THE Morning Joe hosts’ olive branch to President-elect Trump started a sea of MSNBC infighting that could only be saved by left-wing firebrand Rachel Maddow, insiders have claimed.
Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski sparked fury when they traveled to Mar-a-Lago to make amends with Trump in November, leading Maddow to return to a full-time schedule to save ratings.
“This is a major decision, and Rachel is seen as the person that has the biggest personality,” someone who has worked at MSNBC for ten years exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
She “didn’t bend her knee when Trump started to threaten journalists, unlike some other people in this network,” they said.
Scarborough and Brzezinski have become darlings of the network since the show started in 2007, as the program rocketed up to massive ratings through 2023.
It was once deemed the most popular cable morning show in New York City and Washington, D.C., and still competes with other heavy hitters like Fox & Friends and The Today Show.
However, in the past year, the network has suffered less than savory ratings, and some fans are snubbing the programs out of protest over Trump’s shock election win.
Adding fuel to the fire was the married duo’s journey to Trump’s home in November after they enjoyed years of no-holds-barred attacks on his every move.
The couple announced the visit in a dramatic on-air admission, explaining that they wanted to repair their infamous feud before he took office again in January.
Some critics felt this bizarre move showed chinks in the network’s armor, as fans wanted the anchors to stand up to the President-elect and launch an all-out media war.
The dip in business has caused a massive shake-up among the ranks, resulting in the departure of President Rashida Jones, who held the position for four years.
Big names have also reportedly had to slash their salaries, including Maddow, who received a $5 million cut, and Joy Reid, who lost a whopping $3 million annually due to the move.
Left with no other choice, desperate executives brought back beloved host Maddow to host five nights a week until May 1 instead of her one-day deal as a last-ditch effort to increase ratings.
And according to insiders who spoke with The U.S. Sun, she’s ready for the challenge.
MADDOW ‘ALL-IN’
“Rachel is our ‘all-in’ to try to save us, as we are in a very complicated situation,” said the source.
“She is seen as the one who can help turn things around.”
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The insider said Morning Joe has “created a major rift in the group and between journalists that felt betrayed and stabbed in the back by the actions of some that didn’t want to keep their journalistic values on top of their priorities.
“Rachel is so ready for this, and she has the whole support of the team, as we all know that she is very talented and won’t back down and do her job with 110% energy.
“She is our ‘Last of the Mohicans.’ She will be the person that changes the dynamic back to the best.”
Another inside source said that Maddow is ready to analyze Trump’s “every move” in his first few weeks and wants to “show that journalism is still very good and works to bring the truth in America.”
“The team at MSNBC sees her as the best suited to bring the numbers back up and to be the most influential journalist in the channel to bring back audiences,” they said.
“She is seen as their game changer and the person who has the most credibility and influence to help MSNBC’s image and work be fully respected and strong in the media industry again.”
Maddow plans to cover Trump’s first moves as president, and her show will now air every weekday at 9 p.m. ET until May 1.
Alex Wagner Tonight, which has been covering the days that Maddow is off, will be put on pause for the time being.
Instead, Wagner will be traveling across the country to report Trumpland: The First 100 Days.
In an interview with USA Today, Madow said she’s “ready to adapt” and cancel the noise as she analyzes Trump’s actions.
“As long as I have been in the cable news world, I’ve been told ‘this is the last year,'” she said.
“And eventually, I’m sure it will be over. But as long as we’re still here, our job is pretty clear: Follow the facts, don’t be intimidated, tell true stories, help people understand the world.
“And I’m going to keep doing that, and I know MSNBC is committed to that as a company, and none of that changes.”
