On Monday, July 15, 2024, MSNBC took its popular show “Morning Joe” off the air, causing confusion and speculation among staff and viewers. This decision followed an attack on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The attack occurred on Saturday, July 13 involving a gunman who fired multiple shots using an AR-style rifle. The former President was hit in the right ear, two others were critically injured, and a Pennsylvania firefighter lost his life whilst shielding his family. Trump survived the assassination attempt.
On the following Monday, MSNBC chose not to broadcast “Morning Joe”, hosted by Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough. Instead, they replaced it with ongoing breaking news coverage, led by seasoned anchors Katy Tur and Andrea Mitchell. The decision triggered speculation and disappointment among the staff and viewers of the network.
A CNN report stated that MSNBC was afraid that anti-Trump guests on “Morning Joe” might make inappropriate remarks about the assassination and spark a backlash against the program and network.
In response to the ensuing controversy, MSNBC denied any instructions to reduce their coverage of Trump. A representative informed Page Six, “Due to the serious and intricate nature of this developing situation, NBC News, NBC News NOW, and MSNBC have continuously provided live breaking news coverage since Saturday evening.”
On Tuesday, Brzezinski and Scarborough returned to “Morning Joe,” addressing the situation head-on. Scarborough expressed his disappointment, “We were told there would be a single news feed across all NBC News channels, but that did not happen. Our team was not given a good answer as to why, but it didn’t happen.”
His co-host, Willie Geist, underlined their dedication to their viewers, saying, “We wanted to be here for our audience. We know you trust us, and we have the utmost respect for our audience. We are here today, and we wish we would have been here yesterday.”
Despite the turmoil, the network’s prime-time hosts, Joy Reid, Rachel Maddow, and Nicole Wallace, who are known for their critical views on Trump, continued their special coverage of the Republican National Convention. Their presence reassured viewers that the network was not avoiding coverage of important political events despite the assassination attempt.
The decision to remove Brzezinski and Scarborough from their morning slot was met with criticism. An inside source at MSNBC mentioned to the press that their absence was “overblown” and the decision was more about ensuring a consistent, fact-based news feed during a critical news cycle. “This was a moment to cover the incident as facts only. It was 24 hours a day, and the network pulled all the resources in one big feed. Programming will continue as it is,” the source elaborated.
Adding to the conflict, an insider revealed that some MSNBC staff criticized the reactions of Brzezinski and Scarborough. The source claimed, “Joe and Mika are acting childish and immature. They need to grow up.”
Despite the criticism, the hosts stood their ground. Scarborough declared, “The next time we are told there will be a news feed replacing us, we will be in our chairs, and the news feed will be us. Or they can get somebody else to host the show.”
The assassination attempt on Trump has not only heightened tensions but also increased scrutiny over media coverage. Amidst the internal discord and external scrutiny, viewers are focused on the unfolding political drama.
Scarborough made his first public statement after the incident via X, saying, “Our family is praying this morning for President Trump, those injured [Saturday], and for the loved ones of the American tragically killed.”
Currently, MSNBC assures its viewers that it will maintain its regular programming and comprehensive coverage of significant political events. Brzezinski and Scarborough are back on air, ready to provide the news with the integrity and insight that their audience expects.
