NBC News Hiring of Ronna McDaniel Sparks Controversy and Limited Role at MSNBC

Following NBC News’ announcement of Ronna McDaniel’s hiring as a political analyst, MSNBC President Rashida Jones informed staff that McDaniel, former chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, would not be appearing on air for the cable network, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The decision to bring McDaniel on board faced significant public criticism, ultimately resulting in her resignation from the GOP leadership in February. Critics cited her close association with Trump and her involvement in his efforts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election.

Carrie Budoff Brown, NBC’s elections reporting lead, defended the hiring in a memo, emphasizing the importance of having McDaniel’s perspective during tumultuous political times. However, internal dissent within MSNBC surfaced, with anchors, producers, and contributors expressing concerns about her appointment. MSNBC columnist Marisa Kabas publicly urged reconsideration of the decision, highlighting the importance of journalistic integrity and democratic values.

Former MSNBC host Medhi Hasan also criticized the move, pointing out McDaniel’s previous statements and actions, including spreading falsehoods about the election and attacking MSNBC’s credibility.

Despite Brown’s memo indicating McDaniel’s role would extend to all NBC News platforms, including MSNBC, Jones clarified that McDaniel would not be featured on-air for the cable network.

Nevertheless, McDaniel’s scheduled appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” proceeded as planned. Host Kristen Welker stated that the interview had been arranged prior to McDaniel’s hiring and would focus on news content. McDaniel, in her first interview since stepping down from the RNC, appeared to backtrack on previous claims, acknowledging Joe Biden’s victory as legitimate.

Following the interview, former “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd raised concerns about McDaniel’s credibility as a paid contributor, calling for transparency from network executives regarding her role. Todd emphasized that McDaniel still faced credibility challenges that needed addressing.