Chuck Todd criticized NBC News for hiring former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid political analyst, citing her history of election denial and attacks on the news media. McDaniel, who helped Trump subvert the 2020 election, has a track record of demonizing NBC News journalists and MSNBC hosts. Todd expressed discomfort with having an election denier on the network’s payroll and questioned the ethics of hiring someone who has smeared the organization and its journalists.
During her debut on NBC, McDaniel diverged from Trump on the January 6 Capitol attack and acknowledged Biden’s legitimate election victory, a reversal from her previous statements. While she stood by Trump’s messaging on the program, McDaniel also voiced new positions on key issues, including voting for Trump in the upcoming election. However, Todd raised concerns about the genuineness of McDaniel’s statements, given her paid contributor status and potential contractual obligations.
Despite internal and external backlash, NBC News defended its decision to hire McDaniel to represent the Republican Party position on issues. Todd and other panel members disagreed with this decision, citing McDaniel’s credibility issues, especially after being ousted from Trump’s RNC. Kimberly Atkins Stohr criticized McDaniel for her habit of lying and attacking journalists, putting them at risk. Stephen Hayes noted McDaniel’s role in the QAnonization of the Republican Party during her tenure as RNC chair.
NBC News did not comment on Todd’s remarks, and moderator Kristen Welker disclosed that McDaniel’s interview was scheduled before her hiring as a paid contributor. Todd expressed sympathy for Welker, stating that their bosses owed her an apology for putting her in a difficult situation. While the network continues to face criticism for hiring someone with McDaniel’s background, the debate over the ethics of having an election denier as a paid political analyst on a news network remains ongoing.
