CNN: 'Morning Joe' meeting with Trump was driven by fears of retribution from incoming administration, sources say

[Dennis Donovan]

CNN - ‘Morning Joe’ meeting with Trump was driven by fears of retribution from incoming administration, sources say

By Brian Stelter, CNN

Published 8:43 AM EST, Tue November 19, 2024



New York CNN — “Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski announced Monday, in dramatic fashion, that they went to Mar-a-Lago last week for a fence-mending meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. Then the pair spent the rest of the day dealing with the uncomfortable blowback.

In private conversations, Scarborough argued that having face time with a world leader is a no-brainer. Some of his MSNBC colleagues agreed, but there was more to the Mar-a-Lago meeting.

According to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Scarborough and Brzezinski were credibly concerned that they could face governmental and legal harassment from the incoming Trump administration.

Knowing that Trump has threatened retribution against his perceived political opponents, and that Trump has promoted lies about Scarborough and Brzezinski in the past, the MSNBC hosts decided to reach out to the president-elect, the sources told CNN.

The two sources generally agreed with Scarborough and Brzezinski’s impression of the situation at hand – namely, that the incoming Trump administration could use its wide-ranging powers to punish people deemed enemies. (Trump ally Elon Musk wrote on X overnight, in a post supporting Matt Gaetz for attorney general, that America needs Gaetz to “put powerful bad actors in prison.”)

/snip

🐔💩

[CrispyQ]

1. Ditto on your emojis! -nt

[peachpit24]

11. Mika and joe

That is how authoritarians win, because too many people are weak. That gives more strength to Trump. There will be no greatness for our country from him. Just fear. If you live long enough history repeats itself. Main stream media needs to get a spine or get a different occupation.

[Gore1FL]

2. If they want to sacrifice their viewership, I guess that is their prerogative. nt

[boston bean]

3. Fear? How about some courage.

[bluesbassman]

4. So in addition to being an insufferable blowfish, he's a spineless worm too.

Check.

[Ocelot II]

5. They obeyed in advance.

Since I never watched their show - I've only ever seen replayed clips - I can't say I'll stop watching now. But I'm glad to see the outrage, and I hope it makes others think about what they care about most - their obligation to the truth or the likelihood of an IRS audit.

[Hugin]

6. They will probably still face retribution, too.

At least it’ll happen while they still have the taste of Trump’s butt on their lips.

[dhol82]

12. I'm sure they will have retribution anyway

For trump, vengeance is everything!

[Hugin]

14. This was a twist of the knife.

A voluntary twist. There’s no such thing as proactively defusing Trump.

He’s like the snake at the zoo with the mice running around it’s pen thinking everything is normal. Until it eats them.

[Intractable]

7. I'm sure it's true -- that they feared retribution.

It just says they aren't brave, and won't be in the fight. It reinforces the idea that they should not be thought leaders for liberals, despite Joe having so much advice he'd like to give.

[Doodley]

8. So cowardice came first. The future of America and an ounce of integrity came last.

[hlthe2b]

9. Tempering my withering disdain on this is the info my lawyer/pre-dawn dog-walking friend told me this AM...

He and his wife are researching the move to Portugal. I grimly responded that that was not an option for me or my sister and we'd be among those who had to watch the most despondent "give up," as occurred shortly after the election in Evergreen, CO. (A couple and their dogs were found shot dead in their home without evidence of break-in and the daughter--who I minimally knew through friends found them. She indicated to police how depressed they were about the election outcome along with some financial downturns expected to become worse, so the presumption is suicide).

I don't mean to bum anyone out unduly but DO keep an eye on friends/family who you know are taking this badly. That especially includes those despondent BEFORE the election, including adolescents and teens for whatever reason but particularly those bullied or LGBTQ or Hispanic with potentially questionable status.

I doubt anyone on DU would accuse me of overreacting, but just know there are many ill-informed out there who will. Better to be proactive on this, IMO.

[Hugin]

16. +1 n/t

[MagickMuffin]

10. Still not a guarantee the lovebirds won't be targeted

Now that he’s humiliated them, they still aren’t safe. He harbors his resentments for life.


People still don’t understand that he is Revenge and Retribution KING! He doesn’t let things go, EVER!

[The Blue Flower]

13. I understand the need for self-preservation

But that doesn't mean I'll watch them as a source of real info anymore. Whatever they say now is tainted by their fear.

[vapor2]

15. Michael Cohen

said he was afraid of trump's death threats. 100% fear from a convicted felon. I have stopped watching Joe

[Dawgman49]

17. Cowards

[Earthrise]

18. Shocking. Simply shocking. Yawn...

[LakeArenal]

19. He's much like Lindsey Graham and now as hated.

[Mike Nelson]

20. I'll always remember...

... their extended 2016 opening rants about Hillary's emails.