Staff Reports
MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” has taken a nosedive in the ratings following an unexpected rendezvous between co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski and none other than President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Scarborough and Brzezinski, known for their consistent smears of Trump as a fascist and a danger to democracy, apparently felt the need to kiss the ring after their viewership took a historic plunge. Talk about a political plot twist that even the best Hollywood screenwriters couldn’t concoct.
The morning after their meeting, Mika Brzezinski kicked off the show with a surprisingly candid admission: this was the first time she and Scarborough had seen Trump in seven years. One has to wonder if darker and more cynical minds would suspect they were more interested in a ratings lifeboat than getting in touch with their inner journalist. Despite their freshly polished overtures, it’s questionable whether their established liberal audience, fiercely loyal to the anti-Trump cause, was ready to embrace their newfound “diplomacy.”
As Scarborough noted on-air, it became clear that the duo did not suddenly have a change of heart regarding their positions. In fact, they openly acknowledged that there were quite a few disagreements. Perhaps they should have considered this: if their goal was to bridge divides, starting with a meeting after years of insults seemed like a peculiar strategy. The ensuing chaos was palpable, and the reception from viewership was even frostier than a winter morning in Antarctica. The numbers tell a story of discontent, with the ratings plummeting to a 38 percent drop in their coveted demographic right after their trumpeting of the meet-up.
The fallout continued, as subsequent broadcasts revealed a continuing decline in viewership. In the span of just two days, Morning Joe’s numbers catastrophically fell from an average of over a million views to just 638,000. They couldn’t bribe viewers to tune in with a hedge fund and a charter jet. According to network insiders, even more draconian measures may be needed if they hope to recapture an audience that appears to relish in their discomfort.
First Ratings Report Since Trump Visit Brings Dismal News for 'Morning Joe'
The bad news keeps coming for @JoeNBC and @morningmika. https://t.co/ZKVC0RU2di
— Randy DeSoto (@RandyDeSoto) November 21, 2024
The criticisms came swiftly from all political corners, with some accusing Scarborough of being the very definition of opportunism. Comments were made not just about the fallout in ratings, but about the integrity of journalists willing to put principle aside to hobnob with the man they have vilified for years. Sunny Hostin from “The View” mused that a mere 90-minute soiree at Mar-a-Lago wasn’t exactly the hallmark of good journalism. Not quite the shining endorsement one would expect from an industry rooting for more accountability.
Even former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley surmised that the duo was less enlightened and more desperate, staring down the barrel of their plunging ratings. Perhaps the most shocking admission was that it takes more than just a friendly chat with Donald Trump to salvage a sinking career. If “Morning Joe” hoped to restore its relevance, it seems the co-hosts would need a bit more than just a meeting; they would need a miracle.
