

“Fox News Sunday” — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison; Andy Skoogman, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association; Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.); Cornel West, Harvard University professor.

Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures”: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), former Senior White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon

“America This Week with Eric Bolling” — Peter Navarro, U.S. trade rep; Jerry Falwell, president of Liberty University; Mark Lamont Hill, BET News Host; Ronna McDaniel, RNC Co-Chair; KT McFarland, former deputy national security adviser; Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.).