MSNBC president Rashida Jones has been dealing with backlash after reports emerged that she was involved in hiring former Republican National Committee boss Ronna McDaniel, leading to chaos at the network. McDaniel was quickly dropped after many of the network’s talent revolted over her hiring. Jones has been attempting to clear her name, with sources describing her as both frustrated and defensive during a call with staff members. She denied reports that she had actively participated in recruiting McDaniel.
NBC anchors, including Rachel Maddow, Chuck Todd, Joe Scarborough, and Mika Brzezinski, were vocal in their criticism of the decision to hire McDaniel, who supported former President Donald Trump’s election denial claims. Maddow called it inexplicable for McDaniel to be on the NBC News payroll. Jones attempted to distance herself from the hire by sending texts and making calls to talent after the backlash. She reassured staff members during a call that McDaniel was never expected to appear on air and emphasized the importance of maintaining editorial independence.
Carrie Budoff Brown and Rebecca Blumenstein were identified as the masterminds behind McDaniel’s contributor deal at MSNBC. Despite Jones not being the driving force behind the decision, she was looped in and informed about the new contributor. Jones was frustrated by individuals leaking information to the press and implying that she had signed off on the decision. Ultimately, NBCU Universal Chairman, Cesar Conde, took full responsibility for approving McDaniel’s hire and apologized to staff members who felt let down. Jones urged her team to stay above the drama and not be distracted by lies and nonsense in order to maintain the network’s strong culture and performance.
Jones emphasized the need to focus on moving forward and not being distracted by external drama during a morning call with MSNBC staff. She commended the team for their performance and reminded them to stay united in the face of challenges. Despite the chaos surrounding the McDaniel fiasco, Jones encouraged her team to remain focused and not let outside interference erode the network’s culture. The situation at MSNBC has been described as a battle of executives throwing each other under the bus, with tension among leadership over the handling of the hiring decision. While Jones faced criticism for her involvement in the McDaniel hire, she maintained that the network’s editorial independence was a top priority.
