Morning Joe hosts agreed to Trump meeting over fears of Joe Scarborough intern death probe, report claims

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Thursday 21 November 2024 23:48 GMT


The hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, allegedly met with President-elect Donald Trump over fears that then-attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz would investigate the death of an intern in Scarborough’s office during his time as a Florida Republican congressman, according to a Puck News report.

On Monday, Brzezinski said: “For those asking why we would go speak to the president-elect during such fraught times, especially between us, I guess I would ask back, ‘Why wouldn’t we?’” “Joe and I realized it’s time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him,” she added. Their mostly liberal audience dropped by 17 percent in the hour after they made the revelation about the Trump meeting, and their ratings were down 38 percent the following day compared to the average for the year.

Scarborough and Brzezinski have reportedly told friends since the election that they’re concerned about retribution from Trump over their consistent criticism of the president-elect since they last met with him seven years ago. Those worries grew when Trump nominated former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general. Gaetz announced on Thursday that he would be stepping down as the nominee.

The Morning Joe hosts told friends and allies before the departure that they were concerned that Trump and Gaetz would bring back up baseless conspiracy theories regarding the death of 28-year-old intern Lori Klausutis, who died from complications from a heart condition in 2001, Puck News noted. The concerns were linked to worries that Gaetz and Trump would use the conspiracy to put legal pressure on Scarborough.

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/morning-joe-donald-trump-intern-death-b2651608.html

[Walleye]

1. So another words, they were scared, just say it, Mika, for crying out loud

I think it would’ve gone much better for them. If they had just admitted they were afraid instead of pretending kissing trump’s ass with some sort of journalistic responsibility.

[Mike 03]

3. 100% AGREE! NT

[Peregrine Took]

31. Seems Mika is quite shocked by the backlash from MSNBC viewers. She must live in a powerful humongous bubble. n/t

[maxrandb]

46. They counted on Democrats ability/desire to find "common ground" and "move on"

Democrats have spent 50 years trying to find "common ground" with a political party and movement that would gleefully murder our families while they slept.

Democrats believe that they ONLY way American democracy survives, is if we can find some "compromise".

It explains why Dems can win the presidency, and majorities in the House and Senate, and gladly give a "seat at the table" to Retrumplican policy goals; but, when Retrumplicans win with 50.1% of the voters, it's "my way, or the highway snowflakes".

I don't know about you, but my desire to compromise for the "common good" died the first time this FUCKING moron was selected.

We've been at war with people, including some of our own "friends, families and neighbors", that would gleefully murder us if it would make eggs a dime cheaper.

There will be no "coming back from this".

History will show if American democracy is worth fighting for. It will show if decency, respect, empathy, compassion, honor, integrity, law and freedom survives, or dies.

Thankfully, I am old and won't likely be around to see how it all "works out", but let's just say; "I'm not hopeful"

[Rebl2]

50. She

should not be surprised

[Dennis Donovan]

2. It makes it sound like Joe has something to be concerned about

regarding the truth around the woman's death. I'm reasonably sure he didn't murder anyone so why should he be worried about a potential re-opening of an investigation?

[underpants]

7. He's worried about the cost of an investigation and even nonsense charges

Let alone having this dragged back out and the suggestions and innuendo.

There’s nothing here. This was a conspiracy here on DU too. I entertained it myself until it became clear it was just two different things happening at the same time. He had a staffer who tragically died early in his office. She was a runner and had an undiagnosed condition. There’s no evidence they were having an affair or that it was anything even close to that.

Still it would not just be embarrassing but also expensive.

[CTyankee]

55. It's part of Trump's instinct to destroy anyone who gets in his way. It is feral and vicious.

So I can understand Joe's fear. It could lead to another witch hunt and destroy Joe's career. Remember the movie Godfather where Michael bumps off one enemy at a time in a sequence scene that is the end of the movie. It is chilling.

[True Blue American]

4. Joe and Mika have much more

Than Trump to worry about. Their 4 hour show had become increasingly boresome with Joes 5 minute harangues to guests. Mika’s latest project , half the show being reruns, the same for their weekend shows.
With the sale of MSNBC and other stations I doubt their show will survive.


I started watching Kasie Hunt on CNN when she got the same slot she had on MSNBC when I am not busy. My water aerobics is my first choice. Not today, snow and ice..

[Hugin]

11. There's always OnlyFans.

[FakeNoose]

34. I totally agree - their show needs to be cancelled or at least cut back

Why not run Lawrence O'Donnell's always excellent show from the night before? The early-risers would consider it a treat to watch that instead of Joe & Mika's crap. MSNBC has other options.

[Hope22]

39. Lawrence rerun would be great.

More people need to see his work!

[CTyankee]

48. Isn't he too liberal for the new owners of MSNBC?

[CTyankee]

49. well, she and Joe were lovers while she was still married to her first husband (Joe was separated from his spouse).

I think she said something like "the heart has its own reasons." Methinks it wasn't only her heart...just sayin'...

[taxi]

5. So, the unintended consequence of this makes no difference, and nothing has gone away.

Personally, I would like to see more of these meetings with more people.

[Cartoonist]

6. Sounds like an admission of guilt.

What's he afraid of?
Trump is already intimidating his enemies in the media.

[underpants]

8. It already started. WaPo and LA Times not endorsing anyone.

The owners of both have large government contracts or patents pending. They knew it would be close (it was) so they decided to shy (cower) away. You’ll see this elsewhere. Better to avoid a fight regardless of being able to win.

I posted above that Joe doesn’t want the expense and dragging out the (baseless) past now.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. It started even before those print media

succumbed.

CNN was probably one of the first to capitulate back when he was elected the first time, where he had his meme shop perpetually showing violent videos including one of a person with a "CNN logo" head, being beaten up by him.

They eventually became more Fox than Fox.

[AverageOldGuy]

9. Gutless cowards.

[Best_man23]

10. This "Explanation" is a Big Pallet of This

Me thinks the overnight double digit ratings drop, more than the intern story, has them scared.

[Irish_Dem]

27. I agree, they are bold face lying. Trying to look like victims.

[Joinfortmill]

12. They were ill advised, but then..

I don't think Joe Scarborough takes advice well, if at all. So, this is all on them. I don't see the show recovering. The Resistance out there is a real thing. We're in dangerous political waters and we need voices powered by principle, not quivering fear.

[FakeNoose]

35. You're so right ... but I never thought of Joe Scarborough as speaking for "us"

Meaning "us" Democrats or liberals. He only spoke for "us" Chump-haters.

Joe S. is still a Repuke, but for a few years - because of personal reasons - he was anti-Chump.

Now he says he isn't ... but what does it matter? The result is the same.

[CTyankee]

38. he was in full force this morning. Rev. Al, the black professor from Princeton, all the other regulars....same old, same

old.

What's changed for them if the regulars keep on being regular and nothing on that show changes? All this "Oh, they're in trouble, now!" hyperbole didn't materialize. It should have, but it didn't. The free "marketplace of ideas" failed us.

[Jarqui]

14. With that as a factor, they're done as journalists covering Trump

How can they claim to be objective?

If that is a real concern for them, they need to go.

Let someone else without that stuff hanging for them take a crack at what they can do with the slot

[Paladin]

15. Admission of Guilt.

I didn't think the Joe/Mika/trump situation could possibly look any stupider or shittier. I hereby admit my error.

[AverageOldGuy]

16. IF this is true, then . . .

. . . Joe should have told Trump "GFY!"

But that would have required courage.

[TexasBushwhacker]

47. I agree, but paying for a legal defense is very costly

and I doubt that he could sue the federal government for the cost of his defense.

[mwb970]

17. Meeting, fine. Suddenly becoming MAGA morons, unacceptable.

Bye, Joe. Bye, Mika. I won't be seeing you again.

[Ursus Rex]

18. And this guy is the best MSNBC could find??

I GUARANTEE there are 100s if not 1000s of equally telegenic, knowledgeable, and far less expensive and less-compromised people who could do that job. If nothing else, just go to a job fair at any large University's J-school and pick 4 at random, maybe 1 each from the South, Midwest, Northeast, and West Coast.

[sop]

19. Exposing and talking about Trump's threat of an investigation would have boosted their ratings.

[Baitball Blogger]

20. Why would Scarborough be afraid of an investigation of a dead intern in his office, if

he had nothing to do with it?

Mika and Joe need to take a four year vacation.

[dchill]

24. Why? Legal expenses.

[Calista241]

36. $2000 / hour on lawyers is a lot, even for millionaires. n/t

[Prairie Gates]

21. Equivalent of a running back being scared of getting tackled

Time to hang up the cleats, boyo.

[mopinko]

22. only makes it worse. if u r scared to do your JOB, retire.

pretty sure they can afford it. retire. write books. start a non-profit. anything. or nothing.
just get off my teevee.

[dchill]

23. Well, they had a good run. Folks say.

[BoRaGard]

25. G.O.P. - Party of threats and blackmail

What skuzzsters they are...

[Jrsygrl96]

26. Don't believe it!

Last edited Fri Nov 22, 2024, 06:33 PM - Edit history (1)

[Raven]

28. I can already pick up subtle changes ay MSNBC that indicate to me that the network has decided

to go along to get along. Joe and Mika are a glaring example of this. I sympathize with their concern that they would be targets, but, in my humble opinion, they had 2 choices: to do what they did or to leave the Network. ALSO, in my not-so-humble opinion, you don't ever have a nice little chat with TSF, you make a deal with him and that deal is always in his favor.

[33taw]

29. Just like the House and much of the Senate - courage is lacking in the media.

[Raven123]

30. This looks more like gossip than news

[suegeo]

32. Chandra Levy

https://abcnews.go.com/US/killed-chandra-levy-15-years-questions-answers-dc/story?id=43046426

Another bright light, gone too early. What did she know? What secrets did she know that the flaming assholes didn't want more people to know?

A YOUNG WOMAN WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE

Chandra Levy grew up in Northern California with her parents, Bob and Susan Levy, and younger brother, Adam Levy. She was a fun loving, but typically playful bossy older sister who played little league and loved the San Francisco Giants, her parents say.

"She didn't like being told what to do," Susan Levy told "20/20"'s Deborah Roberts. "Very individualistic."

Gary Condit 53. She was 23.

[Keepthesoulalive]

33. Excuses for being cowards

They were never journalists. They were just pretending and now the scam is over.

[quickesst]

37. You keep citing these...

..."friends" as the basis of your so-called argument. What friends? Who are they? What are their names? Please cite The source or sources of these friend's statements. Without actual names, friends, allies, and sources, are just words.
Watching morning Joe post interview, the format remains unchanged and still critical of trump and his allies.

Applying the same "logic" used here against Joe Scarborough, an even better case could be made against a man who has been the primary target of trumps hate-filled vitriol by inviting him to the White house, shaking his hand, and promising an uninterrupted and smooth transition to the White House. One has to ask, was Joe Biden pandering to Donald Trump out of fear of retribution?

[LudwigPastorius]

40. "The concerns were... that Gaetz and Trump would use the conspiracy to put legal pressure on Scarborough."

If you are afraid of retribution, then you have been compromised as a journalist and you should leave the airwaves.

Simple as that.

[Hekate]

42. Nice public-facing career ya got here. Be a shame if anything happened to it. Trump is a Mob Boss.

[Hekate]

41. Blackmail. Threats from thugs. That's how Trump rolls.

[joewicker_TX]

43. I heard Joe say 1000 times in the last 4 years...

If you haven't got anything to hide, why are you worried about the investigation. If there was truly nothing nefarious about her death, why is Joe now giving the impression there was by going back to kiss his ring

[Greybnk48]

44. So terrorism won? Or Joe Scarborough has something to hide?

WTF. I will NEVER EVER watch that show.

[Cha]

45. And by "Liberal audience" they mean

Non Fascists.

So the Joe & Mika Show are allegedly Blackmailed, Extorted

[RandySF]

51. I call BS on this.

Not on you, BumRush. I think the Independent is running a bogus story.

[BumRushDaShow]

53. I had actually seen a similar story on other sites

before The Independent picked it up, but note what happened back in 2020 before that year's election -

Twitter remains silent about Trump’s appalling attack against Joe Scarborough


Analysis by Brian Stelter, CNN Business
Published 11:28 PM EDT, Sun May 24, 2020


New York CNN Business — A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter. You can sign up for free right here.


President Trump’s appalling tweets have real world consequences. Take his reckless posts about MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. For the past few weeks, Trump has been insinuating that Scarborough was responsible for the 2001 death of Lori Klausutis, who worked in his Florida office when he was a GOP congressman.

This conspiracy theory, ironically, fueled left-wing attacks against Scarborough in 2001. It was debunked back then, but it’s been revived now, by right-wing attackers, because Scarborough and his show “Morning Joe” are vociferous critics of Trump. Trump claimed on Sunday that there’s “a lot of interest in this story about Psycho Joe.”

This is beyond the pale, and every honest broker in politics and media knows it. As Mediaite’s Josh Feldman noted here, Trump is being “roundly trashed” for pushing the conspiracy. If you’re unsure about the facts, read the old fact checks from the AP and other news outlets.

The president is promoting a repugnant conspiracy theory and ignoring the actual facts of the case because he wants to drag Scarborough’s name through the mud. His smears are also hurting the Klausutis family. Family members declined my interview requests in recent days… and this story in The Washington Post articulates the reasons why: “No one in Klausutis’s family would talk about Trump’s tweets for this article, fearing retaliation by online trolls of the type who went after parents of the Sandy Hook massacre victims… ‘There’s a lot we would love to say, but we can’t,’ said Colin Kelly, who was Klausutis’s brother-in-law.”

(snip)

[Scrivener7]

52. Assholes.

[Upthevibe]

54. BumRushDaShow

COWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

COWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

COWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

COWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

COWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

They are now DEAD to me. I hope they lose their show and go away! I'm sure they have plenty of money so it's not like they'd have to worry about that.....Just go away!