More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.
At the top of NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, moderator Chuck Todd wondered if a Republican rising star could overcome a major obstacle that has occurred "year after year" for the GOP: "Can Iowa's Joni Ernst avoid becoming the latest victim of the curse of the State of the Union response?"
Todd wrapped up the show with an entire segment promoting the supposed curse: "It sounds like...a ticket to political stardom, until you realize that in recent years giving the response has been more trouble than it's worth." He proclaimed: "In fact, it's been a lot like the infamous Sports Illustrated jinx."