Here we are, the Monday immediately following the attempt on the life of Donald Trump, but for those who were hoping to begin their day with the sane and sober reflections on this event from the capable crew on “Morning Joe”, they were met with dismay. “Morning Joe” was not on the air!
We were not treated to the calm and introspective wisdom from Mr. Scarborough, the balanced and thoughtful reflections from his paramour Mika Brzezinski, and the fulfilling commentary from the wizened panel and rotating slate of Algonquin-level thinkers.
This is likely due to the fact that once again, the press is in a state of dismay and upheaval. It has been a wild and revealing time analyzing the media in the aftermath of the attempt to take the life of Donald Trump. Once again, we see the press ensnared within a reality of their own making, due entirely to their abandonment of basic journalism ethics.
This is the press industry that commonly takes the approach to any gun event by first filtering it through their narrative prism before taking to the airwaves. Is the shooter a white male? Then every detail of their personal life and social media is examined through forensics and any connectivity to an entity on the right will be highlighted for days as the inspiration for the violence.
In the case that a minority is behind the shooting? One bland report is sufficient before dropping the story entirely.
The desire in detailing blame in that fashion is an extension of the larger practice in the press of delivering promised violent outbreaks from the right, specifically MAGA-inspired attacks. This has been the mantra in the media, that Trump and conservative outlets will provoke violent outbursts due to their intolerant and inciteful language. We have been promised a lengthy list of moments when MAGA Nation would rise with an outburst of violence; the various rallies, Trump’s indictment, Trump’s conviction, and other general occurrences are a regular prediction in the press. One day - one day - they may become proven accurate.
The shooting in Pennsylvania has the press back on their heels. Their desire to pin the blame of political violence on their desired targets is derailed when one of those targets becomes placed in the very crosshairs they assured us would develop. So after it is Trump who is actually fired upon this scripted narrative of “violent rhetoric” cannot be explored in earnest. Not only will looking into inspiring speech guide the press to the left, it will place them on the doorstep of the news outlets.
Thus, “Morning Joe” had been replaced this morning. There is a notable lack of introspection in the press and this has been what leads to so many problems experienced across the industry today. The removal of the show for conventional news coverage speaks volumes. There may be at least some sane minds at the network who thought it better to not have the daybreak hysterics taking place after such a serious event, especially when looking at the commentary from this crew over the past months.
Namesake host Joe Scarborough has been a rabid opponent of Trump and an enthusiastic supporter of Biden, so much so that the President has declared their program his favorite. The one-time Republican has had no shortage of invective toward Trump and his followers. The “Hitler-Nazi” charges are not uncommon, and the claims of Trump killing democracy, eliminating elections, shredding the Constitution, and more are quotidian claims. Scar-Joe went full crazed blue-anon pundit in declaring that Trump will jail and execute his opponents. Adding to the psychosis, he adds, “Just look at his past!” That would be Trump’s record of not doing the very things promised.
Joe’s blond bride, Mika Brzezinski, is no less emotional.
MSNBC’s @morningmika: “If you read books on fascism, & dictatorships, & how it happens, there are true lines that are happening here in America, & the choice is very real, & for people who like democracy, this is a frightening moment.” pic.twitter.com/3HSFyCosp1
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 20, 2024
The cast of characters the show caters are equally hyperbolic and accusatory. Mike Barnicle is always sold as an urbane thinker, all while he is prone to resorting to end-of-the-democracy blather and - of course - invoking Nazi imagery. Regular self-important panelist Donny Deutsch is a reliable source of over the top predictions.
What is revealing is that the show was shunted despite the current hyperactive news cycle. Beyond the evolving storyline of the assassination attempt there is the ongoing turmoil inside the Democratic Party, SCOTUS decisions and the impacts on Trump trials, as well as the kick off of the Republican National Convention. More than fodder, the water was chummed for the frenzy normally seen on “Morning Joe”
Let’s be honest, they knew Mika was going to go on a PolPot rant and call for blood and soul…https://t.co/400tl5Hnb2
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) July 15, 2024
However, these imbalanced emotive jesters were regarded as a potential problem for the studio brass and it was thought better to give them another day off. This is not empty speculation on my part; Oliver Darcy, claiming to have spoken to network insiders, states that the decision to suspend the morning show was done as a preventative measure.
A person familiar with the matter told CNN that the decision was made to avoid a scenario in which one of the show’s stable of two dozen-plus guests might make an inappropriate comment on live television that could be used to assail the program and network as a whole.
The amusement here is how the very things noted by outsiders as problems with this program for some time have been recognized by the powers inside of MSNBC. Of course, those cautionary moves will not be regarded as serious concerns in the days going forward. After all, they will be needed to feed the steady stream of leftist hysteria breakfast items – including for the President of the United States.