In a remarkable turn of events, the decision by NBC News to bring on board Ronna McDaniel, the former head of the Republican National Committee, as a paid contributor has ignited a storm of controversy within the organization. This move has prompted a wave of public dissent from several MSNBC anchors, including Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Nicolle Wallace, Lawrence O’Donnell, and Joe Scarborough, who have not shied away from expressing their objections on their respective shows.
Rachel Maddow, the network’s leading figure, starkly likened the decision to employing a mobster in a district attorney’s office. During her Monday night program, she voiced her bafflement at the decision and urged for a reconsideration. “I find the decision to put her on the payroll inexplicable, and I hope they will reconsider that decision,” Maddow stated emphatically.
The backlash began in earnest with Chuck Todd, the former “Meet the Press” moderator, who highlighted the discomfort felt by many NBC News journalists over McDaniel’s hiring due to her history of “gaslighting” and “character assassination” during her tenure at the RNC. However, as of Monday, there had been no response from either NBC News or McDaniel regarding the widespread internal revolt.
NBC News announced McDaniel’s hiring just two weeks after she stepped down from her role at the RNC, suggesting that her insider perspective on national politics and the future of the Republican Party would enrich the network’s coverage. Despite this, Maddow revealed that after initial approval from MSNBC management, a wave of staff outrage ensured that McDaniel would not appear on the cable network, which predominantly caters to liberal viewers. Maddow assured her audience, “I can assure you, that is what happened at MSNBC.”
The on-air protest at MSNBC spanned from the early hours of the morning to late at night, with “Morning Joe” hosts Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski promising their viewers that McDaniel would not be featured in her NBC News capacity on their show. Brzezinski emphasized the importance of including Republican voices in election coverage but drew the line at someone who has used their position to undermine democracy.
Wallace criticized the hiring as a nod to election deniers, allowing them to not only appear on the network’s airwaves but also to become a recognized part of the NBC News team. O’Donnell suggested that NBC News could easily sidestep such controversies by not hiring individuals closely associated with contentious actions.
Psaki, a former press secretary to President Joe Biden, felt compelled to speak out, especially since McDaniel’s supporters have used her hiring by MSNBC to draw false equivalences, despite her commitment to honesty and good faith in her analysis.
The controversy underscores the ongoing debate about the role of former politicians and party officials as news analysts, a practice not uncommon in television news. McDaniel’s hiring, however, has struck a particularly sensitive chord due to her tacit support of unfounded claims regarding the 2020 presidential election outcome, which continues to have significant legal and political implications following the January 6, 2021, Capitol siege.
This episode reflects the complex interplay between media, politics, and the principles of journalistic integrity, sparking a conversation that is likely to continue resonating within and beyond the halls of NBC News.