[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 68 (Monday, April 21, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E329-E330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING MIKE COLE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 21, 2025

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor someone who's spent 
his life making sure the rest of us stay informed--not by standing in 
front of a camera, but by quietly, tirelessly, and professionally 
working behind it for over four decades.
  Even though you don't see his face on TV, Mike Cole is a cornerstone 
of Boston journalism and one of the most trusted names in the business. 
He got his start at WHDH before moving to FOX 25--eventually landing at 
WCVB in 2003. But the values he's carried from newsroom to newsroom 
haven't changed: Fairness, transparency, accountability, and truth.
  For the past 28 years, Mike has been a force of nature at WCVB, 
producing NewsCenter 5 and the Sunday morning political program On the 
Record. It's the most-watched political talk show in New England--and 
for good reason. It's thoughtful, fair, and tough. And Mike is one of 
the main reasons why: Chasing down stories, booking guests, double-
checking facts, and putting together a show that keeps viewers informed 
and engaged. He has an uncanny ability to know which questions will 
break news and get people talking. I've had the privilege of going On 
the Record many times over the years, and I can tell you that Mike is 
the real deal. He cares deeply about getting clear, concise, accurate 
information on the air. And that kind of public service is beyond 
invaluable.
  Mr. Speaker, I also think it's important to recognize that this kind 
of journalism is under attack.
  Here in the United States, we've seen political leaders demonize 
reporters just for doing their jobs. We've heard phrases like ``fake 
news'' used to discredit hard truths. We've seen threats against 
journalists trying to tell the public what's going on. And around the 
world, autocrats and strongmen are increasingly throwing reporters in 
jail, shutting down news outlets, and targeting those they don't like 
with censorship and violence
  In moments like this, we need to uplift people who are fighting for 
the truth. Because at the end of the day, freedom of the press is about 
more than just the ability of a journalist to write or say whatever 
they want. It's about our ability, as a society, to make decisions 
based on the facts--put in context, and delivered fairly and 
impartially. Mr. Speaker, it is

[[Page E330]]

not an exaggeration to say that our democracy depends on people like 
Mike Cole--working behind the scenes to get the story right, to ask 
hard questions, and to speak truth to power.
  So, on behalf of the people of the Second Congressional District of 
Massachusetts and the United States Congress--I thank Mike for his 
dedication, his professionalism, his integrity, and his decades of 
service to the people of New England. We're all better off because of 
his work to shine the light of truth on the stories that matter--and to 
hold accountable those we entrust to lead our communities, our 
commonwealth, and our country.

                          ____________________