Maddow blasts ‘inexplicable’ decision by NBC to hire McDaniel

MSNBC prime-time host Rachel Maddow slammed her network for its recent decision to use former Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as a political commentator.

“Don’t worry about how I feel about this, but the fact that McDaniel is an employee of NBC News is baffling to me,” Maddow said on Monday’s show. “You wouldn’t hire a smart person…you wouldn’t hire a gang member or some other failed person to work in the prosecutor’s office. You wouldn’t hire a pickpocket to work as a TA screener. I think the decision to add it to the payroll is puzzling.”

McDaniel’s appointment, announced by the network late last week, sparked a storm of criticism within the network and an open revolt among prominent hosts and anchors.

Maddow appeared on “Meet the Press” over the weekend to defend McDaniel, who defended his previous statements about President Trump, the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He said he hopes NBC News will “reverse the decision” to adopt it. .

“And it’s not a Democrat or Republican issue, it’s not a partisanship issue or a right versus left issue,” she continued. “It’s about our system of government, undermining elections and pursuing democracy.”

Maddow highlighted McDaniel’s role in former President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, saying that NBC, like other news organizations, is now “covering the election and supporting democratic rights and privileges.” “We are trying to report on the bad guys who are trying to use this to end the election,” he said. Democracy. ”

The host was one of the network’s top people to take to the airwaves Monday to mock leadership over the hiring decisions of McDaniel, Nicole Wallace, Jen Psaki and Joy Reid.

Mr. Maddow, one of the left-leaning network’s longest-serving hosts, said NBC News and its parent company acknowledged it was a mistake to hire Mr. McDaniel and showed strength by terminating the former RNC chairman’s contract. claimed that it could be done.

“Wait a minute and admit that it probably wasn’t the right decision,” she said. “Admitting when you’re wrong is a sign of strength, not weakness. And our country needs us to be strong right now.”