MSNBC delays documentary over fears it could 'offend Donald Trump': report

[riversedge]

Source: raw story


Kathleen Culliton October 8, 2024 2:19

A documentary about the Trump administration's family separation policy will not air before Election Day because MSNBC is concerned about offending the Republican presidential nominee, according to new reports.

Journalist Oliver Darcy, a former critic for CNN, revealed Tuesday that the Errol Morris documentary based on Jacob Soboroff's 2020 book "Separated: Inside an American Tragedy," is being held by NBC bosses until Dec. 7 — a move that apparently annoyed the director.

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"Not only does NBCU have a potential Oscars contender on its hands with the child separation documentary," he wrote, "but Rachel Maddow has offered to do an hour-long special hyping the film ahead of its network debut, I’m told.

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"On Monday’s edition of his Status newsletter, he reported that Rebecca Blumenstein, president of editorial for NBC News, opposed airing 'Separated' before the election because the network still hopes Trump will agree to another presidential debate," the outlet reported.................











Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-msnbc-documentary/

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damn. I would expect something like this from Fox and RW media but not from msnbc.




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Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during his rally in Saginaw, Michigan, U.S., October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

[Prairie Gates]

1. So MSNBC thinks Trump is going to win?

Why else worry about offending him?

[CrispyQ]

8. No, they hope he will do another debate.

As if that's gonna happen.

[onecaliberal]

12. That is bs. Even if he did, it wouldn't be on nbc and he won't spare them in any case:

[Miguelito Loveless]

18. They and all the other networks

are counting on it.

[angrychair]

50. They hope he wins

Like any legacy news organization. Misery and suffering sells more news that happiness and prosperity. (I mean watch the breathless coverage of the Hurricanes. They all sound down right giddy at the prospect of death and destruction)
MSNBC and the rest of them would be happier than any Republican if he won.

[MacKasey]

2. Someone should put it on the internet and say oops

[Pachamama]

3. Worried they will offend or inform?

This is really pissing me off. The public has a right to know and they are not doing their job as journalists.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Not journalists, it's suck-up management. They don't want to ruin their chances of getting in bed with tfg. nt

[FredGarvin]

11. Already are

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Show it PPV and we'll show you who DOES want to see it. nt

[BoRaGard]

6. Ugly facts about the G.O.P. might impact profits

How gutless of MSNBC.

[Kid Berwyn]

7. So COMCASTIC.

Part of ABCNNBCBSFUXNoiseNutworks, Corporate McPravda’s allegiance is to the almighty dollar. They laugh at the First Amendment.

[Magoo48]

39. Mass Media news could work. Mass media, for profit, "news" will never work.

They are now so blatant, it is a daily insult.
How do I know, I listen to you guys here on DU and elsewhere.
I tuned out 20 years ago. I will not support their survival.

[Kid Berwyn]

43. What about creating a national / state / local public news service?

The thing would be supported by taxpayers and be autonomous from Uncle Sam.

It's only job: to do what the Founders understood a democratic republic needs to survive: A Free Press. The "press" is the only business mentioned by named in the entire Constitution of the United States.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Perhaps We could create something like the BBC. Publicly funded, it just operates to get the facts out in front of the People. The Who, What, Where, When, Why, How and anything else that matters.

As you know, Magoo48, We the People must have access to a free press -- one free to Find out. Free to Report. Free to Analyze. Free to Share. Otherwise, the liars will continue to get ahead, wars will continue uninterrupted, and the rich will continue to get richer at the expense of most everyone else.

[Magoo48]

54. Sounds like a great idea.

I suppose if we could make it public funded and pay the journalists well, it might work. We’d have to keep it untainted by government, private, and corporate interests. It probably require some sort of public oversight, being careful not to let outside influences pollute the journalism like it has school boards.

The more you think about it, it’s damn hard to protect journalistic integrity.

[C_U_L8R]

9. Trump thrives on the shoulders of cowards

What happened to you, Journalism?

[FredGarvin]

10. MSNBC is owned by Comcast

'nuff said

[LuvLoogie]

13. Yeah, MSM keeps sucking orange ass.

[Owens]

14. But if it was something about Kamala

They would air it pronto!

[kacekwl]

20. In a heartbeat. N/T

[slightlv]

15. This is infuriating for so many reasons! /nt

[Initech]

16. Aw... what a whiny, pathetic snowflake! Afraid of your feelings being hurt, Dictator Donnie?

Well too fucking bad!

[moniss]

17. Thumb on the scale. nt

[vapor2]

19. AFRAID............

TO offend an ex prez who tried to overthrow our govt? sent covid equipment to Putin? keeps whining that Fema $$ is going to immigrants?

SERIOUSLY?

[Susan Calvin]

21. Oh, I absolutely believe it of MSNBC.

Don't forget that they're all in this to make a profit. They have different viewpoints and different degrees of veracity, but the bottom line is profit. Thanks Reagan.

[IcyPeas]

22. FFS we mustn't offend the most offensive piece of sh*t on the planet

SMH

[NotHardly]

23. MSNBC bending the knee. Stupidity knows no bounds by these corp POS

[jalan48]

24. Whoa. We don't want to offend the orchestrator of a coup attempt? Weird.

[Quanto Magnus]

25. All the people at the top of NBC are likely very 'conservative' (if they exist anymore)

They're definitely wealthy and are ostensibly protecting their money by protecting tRump. The execs will definitely benefit from a tRump tax cut package.

[Evolve Dammit]

26. unreal. Shows you how much the MSM lets him slide on almost everything. But don't have a hair out of place VP Harris

[Luck Counts]

27. Again, MSM thinks their agendas are more important than the news

[Think. Again.]

28. I guess...

...Rebecca Blumenstein, president of editorial for NBC News, is taking david pecker's National Enquirer place as trump's "Catch & Kill" specialist.

[FakeNoose]

29. Why can't Errol Morris or Jacob Soboroff confiscate the doc and show it themselves?

They're the ones who created the product, am I right? They should be able to broadcast it however they choose.

[Paladin]

30. MotherFUCK this shit. (nt)

[bucolic_frolic]

31. IF YOU'RE GOiNG TO TELL THE TRUTH, DAMN IT, YOU'RE GOING TO OFFEND SOMEBODY

[woodsprite]

32. We all know if it was about Kamala or Joe they'd play it on constant repeat. nt

[Joinfortmill]

33. What a horse's ass.

[hadEnuf]

34. But the idea IS to offend Donald Trump and perhaps inform sane people.

Otherwise, why make the frigging documentary in the first place?


This reeks of corporate and political interference.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

35. Rachel, these are they people you work for

Keep hanging around and you'll be tainted

[Ohioboy]

36. The press is supposed to offend people like Trump. It's part of what preserves the republic.

If they are afraid to air the truth now what's it going to be like if Trump gets back in power.

It's pretty bad when congress, the Supreme Court, and the media act as though we are already under dictatorship?

[SeattleVet]

37. MSNBC should ask him, "Are you going to debate? If not, we're going to fill that time with this documentary."

[Blue Owl]

38. How about this: Fuck that fat piece of miserable fucking shit Donald Trump

[dchill]

40. Fuck the suits. Fuck ALL the suits!

[mdbl]

41. Eff MSNBC

Another reason not to watch it.

[DFW]

42. They think Trump will do another debate because of them holding THAT??

The one that WOULD get Trump to do another debate (about $2 billion into his private account) is not something NBC would offer in the first place.

[JustAnotherGen]

44. I've Soboroff's book

Not everyone has.

What the 45 Admin did was a test for what they will do if 45 gets back into the WH

[ShazzieB]

45. I think the headline on this story is misleading.

Raw Story geadljned this story incorrectly, imo. Based on the following excerpts from the article, it sounds to me like it's the bosses at NBC who want to hold this back, not MSNBC.

Journalist Oliver Darcy, a former critic for CNN, revealed Tuesday that the Errol Morris documentary based on Jacob Soboroff's 2020 book "Separated: Inside an American Tragedy," is being held by NBC bosses until Dec. 7 — a move that apparently annoyed the director.

*snip*

Darcy also reported NBC bosses "don’t want to offend Donald Trump, according to the Wrap.

"On Monday’s edition of his Status newsletter, he reported that Rebecca Blumenstein, president of editorial for NBC News, opposed airing 'Separated' before the election because the network still hopes Trump will agree to another presidential debate," the outlet reported.

MSNBC and NBC are separate entities,, both of which are the part of NBCUniversal News Group, owned by Comcast. I'm not clear on the exact relationship between the two or how much control the head honchos at NBC have over MSNBC's programming decisions, but they obviously have some, and it seems clear to me that the objections to airing this documentary are coming from NBC executives, not MSNBC, as the headline implies.

After reading all the replies accusing MSNBC of selling out or some such thing, I felt this was worth pointing out. I believe we need to put the blame where it belongs: with NBC, not MSNBC!

I also don't think we've heard the last word on this controversy. Now that Darcy has gone public with this, the parties involved will no doubt make their own positions clear. I'll be very surprised if there isn't mention of this on some of the MSNBC shows tonight. And who knows, if enough pressure is put on NBC, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of MSNBC being allowed to air the documentary prior to the election.

As Rachel Maddow always says, "Watch this space!"

[riversedge]

53. I think I agree with you and Yes, watch this space.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

46. If TFG wins, he will still try to ban this network

This is a bad move by MSNBC

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

47. Oh boo hoo. Dont they know by know if he doesnt have something to get offended about

HE WILL MAKE STUFF UP!!!!

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

48. RW is already offended by MSNBC's mere existence, what do they have to lose. nt

[Teacher of the Year]

49. Sure NBC, if he wins, you think he won't be offended that you air it in Dec?

Um... yeah, NBC, why not say you aren't going to air it until you know he has lost? We all know you won't air it in Dec if he wins. You might offend him.

[JT45242]

51. If I were a staffer, I might accidentally leak it

I don't know how that kind of you tube sir. We must have been hacked

[dem4decades]

52. Did Rachel do a story on MSNBC being cowards?

[HariSeldon]

55. F&@$-#+ access hounding!

They are dogs, very well-paid dogs!

[Eko]

56. Here is where you let them know nicely that they should very much play it soon.

https://help.nbc.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?brand=nbc&_q=eyJBcHAgVmVyc2lvbiI6IjEuMjMzLjEiLCJEZXZpY2UiOiJXaW5kb3dzIiwiT1MgVmVyc2lvbiI6IldpbmRvd3MgTlQgMTAuMDsgV2luNjQ7IHg2NCIsIkJyYW5kIjoibmJjIiwiQ2FsbCBTaWduIjoiTm9uZSIsIkNvbm5lY3Rpb24gVHlwZSI6Ik5vbmUiLCJNVlBEIjoiTm9uZSIsIlN1cHBvcnQgSUQiOiItNTU4Mzk2MjE2Nzk4MTgzODQzMSIsIlNlc3Npb25JRCAiOiI4NDg3MTRBMC01MjVELTQ5RjItODE5RS1ERDQ3MEY1QzQ1QjgiLCJSZWNlbnRXYXRjaGVkVmlkZW8iOiJOb25lIn0=


Here is what I sent them.
Hi, I heard that this doc wouldn't be aired before the election. If this is true then I think that should be rethought. I've been a daily watcher of MSNBC for a long time now and I would be very upset it that is the case. Not doing so, withholding information in a presidential election if it is factual is a very bad thing. Sometimes you have to do what is right for the country even if you have to take some flak that will blow over anyways. It's not like the republican party is going to stop thinking MSNBC is fake news if you dont.