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

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Business

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.”)

Within MSNBC, one of the country’s most prominent progressive media brands, there are a variety of opinions about what Trump and his allies might do. For that reason, there are a wide range of feelings about the “Morning Joe” meeting, according to half a dozen employees who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/19/media/morning-joe-trump-mar-a-lago-meeting-fears/index.html

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The "media" ( "free press" ) is no longer "free". But then even with all the history available that establishes what ultimately happens to "the media" when autocrats take over, they ignored all that history. They instead spent massive amounts of time on "both siderisms", normalizing the heretics and their anti-societal behavior, and sane-washing the actual autocrat, while demonizing those trying to "follow the rules".

They believed they were somehow immune and being thought of as "disinterested parties".

They weren't. They were nothing more than the "useful idiots" for the autocrats.

[NoodleyAppendage]

1. Cowardice

This sort of "kiss the ring" behavior will only embolden Trump. The key to Trump is calling his bluff (and having the spine to do so). Mika & Joe apparently are missing this structural support, and their moral cores are hollow.

[Born Free]

41. We Stopped Watching Morning Joe

After all the talk about republicans "kissing the ring" they do it too... We no longer trust them, they are just mouthpieces in it for the money and in our opinion no longer worthy of our time

[JohnSJ]

2. You defend a free press by being the opposition to power, not by being afraid of retribution.

[Magoo48]

30. If they have enough viewers to keep their show,

it’s because liberals are still tuning in. Dems, progressives, liberals; we must take responsibility for our viewing habits. We can bitch all we want, but tuning in is financial support.

[JohnSJ]

33. Ever since the election I have boycotted all MSM news, and don't plan to

change that anytime soon.

[tonekat]

3. The Fourth Estate has Capitulated.

I think it's safe to assume the press is folding up like a cheap lawn chair already. Thanks for nothing, cowards.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Reporters if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen,

[Zambero]

5. Anticipatory submission

Following the lead of the L.A. & N.Y. Times, among others. Compromise journalistic integrity today, averting Dear Leader's wrathful vengeance tomorrow.

[Vinca]

6. That's what I figured - they're trying to escape the gulag roundup.

I'll still watch the show because I really like the regular guests they have, but I hope they got the message that sucking up is not the way to go.

[Jit423]

7. I would not take the word of a proven, habitual liar to not retaliate. Why believe anything he says?

Either they have something on Trump that they think might change his mind OR he has something on them that they do not want to go public. Either way, it is a lose lose situation for Joe and Mika and their fans.

And , they don't really know if Trump will be around to take the oath of Office on Jan 20. Trump is an old man and not looking well these days. The Pressure Musk and Putin are putting on him is probably stroke feed.

[SpankMe]

8. Funny how Fox, OAN, Newsmax, et. al. aren't afraid of Democratic leaders in the same way

Maybe our side needs to up its intimidation game to try and counter this Nazism.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Dems don't threaten to destroy everyone.

[The Grand Illuminist]

35. Though not by choice, maybe it is time to raise the game.

nt

[Irish_Dem]

36. I wonder at what point the current US civil war turns into a shooting war?

[FredGarvin]

13. Corporate media has one side

And it aint ours

[ramedy]

14. Too late.

n/t

[Irish_Dem]

9. Of course he is just saving his own neck.

Every one is rushing to bend the knee to our new lord and master.

It is about survival.

[Joinfortmill]

11. Liars and cowards with, I suspect, a big dose of greed. Not who you want covering The Fascist.

Just retire if you're too afraid to face the adjudicated rapist. Step aside and let someone with some guts have your spot. Go to Spain. I hear Mika likes it there. Just step aside and get out of the way.

[Mike 03]

12. Thom Hartmann was just talking about this

He called their submission symptomatic of how fascism is incremental.

Now he's reading from some quotes gathered by the reporter Milton Mayer back in the mid fifties, when he tried to find out how so many ordinary Germans could embrace Nazism.

EDIT: Changed "Martin" to "Milton"

[FredGarvin]

15. These 2 clowns are stirring up shite for views

It's part of their shtick. NBC...nuff said

Multimillionaires. They couldnt care less about Trump. Their net worth is most likely near 100 million.

[Raven]

16. I'm re-reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer. The reason that this book

is so important is not so much that it chronicles WWII but that it describes in great detail the inner workings of Hitler's Third Reich. Shier had access to the secret papers of the cult members who surrounded Hitler. In these pages I see many Joes and Mikas who, in stunning naivety or gross self-interest, or both, went along to get along. These people, along with the German population in general, chose to believe that it wasn't so bad when it was horrific.

I watched Morning Joe yesterday for what was to be the last time and what I saw was two people who know better desperately trying to rationalize their complete capitulation to a madman.

[CTyankee]

17. Joe and Mika are on notice: longtime liberals like me are watching your show very carefully, if at all.

Be careful of waving your "We went to Mar a Lago" banner. You are walking a fine line. While I do not wish any ill to your guests, many of whom I respect and want to hear from, I fear you are all in for a rude shock. You had better be prepared.

I am quite literally shaking my head right now.

[FakeNoose]

18. I watched Morning Joe maybe once or twice back in 2016 or 2017, not since then

I could never understand why he even has a show on MSNBC. He's a terrible and arrogant interviewer, arguing with his guests and cutting them off to tell everyone what HE thinks. Since I'm not a morning person anyway, I found it easy to skip him.

On the other hand, my favorite thing to do is DVR the late-night talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and watch THEM with my morning coffee.

[ificandream]

24. I was a daily viewer of MJ for years.

I loved the mix of views. But I haven't watched it recently once DirecTV changed our plan and made DVRs an extra charge. I missed it for a while, but after this happened I don't now. I haven't watched MSNBC since the election. I have favorites on there I would still trust, but my trust in MJ has diminished.

[dem4decades]

26. On Notice? Fine line? They've crossed and line and the only notice will be when they notice no one is watching anymore

If you watch Morning Joe after this, you're on the same bus as Mika and Scum, the bus that Trump is driving.

[CTyankee]

31. what an awful thing to say to a fellow DUer who has been here a very long time...

honestly, I never thought I would see this type of answer to a fellow DUer. "Scum"? Do you really want to call me by that name?

[dem4decades]

32. I didn't call a fellow DUer Scum, i called Joe Scarborough "Scum"

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that has referred to Scarborough as Scum here. I can't believe I've been so attacked by a fellow DUer that misinterpreted my post.

[CTyankee]

34. Below is the quote in your words that you sent to me.

"If you watch Morning Joe after this, you're on the same bus as Mika and Scum, the bus that Trump is driving."

[Bengus81]

40. Yep...I'm wondering where Claire McCaskle comes down on the kissing ass of a wanbe dictator?

How about Willie Giest?

I might not ever know because I'll never be a viewer that pair's show after yesterday.

[quakerboy]

19. They wont be the last

I think its important to remember that the"free" corporate press really hasnt been that for a good while. They are run by a handful of rich folks who determine the direction and sometimes the granular content of what is put out. Even the ones that seem more agreeable are not actually on our side.

[Evolve Dammit]

20. Kissing up, in hopes of not having to flee the country. Pathetically disheartening. They see the way it's moving.

[djacq]

21. Brings new meaning to the phrase, "Chicken Shit"

Stop watching Morning Joe.

[ificandream]

22. Initially, I was willing to take the view that they were there for news reasons ...

... But given what Brian Stelter wrote this a.m. (quoted above .... I'm subscribed to his daily column), I am more in agreement with saying what they were doing was saving themselves. Which is tragic for two reasons. It shows the press, as a whole, is severely frightened. And it means our news coverage over the next four years won't be the good quality we expect of it.

Surely, others will follow and do what they did, though hopefully not to the extent that they travel to see him in his palace. But on the other hand, others won't. I don't believe all of MSNBC will. But MJ has really blown it. I heard Scarborough tried to justify it this a.m., but it really doesn't look good.

[Intractable]

23. Obviously, they are not in the fight with the rest of us.

At times, I thought they were.

Hey, remember that time on the show when Joe made us watch him play guitar (Beatles songs, I think) while Mika cheered him on? (It was a few years ago.) It was pure cringe.

I shouldn't say he made me watch him. Rather, he made me watch CNN.

[mcar]

25. Cowards

[SWBTATTReg]

27. So much for standing up for the free press, etc. Instead, get into bed w/ the other side before it's too late.

[PortTack]

28. Could care less what it was driven by. You folded on democracy...I hope your show continues to crater!

[LudwigPastorius]

29. Edward R. Murrow wept.

[Drum]

37. Unwatchable no matter what.

I think that subconsciously “Morning Joe” is part of the reason I sleep late in the morning.

[Ojerly]

38. Fuken Sellouts!!

Just like the supposed "talent" on CNN, these two don't have the cajones to continue the fight. They aren't for the people. They folded to save their own asses. Send the message to MSNBC, tune out the sell outs, and if the others start to suck at Fat Donnie's orange sphincter, we go elsewhere for news.

[Bengus81]

39. So is Maddow,Lawrence O'Donnell and Chris Hayes going to take the first flight down to kiss Trumps abundant ASS?

They work at the same network so that "the boss made em go" is total BULLSHIT. They went on their own.