Rachel Maddow, a top-rated political commentator on MSNBC, criticized NBC’s decision to hire former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as an on-air contributor. Maddow expressed her disbelief that NBC would hire McDaniel, who had supported former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud. She likened the decision to hiring a mobster to work as a district attorney or a pickpocket to work as a TSA screener, calling it inexplicable and urging NBC to reverse its decision.
McDaniel, who recently resigned from her role as RNC chair, had fallen out with Trump despite his initial support for her. Trump had endorsed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, and North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley to take over the party positions. NBC’s decision to hire McDaniel was met with criticism from MSNBC hosts, including Joe Scarborough, who called her an “anti-democracy election denier.” Maddow and other personalities at MSNBC objected to McDaniel’s hiring, with staff members reportedly expressing concerns about her role on the network.
Following backlash from MSNBC hosts and staff, NBC announced that McDaniel would not be appearing on their air. Calls for a boycott of NBC were sparked by a social media post from a former NBCUniversal senior executive, who urged viewers to boycott Meet the Press, where McDaniel was scheduled to make her debut. Despite McDaniel’s statements on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and condemnation of the Capitol riot on January 6, critics remained concerned about her stance on democracy and election integrity.
Maddow emphasized that the issue with McDaniel’s hiring was not about partisanship or political differences, but about the integrity of the democratic process. She stressed that undermining elections and democracy poses a significant threat to the country, particularly during a challenging time. Maddow called for a clear-eyed understanding of the implications of such decisions, urging NBC to reassess their choice to hire McDaniel. Newsweek reached out to NBC News for comment on the controversy surrounding McDaniel’s hiring.
Overall, Rachel Maddow’s criticism of NBC’s decision to hire Ronna McDaniel reflects concerns about the impact of having a former RNC chairwoman who had supported baseless claims of election fraud as an on-air contributor during an election year. The backlash from MSNBC hosts, staff members, and viewers highlights the importance of upholding democratic principles and the credibility of news networks. The controversy raises questions about the responsibility of media outlets in promoting diverse viewpoints while ensuring the integrity of information and the protection of democratic values.
