NBC News and MSNBC are facing a wave of backlash after hiring former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as an on-air contributor on Friday, with some staffers speaking out publicly against the move.
McDaniel has repeatedly attacked the network in the past, calling their journalists “propagandists.” She also promoted false claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
MSNBC’s primetime propagandists wasted countless hours pushing the Russia collusion hoax.
— Ronna McDaniel (@RonnaMcDaniel) May 16, 2023
Last night, they discussed Durham's report for barely 10 minutes, in which they insisted the weaponization of government found in the report was no big deal.
The hire ignited controversy with some network staffers speaking out, including MSNBC columnist Marisa Kabas who posted on social media an email she sent to NBC News questioning the network’s reasoning and asking for them to reconsider the hire.
“You wrote: ‘It couldn’t be a more important moment to have a voice like Ronna’s on the team.’ As a fellow voice on the team — albeit one far less known, far less powerful, and likely far less compensated — I want to understand what kind of message this is supposed to send to us?” Kabas wrote in the email.
“As columnists we are held to strict standards of factuality and truth, and are expected to have a fundamental understanding of our democracy,” Kabas continued. “McDaniel has proven time and again she adheres to none of those values, and lacks that very basic understanding.”
Another MSNBC columnist, Andrea Grimes “cosigned” the message by simply writing “f–k this.”
The network was one of several competing to land the big-name Republican, according to media reporter Brian Stelter. She joins fellow former RNC chair Michael Steele as a commentator at NBC.
In the internal memo announcing the hiring of McDaniel, senior VP of politics Carrie Budoff Brown wrote that “NBC News has a legacy of serving its audience through reporting that reflects and examines the diverse perspectives of American voters … this variety of voices builds on our rigorous reporting and helps bring audiences and voters closer to the thinking and decision making within our halls of power.”
Others outside of the network lambasted the decision across social media.
Every goddamned time Ronna McDaniel appears on MSNBC, I want to see us all:
— Jeff (Gutenberg Parenthesis) Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) March 22, 2024
1. Take to social media and #BOOOO @MSNBC.
2. Change the channel or turn off the TV.
For shame, @MSNBC, for shame.
Ronna McDaniel, Former R.N.C. Chair, Joins NBC News https://t.co/s0jDN98ckU
Here is new MSNBC commentator complaining about the 2020 election being stolen. https://t.co/d7MJoESr0c
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) March 22, 2024
Hey @MSNBC, I’m giving you fair warning that I’ll change the channel the second I see Ronna McDaniel appear on any of your broadcasts. And I bet I’m not the only viewer who feels that way. pic.twitter.com/1QGlP7lj6w
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) March 22, 2024
Hiring Ronna McDaniel is a terrible decision. Having a range of views is useful. But hiring a proven serial liar is disastrous. NBC is and must be, first and foremost, in the credibility business. She will compromise that every time she appears on air. She cannot be trusted. https://t.co/oD2rhesDKE
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) March 22, 2024
What a disgusting and cynical decision by @NBCNews and @msnbc for hiring this wretched and lying woman who subverted the Republic by denying an election result in 2020.
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) March 22, 2024
NBC News and MSNBC just immolated their journalistic credibility.
I spent 10 years as an analyst at MSNBC.…
McDaniel lied about the 2020 election result, was involved in a pressure campaign to get Michigan officials not to certify the vote, and has accused MSNBC of “spreading lies” and employing “primetime propagandists.”https://t.co/K2ZMRx1g6i https://t.co/qgtiikMj7d
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 22, 2024
NBC News has hired former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, who has demonized the press and refused to acknowledge Biden was fairly elected pic.twitter.com/Z14JfeYYee
— Victor Blackwell CNN (@VictorBlackwell) March 22, 2024
MSNBC does a lot of good work but NBC hiring Ronna McDaniel is exactly why I’m grateful to be independent. I can say (accurately!) that it’s a disgraceful move without having to worry about my job.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 22, 2024
Progressives are seen as too extreme for mainstream media and institutions. But people who spread hate, lies, conspiracies and support a violent insurrection are fine as long as they're conservative. Both sides, you see. Enter Ronna McDaniel at NBC.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 22, 2024
This is the perfect example of the media normalizing trump and his fascist, authoritarian platform backed by none other than Ronna McDaniel. Time to turn off @MSNBC. Won’t anyone there step up and say how this is so wrong?
— Willoughby 12 🇺🇦 (@willoughby_12) March 22, 2024
NBC declined to comment when reached by TheWrap.
