It’s generally the mandate of the left to complain about how the news media has their image of impartiality compromised by corporate advertisers: how can you report fairly on the evil of Keebler when they’re buying ads from you? But in today’s age of sophisticated, even profitable nonprofit interest groups, that question can be turned around: how can you give tough coverage to AARP when they’re sponsoring your broadcast?

This has grown quite common on National Public Radio, which these days routinely airs underwriting announcements from liberal foundations and interest groups. But MRC’s Brent Baker noticed the practice on NBC’s Today show. During the first half hour on Monday, Katie Couric discussed Social Security reform with conservative Derrick Max and David Certner, director of federal affairs for the AARP. Katie cued up Certner with softballs, such as “what is your biggest beef with the President’s plan to reform Social Security?” and “what kind of things, do you think, could be implemented to improve it?” Then, an hour later, as the AARP logo was displayed on screen with the group’s marketing phrase beneath it, NBC’s announcer credited the group for paying for the weather update: “Today’s weather is brought to you by AARP. The power to make it better.”

Or at least the power to make government more expensive…