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PEOPLE & ARTSTuesday 1 March 2016
MSNBC’s Scarborough strikes hard at Donald Trump
DAVID BAUDER Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures during a rally at Radford University in supporters and I really ap-
AP Television Writer Radford, Va., Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. preciate it.” He quickly
NEW YORK (AP) — MSNBC’s clarified himself: “not nec-
Joe Scarborough, who Associated Press essarily supporters but at
lately has become a sym- least believers. You said
bol of the media’s com- Monday, blamed a “very Trump has been inter- disagreed with analysts there’s some potential
plicated relationship with bad earpiece” provided by viewed on “Morning Joe” who believed Trump’s ini- there.”
Donald Trump, said Mon- CNN for having trouble un- 32 times since the Republi- tial strong showing in polls Tapes leaked by radio host
day that the Republican’s derstanding precisely what can announced his candi- would evaporate. That was Harry Shearer, of conver-
remarks on David Duke are Tapper had asked him. dacy last summer, accord- undoubtedly helpful to the sations involving Scarbor-
“disqualifying” and com- Scarborough’s comments ing to the liberal media Trump campaign, yet also ough, Brzezinski and Trump
pel an apology. come after he and his show watchdogs Media Matters proved to be astute analy- during commercial breaks
The “Morning Joe” host, a have faced criticism for be- for America. Many have sis for a daily program that in Trump’s Feb. 17 town
former GOP congressman ing too friendly with Trump. been telephone interviews. traffics in three hours of po- hall meeting on MSNBC,
from Florida, referred to The business mogul’s rise in Most television shows avoid litical talk. revealed the type of ban-
Trump’s Sunday interview the political polls has been phone interviews — they It was some offhand com- ter between media figures
on CNN about former Ku accompanied by record need pictures — but the in- ments that embarrassed and a candidate usually
Klux Klan leader Duke’s ratings for events surround- terest in Trump and the rat- “Morning Joe.” not seen when cameras
support of Trump’s presi- ing the GOP nomination ings his appearances bring The morning after Trump’s are rolling.
dential candidacy. Trump campaign, giving networks has led to that rule being win in the New Hampshire In the off-air moments, both
at first pleaded ignorance the incentive to talk about bent by many. primary, Trump said in an MSNBC hosts told Trump
about Duke and groups the race as much as pos- In the months before prima- interview with Scarborough that they had been wrong
he’s been involved in, then sible — particularly with the ry or caucus voting began, and co-host Mika Brzezinski in thinking Trump had per-
later said he disavowed candidate himself. Scarborough frequently that “you guys have been formed poorly in a recent
Duke’s support. debate. When Brzezinski
“That’s disqualifying right discussed with a network
there,” Scarborough said producer a potential sub-
of the CNN interview. “It’s ject for questions, Trump is
breathtaking ... Is he re- heard saying, “nothing too
ally so stupid that he thinks hard, Mika.”
Southerners aren’t offend- The hosts also thanked
ed by the KKK?” Trump for providing the
Scarborough also penned network with an hour of
a Washington Post column prime-time programming,
posted on Monday say- and Trump joked, “I’m do-
ing Trump’s “feigned igno- ing this because you get
rance” about Duke and great ratings and a raise.
the KKK raise disturbing Me, I get nothing.”
questions about the Re- Frank Sesno, media and
publican presidential front- public affairs professor at
runner. George Washington Uni-
A Trump spokeswoman versity and a former CNN
noted that the candidate Washington bureau chief,
had disavowed Duke’s en- said Scarborough “like so
dorsement before and af- many on cable television
ter Sunday’s interview with and on talk radio, has been
CNN’s Jake Tapper, but captivated by the Trump
had no comment on Scar- phenomenon. I would not
borough’s remarks. Trump, say he’s been working for
on NBC’s “Today” show on him.”q
Melissa Harris-Perry won’t be
back for her MSNBC show
In this Feb. 18, 2012, file photo, provided by MSNBC, Melissa VERENA DOBNIK ways. “Melissa Harris-Perry” show.
Harris-Perry appears on the set of her self-titled show in New Associated Press She was scheduled to ap- “Our show was taken —
York. NEW YORK (AP) — Melissa pear this Saturday and Sun- without comment or dis-
Harris-Perry and MSNBC are day in the regular two-hour cussion or notice — in the
Associated Press going their separate ways. slot from 10 a.m. to noon. midst of an election sea-
“Farewell #Nerdland,” she But Harris-Perry announced son,” Harris-Perry said in an
tweeted on Sunday, re- several days ago that she email to her staff that was
ferring to the probing dis- would stay away — in re- posted on her Twitter page
cussions on her weekend sponse to MSNBC’s pre- on Friday.
show. “Inviting diverse new emption of her program for MSNBC “would like me
voices to table was a privi- much of February for cover- to appear for four incon-
lege. Grateful for years of age of presidential politics. sequential hours to read
support & criticism.” Harris-Perry has focused on news that they deem rel-
The network says MSNBC the politics of race, gender evant,” including more po-
and Harris-Perry are parting and social justice on her litical news.q
