You are 100% correct. Honestly, it doesn't need CSS even, although that's nice to have.
I've got NoScript on, and now the pages load perfectly. I think I may return to being a CNN reader now. If only they could figure out how to monetise this.
For the rest of the sentence... I was clearly referring to the question of why someone would use a library for base64 versus the built-in function. Not getting involved in the anti-js internet pitchfork mob.
For what? This is a non-interactive text-only website. It shouldn't need anything beside HTML and CSS.