MSNBC is dealing with internal discord following the revelation that Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign donated $500,000 to the National Action Network (NAN), a nonprofit run by Rev. Al Sharpton. The donation was made shortly before Sharpton favorably interviewed Harris on the network, sparking worries about journalistic integrity within MSNBC’s ranks.
Records from the Federal Election Commission show that the Harris campaign made two donations of $250,000 each to NAN on September 5 and October 1, 2024. Later that month, on October 20, Harris appeared in an interview with Sharpton on his program on MSNBC, “PoliticsNation,” where Sharpton spoke highly of Harris. He compared her to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and a 1972 presidential candidate. However, Sharpton did not make any mention of the campaign donations during the interview.
A spokesperson for MSNBC has stated that the network was not aware of the donations made by Harris’s campaign to NAN.
The undisclosed donations have created disquiet among MSNBC staff. A staff member likened the situation to a “pay-to-play” scenario and expressed that this was going too far.
The incident has sparked internal debates about the network’s ethical standards and transparency. The same staff member voiced confusion at how such a situation could occur, stating, “How does this (expletive ) happen?… I think a three-year-old would see a potential conflict in this.”
Notwithstanding the internal concerns, Sharpton continues to host his weekend show and make regular appearances on MSNBC. There have been no disciplinary actions announced against him by the network.
Sharpton’s role at MSNBC is widely considered unconventional, as he is both a journalist and a politically engaged social activist. Other employees at the network have noted that Sharpton operates under different rules but insist that donations of this nature should not be allowed to influence program content.
Given MSNBC’s past leniency in similar situations, it is doubtful that Sharpton will face repercussions for this incident. However, the controversy has reignited discussions about journalistic integrity and the standards that all network employees should uphold. Staff members have underscored that donations of this size pose a significant conflict of interest. An official response from MSNBC to the controversy is still pending.
The donations made by the Harris campaign to NAN were part of a wider strategy to reach minority voters. The campaign distributed a total of $5.4 million to various Black and Latino advocacy groups.
