Editing MSNBC (section)

==Controversies==
{{Main| MSNBC controversies}}

===Liberal bias===
{{Main|Media bias in the United States#Liberal bias}}

MSNBC's evening programming currently features progressive hosts.<ref name=":1"/> In November 2007, a ''New York Times'' article stated that MSNBC's primetime lineup was tilting more to the left.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Jacques |date=November 6, 2007 |title=Cable Channel Nods to Ratings and Leans Left |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/business/media/06msnb.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin |access-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503123902/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/business/media/06msnb.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin |archive-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref> Since then, commentators have argued that MSNBC has a bias towards [[liberal politics]] and the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. ''[[Washington Post]]'' media analyst [[Howard Kurtz]] said in 2008 that the channel's evening lineup "has clearly gravitated to the left in recent years and often seems to regard itself as the antithesis of Fox News."<ref name="Kurtz" /> In 2011, ''[[Politico]]'' referred to MSNBC as "left-leaning",<ref name="MSNBC host coaxes Ron Paul to run">{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Andy |date=April 5, 2011 |title= MSNBC host coaxes Ron to run |work=[[Politico]] |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52608.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408135433/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52608.html |archive-date=April 8, 2011}}</ref> and Steve Kornacki of ''[[Salon.com]]'' stated that, "MSNBC's prime-time lineup is now awash in [[Contemporary progressivism|progressive]] politics."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kornacki |first1=Steve |author-link1=Steve Kornacki |date=January 22, 2011 |title=Is Olbermann the victim of his own success? |work=[[Salon.com|Salon]] |url=http://www.salon.com/2011/01/22/countdown_rip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114162215/http://www.salon.com/2011/01/22/countdown_rip |archive-date=November 14, 2013}}</ref> Regarding changes in the channel's evening programming, senior vice president of NBC News Phil Griffin said that "it happened naturally. There isn't a dogma we're putting through. There is a 'Go for it.{{'"}}<ref name="NYT" />

In the February 2008 issue of ''[[Men's Journal]]'' magazine, an MSNBC interviewee quoted a senior executive as saying that liberal commentator Keith Olbermann "runs MSNBC" and that "because of his success, he's in charge" of the channel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krakauer |first=Steve |date=January 10, 2008 |title=Olbermann Talks Office Politics, Other Politics |work=[[TVNewser]] |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/olbermann-talks-office-politics-other-politics_b17699 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110035500/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/olbermann-talks-office-politics-other-politics_b17699 |archive-date=January 10, 2011}}</ref> In 2007, ''The New York Times'' called Olbermann MSNBC's "most recognizable face".<ref name=NYT/> In September 2008, MSNBC stated that Olbermann and [[Chris Matthews]] would no longer anchor live political events, with [[David Gregory (journalist)|David Gregory]] assuming that role. MSNBC cited the growing criticism that they were "too opinionated to be seen as neutral in the heat of the presidential campaign."<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news | last1=Kurtz | first1=Howard |author-link1=Howard Kurtz | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090800008_pf.html | title=MSNBC Drops Olbermann, Matthews as News Anchors | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=September 8, 2008 | access-date=September 30, 2008 | archive-date=January 31, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131105939/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090800008_pf.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news | last1=Stelter | first1=Brian |author-link1=Brian Stelter | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/media/08msnbc.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink | title=MSNBC Takes Incendiary Hosts From Anchor Seat | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=September 7, 2008 | access-date=September 30, 2008 | archive-date=April 17, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417114122/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/media/08msnbc.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink | url-status=live }}</ref> Olbermann's show ''Countdown'' continued to run before and after the presidential and vice presidential debates, and both Matthews and Olbermann joined Gregory on the channel's election night coverage.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

On November 13, 2009, in the days leading up to the release of 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate [[Sarah Palin]]'s book ''[[Going Rogue]]'', MSNBC's [[Dylan Ratigan]] used [[photoshopping|photoshopped]] pictures of Palin on the channel's ''[[Morning Meeting]]'' program. Ratigan apologized a few days later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bookman |first=Jay |date=November 16, 2009 |title=MSNBC apologizes for showing fake Palin photos &#124; Jay Bookman |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/11/16/msnbc-apologizes-for-showing-fake-palin-photos/?cxntfid=blogs_jay_bookman_blog |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225074915/http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/11/16/msnbc-apologizes-for-showing-fake-palin-photos/?cxntfid=blogs_jay_bookman_blog |archive-date=February 25, 2010 |access-date=July 30, 2010 |website=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] }}</ref>

In October 2010, MSNBC began using the tagline "Lean Forward". Some media outlets, including msnbc.com, claimed that the network was now embracing its politically progressive identity.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com" /><ref>{{cite magazine | title=MSNBC's new slogan: What doesn't it even mean? | magazine=[[The Week]] | date=October 6, 2010 | url=https://theweek.com/article/index/207856/msnbcs-new-slogan-what-does-it-even-mean | access-date=October 11, 2010 | archive-date=October 10, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010122524/http://theweek.com/article/index/207856/msnbcs-new-slogan-what-does-it-even-mean | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Stelter | first1=Brian |author-link1=Brian Stelter | title=With Tagline, MSNBC Embraces a Political Identity | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=October 4, 2010 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/business/media/05adco.html | access-date=October 11, 2010 | archive-date=December 2, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202072127/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/business/media/05adco.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2012, MSNBC used Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, and other network commentators during its coverage of the [[Iowa Republican caucuses, 2012|Iowa Republican caucuses]]. Nando Di Fino of the [[Mediaite]] website said MSNBC was  "giving up on the straight news coverage, and instead [appearing] to be aiming to create some controversy."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Di Fino |first=Nando |date=January 3, 2012 |title=MSNBC Hosting Lineup For Iowa Caucus Exchanges Neutral Journalism For Partisanship... And Fun |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-hosting-lineup-for-iowa-caucus-exchanges-neutral-journalism-for-partisanship-and-fun/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105144914/http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-hosting-lineup-for-iowa-caucus-exchanges-neutral-journalism-for-partisanship-and-fun/ |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |access-date=December 29, 2011 |website=[[Mediaite]]}}</ref>

In November 2012, ''The New York Times'' called MSNBC "The Anti-Fox" and quoted former President Bill Clinton as saying, "Boy, it really has become our version of Fox."<ref>{{cite news | last1=Stelter | first1=Brian |author-link1=Brian Stelter | title=The Anti-Fox Gains Ground | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/12/business/media/msnbc-its-ratings-rising-gains-ground-on-fox-news.html?pagewanted=1 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=October 2, 2013 | date=November 11, 2012 | archive-date=March 25, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325054929/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/12/business/media/msnbc-its-ratings-rising-gains-ground-on-fox-news.html?pagewanted=1 | url-status=live }}</ref> Citing data from the [[A.C. Nielsen]] TV ratings service, the article noted that while the Fox News Channel had a larger overall viewership than MSNBC, the two networks were separated by only around 300,000 viewers among the 25–54 age bracket most attractive to advertisers.

In the [[Pew Research Center]]'s 2013 "State of the News Media" report, MSNBC was found to be the most opinionated news network, with 85 percent of the content being commentary or opinions and the remaining 15 percent being factual reporting. The report also stated that in 2012, MSNBC spent only $240&nbsp;million on news production compared to CNN's $682&nbsp;million and the Fox News Channel's $820&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Bercovici | first=Jeff | title=Pew Study Finds MSNBC the Most Opinionated Cable News Channel By Far | magazine=[[Forbes]] | date=March 18, 2013 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/03/18/pew-study-finds-msnbc-the-most-opinionated-cable-news-channel-by-far/ | access-date=July 17, 2013 | archive-date=July 29, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729075758/http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/03/18/pew-study-finds-msnbc-the-most-opinionated-cable-news-channel-by-far/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2019, [[American Left|American socialist]] magazine ''[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]]'' argued that "MSNBC embodies the politics and sensibility of Trump-era liberalism.", but argued that MSNBC "wasn't always liberal."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arria |first=Michael |date=October 2019 |title=The Anatomy of MSNBC |url=https://jacobin.com/2019/10/medium-blue-the-politics-of-msnbc-liberal-media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823215109/https://jacobin.com/2019/10/medium-blue-the-politics-of-msnbc-liberal-media |archive-date=August 23, 2022 |access-date=August 23, 2022 |website=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Writing for the [[Poynter Institute for Media Studies]] in February 2021, senior media writer Tom Jones argued that the primary distinction between MSNBC and Fox News is not left bias vs. right bias, but rather that much of the content on Fox News, especially during its primetime programs, is not based in truth.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Tom |date=February 1, 2021 |title=No, Fox News and MSNBC are not the same thing |work=[[Poynter Institute for Media Studies]] |url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2021/no-fox-news-and-msnbc-are-not-the-same-thing/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201123137/https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2021/no-fox-news-and-msnbc-are-not-the-same-thing/ |archive-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>

Under current NBC News head [[Cesar Conde]], the division had made moves to incorporate more diverse viewpoints—including from conservative perspectives—in its output outside of MSNBC (including ''Meet the Press'') to counter concerns from NBC's affiliate body that MSNBC's partisan content reflected upon the division as a whole. These moves coincided with MSNBC's own changes in leadership, which resulted in a gradual increase in opinion programming, and as a result, a gradual decrease in talent sharing with the remainder of NBC News.<ref name=":1" />

====Favoritism towards Barack Obama====
Some Democratic Party supporters, including former Pennsylvania governor [[Ed Rendell]] and Bill Clinton advisor [[Lanny Davis]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rothstein  |first=Betsy |date=May 5, 2008 |title=Clinton confidant dismisses MSNBC as no longer fair and balanced |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=http://thehill.com/in-the-know/clinton-confidant-dismisses-msnbc-as-no-longer-fair-and-balanced-2008-05-05.html |url-status=dead |access-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208111648/http://thehill.com/in-the-know/clinton-confidant-dismisses-msnbc-as-no-longer-fair-and-balanced-2008-05-05.html |archive-date=December 8, 2008}}</ref> criticized MSNBC during and after the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008|2008 Democratic Party primaries]] as covering [[Barack Obama]] more favorably than [[Hillary Clinton]]. Rendell said, "MSNBC was the official network of the Obama campaign," and called their coverage "absolutely embarrassing".<ref name="Rendell">{{Cite news |last=Calderone |first=Michael |date=August 24, 2008 |title=Rendell: Obama coverage was embarrassing |work=[[Politico]] |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0808/Rendell_Obama_coverage_was_embarrassing.html |access-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826230626/http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0808/Rendell_Obama_coverage_was_embarrassing.html |archive-date=August 26, 2008}}</ref><ref name="TNR">{{Cite magazine |last=Chotiner |first=Isaac |date=May 27, 2008 |title=Dangerous Liaison |magazine=[[The New Republic]] |url=http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=b48a6936-fb3c-42b0-83c1-f91d1cb3a3dc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216081623/http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=b48a6936-fb3c-42b0-83c1-f91d1cb3a3dc |archive-date=December 16, 2008}}</ref> Rendell later became an on-air contributor to MSNBC.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 25, 2011 |title=Ed Rendell Signs Deal With NBC |work=[[HuffPost]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/25/ed-rendell-signing-deal-w_n_813519.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304213044/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/25/ed-rendell-signing-deal-w_n_813519.html |archive-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref>

A study done by the [[Project for Excellence in Journalism]] showed that MSNBC had less negative coverage of Obama (14 percent of stories versus 29 percent in the press overall) and more negative stories about Republican presidential candidate [[John McCain]] (73 percent of its coverage versus 57 percent in the press overall).<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2008 |title=The Color of News |url=http://www.journalism.org/node/13436 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805023153/http://www.journalism.org/node/13436 |archive-date=August 5, 2010 |access-date=July 30, 2010 |website=[[Project for Excellence in Journalism]] |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]}}</ref> MSNBC's on-air slogan during the week of the 2008 presidential election, "The Power of Change", was criticized for being too similar to Obama's campaign slogan of "Hope and Change".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/business/media/10msnbc.html | title=MSNBC's Tag for Now: 'The Power of Change' | last1=Stelter | first1=Brian |author-link1=Brian Stelter | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 10, 2008 | access-date=November 13, 2008 | archive-date=April 17, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417114121/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/business/media/10msnbc.html | url-status=live }}</ref> After the election, conservative talk show host [[John Ziegler (talk show host)|John Ziegler]] made a documentary entitled ''Media Malpractice.... How Obama Got Elected'', which was very critical of the media's role, especially MSNBC's, in the election. While promoting the documentary, he had an on-air dispute with MSNBC news anchor [[Contessa Brewer]] about how the media, especially MSNBC, had portrayed Sarah Palin.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Barrett |first=Annie |date=June 10, 2009 |title=Contessa Brewer vs. John Ziegler re: Sarah Palin – 'Cut the mic, please' |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/06/10/contessa-brewer-vs-john-ziegler-cut-the-mic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016140530/http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/06/10/contessa-brewer-vs-john-ziegler-cut-the-mic/ |archive-date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=November 1, 2009 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

During MSNBC's coverage of the Potomac primary, MSNBC's Chris Matthews said, "I have to tell you, you know, it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often." This led Fox News to assert that both he and MSNBC were biased toward Obama.<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Goldberg |first=Bernie |interviewer=[[Sean Hannity]] |title=Bernie Goldberg on 'Love Affair' Between Obama and Media – Hannity |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,483568,00.html |access-date=February 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724190016/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,483568,00.html |archive-date=July 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=January 27, 2009}}</ref>

====''Rise of the New Right'' documentary====
In June 2010, the MSNBC documentary ''Rise of the New Right'' aired. It featured interviews with right-wing figures, including [[Dick Armey]], the former House majority leader, [[Orly Taitz]], a leading figure in the "[[birther]]" movement, and [[conspiracy theorist]] radio host [[Alex Jones]]. The documentary also showed the [[Michigan Militia]]'s [[Survivalism|survival]] training camp and hit the campaign trail with Kentucky senatorial candidate [[Rand Paul]].<ref name="WeigelNewReight">{{Cite news |last=Weigel |first=David |author-link=David Weigel |date=June 7, 2010 |title=MSNBC documentary on the 'New Right' profiles birthers, militias, Alex Jones |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/upcoming_msnbc_documentary_on.html |url-status=dead |access-date=June 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630231950/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/upcoming_msnbc_documentary_on.html |archive-date=June 30, 2011}}</ref>

The documentary angered [[Tea Party movement]] figures and others on the right. After the documentary aired, [[FreedomWorks]], chaired by Armey, called for a boycott of [[Dawn (brand)|Dawn]] and [[Procter & Gamble]], which advertised during ''Hardball with Chris Matthews''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weigel |first=David |author-link=David Weigel |date=June 17, 2010 |title=Tea partyers push back against 'The Rise of the New Right' with boycott |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/tea_partyers_push_back_against.html |url-status=dead |access-date=June 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027030349/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/tea_partyers_push_back_against.html |archive-date=October 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Montopoli |first=Brian |date=June 17, 2010 |title=Tea Party Groups Lash Out at MSNBC Over Special |publisher=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tea-party-groups-lash-out-at-msnbc-over-special/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620233511/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008106-503544.html |archive-date=June 20, 2010}}</ref> The attempted boycott was ineffective as Procter & Gamble continued to advertise on the show.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

====Romney coverage during 2012 election====
A study by the [[Pew Research Center]]'s Project for Excellence in Journalism found that MSNBC's coverage of [[Mitt Romney]] during the final week of the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential campaign]] (68 percent negative with no positive stories in the sample) was far more negative than the overall press, and even more negative than it had been during October 1 to 28, when 5 percent was positive, and 57 percent was negative.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=THE FINAL DAYS OF THE MEDIA CAMPAIGN 2012: Final Weeks in the Mainstream Press |date=November 19, 2012 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]: [[Project for Excellence in Journalism]] |url=http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/final_weeks_mainstream_press |access-date=November 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120111808/http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/final_weeks_mainstream_press |archive-date=November 20, 2012}}</ref> On the other hand, their coverage of Barack Obama improved in the final week before the presidential election. From 1 to October 28, 33 percent of stories were positive and 13 percent negative. During the campaign's final week, 51 percent of MSNBC's stories were positive, while there were no negative stories about Obama in the sample.

===Allegations of conservative bias===
Others have argued that MSNBC has a bias against progressive politics. [[Phil Donahue]]'s show was canceled in 2003 due to his opposition to the Iraq War, and Donahue later commented that the management of MSNBC required that "we have two conservative (guests) for every liberal. I was counted as two liberals."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Poniewozik |first=James |author-link=James Poniewozik |date=April 26, 2007 |title=Watching the Not-Watchdogs |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2007/04/26/im_not_generally_in_the/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103181349/http://entertainment.time.com/2007/04/26/im_not_generally_in_the/ |archive-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref> [[Cenk Uygur]], after his departure from MSNBC in 2011, said that MSNBC management had told him "people in Washington" were "concerned about [his] tone,"<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 22, 2011 |title=Cenk Uygur Leaves MSNBC After Being Told to 'Act Like an Insider' |work=[[Democracy Now!]] |url=http://www.democracynow.org/2011/7/22/rejecting_lucrative_offer_cenk_uygur_leaves |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017050928/http://www.democracynow.org/2011/7/22/rejecting_lucrative_offer_cenk_uygur_leaves |archive-date=October 17, 2014}}</ref> and that he "didn't want to work in a place that didn't challenge power."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martel |first=Frances |date=July 21, 2011 |title=Cenk Uygur Out at MSNBC |work=[[Mediaite]] |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/cenk-uygur-on-why-he-left-msnbc-i-didnt-want-to-work-in-a-place-that-didnt-challenge-power/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215318/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/cenk-uygur-on-why-he-left-msnbc-i-didnt-want-to-work-in-a-place-that-didnt-challenge-power/ |archive-date=September 17, 2018}}</ref>

Others have also noted that MSNBC anchors tended to be [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] or [[Centrism in the United States|centrist]] and wealthy.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Bustillos |first=Maria |date=November 15, 2019 |title=MSNBC public editor: Who exactly are these people? |url=https://www.cjr.org/public_editor/msnbc-anchors.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115151430/https://www.cjr.org/public_editor/msnbc-anchors.php |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=January 18, 2021 |website=[[Columbia Journalism Review]]}}</ref> For example, in 2000, host [[Joe Scarborough]] received a 95 rating from the [[American Conservative Union]] and supported [[anti-abortion]] policies when he was a [[U.S. representative]], while host [[Stephanie Ruhle]], a former [[hedge fund]] manager, declared, "I don't have any political ideals that I'm tied to." Former host [[Chris Matthews]] identifies as a "liberal" but voted for [[George W. Bush]] in 2000, while current host [[Nicolle Wallace]], a registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], worked for both Bush and [[Sarah Palin]].<ref name="auto" />

===Lack of diversity of views===
Maria Bustillos noted in 2019 that "MSNBC's bland, evenhanded respectability is buttressed with a careful performance of diversity both 'ideological' and [[demographic]]", and that "the network actively discourages consideration of its anchors' personal convictions" in favor of "interchangeable 'television personalities'" who are "compressed into the network's identity and subservient to it."<ref name="auto" /> It has been argued that MSNBC, like other [[United States cable news|cable networks]], "is simply not incentivized to be informative", and instead turns its "viewers into partisan junkies who don't change the channel because they need a fix that tells them they're right about everything (and that the other side is wrong)."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shephard |first=Alex |date=August 6, 2020 |title=The Problem With MSNBC Isn't That It's Too Liberal |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/158824/problem-msnbc-isnt-its-liberal |magazine=[[The New Republic]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626201631/https://newrepublic.com/article/158824/problem-msnbc-isnt-its-liberal |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref> Jason Linkins in 2014 claimed that MSNBC prefers "the incessant production of insidery ideations" over "the service of the public trust in an honest and equitable way."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Linkins |first=Jason |date=July 7, 2014 |title=Noise from Nowhere |url=https://thebaffler.com/salvos/noise-from-nowhere |magazine=[[The Baffler]] |issue=25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825164512/https://thebaffler.com/salvos/noise-from-nowhere |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref>

===Romney family grandchild===

Political commentator [[Melissa Harris-Perry]] and her guest panel, in a look back on the 2013 segment of [[Melissa Harris-Perry (TV program)|her show]], featured a picture of former Republican presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] and his extended family. Romney was holding on his knee his adopted grandchild, Kieran Romney, an African-American. Harris-Perry and her guests, including actress Pia Glenn and comedian [[Dean Obeidallah]], joked about coming up with captions for the photo. Glenn sang out, "[[One of these things is not like the others]], one of these things just isn't the same." Obeidallah said, "It sums up the diversity of the Republican Party and the [Republican National Committee], where they have the whole convention and they find the one black person." Afterwards, Harris-Perry gave an on-air apology as well as apologized in a series of [[Twitter|tweets]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grier |first=Peter |date=December 31, 2013 |title=Melissa Harris-Perry apologizes for Romney grandchild jokes: Sincere? |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2013/1231/Melissa-Harris-Perry-apologizes-for-Romney-grandchild-jokes-Sincere |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104231350/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2013/1231/Melissa-Harris-Perry-apologizes-for-Romney-grandchild-jokes-Sincere |archive-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-melissa-harris-perry-apologizes-for-mitt-romney-grandchild-comments-20131231,0,3504370.story | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | first=Patrick | last=Day | title=Melissa Harris-Perry apologizes for Mitt Romney grandchild comments | date=December 31, 2013 | access-date=January 4, 2014 | archive-date=January 4, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104045408/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-melissa-harris-perry-apologizes-for-mitt-romney-grandchild-comments-20131231,0,3504370.story#axzz2pUw9bwlb | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Coverage of the 2020 Democratic primary ===
On February 2, 2019, NBC ran a story about presidential candidate [[Tulsi Gabbard]] claiming that her campaign was benefiting from Russian [[state media]], stating that she had received twice as many mentions on [[RT (TV network)|RT]], [[Sputnik News]] and [[Russia Insider]] compared to expected front-runners [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Windrem |first1=Robert |last2=Popken |first2=Ben |date=February 2, 2019 |title=Russia's propaganda machine discovers 2020 Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/russia-s-propaganda-machine-discovers-2020-democratic-candidate-tulsi-gabbard-n964261 |url-status=live |access-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119093129/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/russia-s-propaganda-machine-discovers-2020-democratic-candidate-tulsi-gabbard-n964261 |archive-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

In March 2019, [[Yashar Ali]], a journalist for ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' accused [[Dafna Linzer]], a managing editor at MSNBC, of ceding editorial control to the [[Democratic National Committee]]. Ali, who planned to announce the locations of the DNC debates in advance of MSNBC, received a call attempting to dissuade him with the phrase "let them make a few phone calls," referring to party leaders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/huffpost-contributor-accuses-nbc-news-managing-editor-of-unethical-call-about-dnc-debates/|title=HuffPost Contributor Accuses NBC News Managing Editor of 'Unethical' Call About DNC Debates|last=Levine|first=Jon|date=March 29, 2019|work=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=May 7, 2019|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428034945/https://www.thewrap.com/huffpost-contributor-accuses-nbc-news-managing-editor-of-unethical-call-about-dnc-debates/|url-status=live}}</ref> A source quoted by CNN stated that this approach was necessary for any network that has enough of a relationship with the DNC to host its debates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mailchi.mp/cnn/rs-mar-29-2019|title=Yafshar Ali calls out NBC|date=March 29, 2019|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=May 7, 2019|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507234749/https://mailchi.mp/cnn/rs-mar-29-2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Candidate [[Andrew Yang]] and his supporters have been critical of MSNBC's coverage of [[Andrew Yang 2020 presidential campaign|his campaign]] and the speaking time allocated to Yang at a November 2019 primary debate hosted by MSNBC.<ref>*{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/464349-yang-hits-back-after-appearing-to-be-left-out-of-cnn-msnbc-fundraising/|title=Yang calls out CNN, MSNBC for leaving him off of fundraising graphics|last=Pitofsky|first=Marina|date=October 4, 2019|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005000232/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/464349-yang-hits-back-after-appearing-to-be-left-out-of-cnn-msnbc-fundraising|archive-date=October 5, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2019}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/andrew-yang-msnbc-polling-graphic-15th-snub|title=Yang campaign rips MSNBC's apology after network snubbed him from polling graphic 'for the 15th time'|last1=Wulfsohn|first1=Joseph|date=November 18, 2019|publisher=[[Fox News]]|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=November 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118214715/https://www.foxnews.com/media/andrew-yang-msnbc-polling-graphic-15th-snub|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/andrew-yang-msnbc-hypocrisy|title=Andrew Yang accuses MSNBC of 'hypocrisy' after latest Democratic debate|last1=Dorman|first1=Sam|date=November 21, 2019|publisher=[[Fox News]]|language=en-US|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=November 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122220702/https://www.foxnews.com/media/andrew-yang-msnbc-hypocrisy|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/msnbc-andrew-yang-protesters|title=Andrew Yang supporters gathered outside MSNBC debate blasting network's treatment of candidate|last1=Wulfsohn|first1=Joseph|date=November 21, 2019|publisher=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=November 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122202305/https://www.foxnews.com/media/msnbc-andrew-yang-protesters|url-status=live}}
* "{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/andrew-yang-msnbc-apologize-on-air|title=Andrew Yang won't return to MSNBC until they apologize 'on-air' to his campaign|last=Dorman|first=Sam|date=November 23, 2019|publisher=[[Fox News]]|language=en-US|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=November 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123215307/https://www.foxnews.com/media/andrew-yang-msnbc-apologize-on-air|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2019, ''[[In These Times (publication)|In These Times]]'' analyzed coverage of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary by MSNBC between August and September 2019.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Aleem |first=Zeeshan |date=December 20, 2019 |title=Sanders is hot in the polls, and still treated like a second-tier candidate |url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/m7qjz4/sanders-is-hot-in-the-polls-and-still-treated-like-a-second-tier-candidate |magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325074957/https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7qjz4/sanders-is-hot-in-the-polls-and-still-treated-like-a-second-tier-candidate |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Savage2">{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Luke |date=November 20, 2019 |title=The Corporate Media's War Against Bernie Sanders Is Very Real |work=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]] |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/11/corporate-media-bernie-sanders-bias-msnbc-warren-biden |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707151036/https://jacobin.com/2019/11/corporate-media-bernie-sanders-bias-msnbc-warren-biden |archive-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref> They said that "MSNBC talked about Biden twice as often as [[Elizabeth Warren|Warren]] and three times as often as Sanders", and that Sanders was the candidate spoken of negatively the most frequently of the three."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Chang |first=Clio |date=December 20, 2019 |title=The media can take Bernie Sanders a little seriously, as a treat |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a30299555/bernie-sanders-blackout-media-bias-coverage-campaign-2020/ |magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224202208/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a30299555/bernie-sanders-blackout-media-bias-coverage-campaign-2020/ |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref>

MSNBC came under particular scrutiny during the first three primary-season state votes in 2020 due to historical references made by two of their hosts. [[Chris Matthews]] compared Sanders to [[George McGovern]] in terms of electability on February 3 and criticized Sanders for adopting the "democratic socialist" label on February 7.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=February 3, 2020 |title=Chris Matthews expresses worries: Democrats 'need to find' candidate who can beat Trump |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/481186-chris-matthews-expresses-worries-democrats-need-to-find-candidate-who-can-beat/ |access-date=February 14, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203205601/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/481186-chris-matthews-expresses-worries-democrats-need-to-find-candidate-who-can-beat |archive-date=February 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Woodward |first=Alex |date=February 3, 2020 |title=MSNBC host Chris Matthews gets emotional and says he's 'not happy' with any of the Democratic candidates |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/chris-matthews-msnbc-democrats-bernie-sanders-a9315656.html |access-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204123556/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/chris-matthews-msnbc-democrats-bernie-sanders-a9315656.html |archive-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref> In reference to Sanders' praise of some aspects of [[Fidel Castro]]'s [[Cuba]], Matthews said on air during ''Hardball'', "I believe if Castro and the [[communists|Reds]] had won the Cold War there would have been executions in Central Park, and I might have been one of the ones executed". He then questioned what Sanders meant when he used the term 'socialism'.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perrett |first=Connor |date=February 8, 2020 |title=When discussing a possible Bernie Sanders presidency, MSNBC's Chris Matthews ranted about hypothetical executions in Central Park under Castro |work=[[Business Insider]] |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-matthews-rants-about-bernie-sanders-and-socialism-2020-2?r=US&IR=T |access-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425011252/https://www.businessinsider.com/chris-matthews-rants-about-bernie-sanders-and-socialism-2020-2?r=US&IR=T |archive-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=February 12, 2020 |title=Bernie Sanders is winning because he's popular |work=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/02/bernie-sanders-wins-new-hampshire-democratic-primary/606004/ |access-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213211815/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/02/bernie-sanders-wins-new-hampshire-democratic-primary/606004/ |archive-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref> The following week, [[Chuck Todd]] criticized the rhetoric of Sanders supporters by quoting a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] article which compared them to Nazi [[brown shirts]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Allison Kaplan |date=February 11, 2020 |title='Meet the Press' host rapped for comparing Sanders supporters to Nazi 'brownshirts' |work=[[Haaretz]] |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-meet-the-press-host-rapped-for-comparing-sanders-supporters-to-nazi-brownshirts-1.8524572 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926193635/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2020-02-11/ty-article/.premium/meet-the-press-host-rapped-for-comparing-sanders-supporters-to-nazi-brownshirts/0000017f-f267-df98-a5ff-f3efb0980000 |archive-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Jake |date=February 12, 2020 |title=MSNBC's Chuck Todd under fire for reciting quote comparing Sanders supporters to Nazis |work=[[Salon.com|Salon]] |url=https://www.salon.com/2020/02/12/msnbcs-chuck-todd-under-fire-for-reciting-quote-comparing-sanders-supporters-to-nazis_partner/ |access-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212135534/https://www.salon.com/2020/02/12/msnbcs-chuck-todd-under-fire-for-reciting-quote-comparing-sanders-supporters-to-nazis_partner/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> Commenting on the [[2020 Nevada Democratic caucuses]], Matthews invoked [[Battle of France|"the fall of France" to the Nazis in 1940]] as a metaphor for Sanders' apparent victory in the state.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Arciga |first=Julia |date=February 22, 2020 |title=Chris Matthews Likens Bernie's Strong Nevada Showing to France Falling to Nazi Germany in WWII |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/chris-matthews-likens-bernies-strong-nevada-showing-to-france-falling-to-nazi-germany-in-wwii |access-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718142642/https://www.thedailybeast.com/chris-matthews-likens-bernies-strong-nevada-showing-to-france-falling-to-nazi-germany-in-wwii |archive-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref> These analogies were criticized by the Sanders campaign and other commentators, who noted that members of Sanders' family had been murdered in [[the Holocaust]]. Matthews later issued an on-air apology to Sanders and his supporters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grynbaum |first=Michael |date=February 24, 2020 |title=Chris Matthews Apologizes to Bernie Sanders for Remarks on Nevada Win; An on-air comparison to Nazis angered Sanders aides, who privately complained to executives at MSNBC. |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/business/media/chris-matthews-bernie-sanders-apology.html |access-date=February 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225024004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/business/media/chris-matthews-bernie-sanders-apology.html |archive-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref>

[[Jason Johnson (professor)|Jason Johnson]], an MSNBC contributor, was temporarily suspended in February 2020 after backlash over his accusing Bernie Sanders supporters of alienating minorities and saying of African-American Sanders staffers and surrogates, "I don't care how many people from the island of misfit black girls that you throw out to defend you on a regular basis."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Baragona |first1=Justin |last2=Tani |first2=Maxwell |date=February 26, 2020 |title=MSNBC Benches Contributor Who Smeared Bernie Sanders Staffers |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/msnbc-benches-contributor-jason-johnson-who-said-bernie-sanders-staffers-are-island-of-misfit-black-girls |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726122025/https://www.thedailybeast.com/msnbc-benches-contributor-jason-johnson-who-said-bernie-sanders-staffers-are-island-of-misfit-black-girls |archive-date=July 26, 2022}}</ref> He was reinstated in July 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baragona |first=Justin |date=July 15, 2020 |title=Jason Johnson Returns to MSNBC After Months-Long Benching for Smearing Bernie Sanders Staffers |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/jason-johnson-returns-to-msnbc-after-months-long-benching-for-smearing-bernie-sanders-staffers |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621230843/https://www.thedailybeast.com/jason-johnson-returns-to-msnbc-after-months-long-benching-for-smearing-bernie-sanders-staffers |archive-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref>

=== Coverage of Israeli–Palestinian conflict ===
[[Ayman Mohyeldin]] has been alleged to have an anti-Israel bias in his reporting.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 20, 2012 |title=NBC News Reporter Blames U.S. For Not Recognizing Hamas And Not 'Reining In' Israel |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/nbc-news-reporter-blames-u-s-for-not-recognizing-hamas-and-not-reigning-in-israel/ |access-date=May 6, 2016 |publisher=Mediaite}}</ref> In 2015, Mohyeldin was reporting live from [[Gaza City|Gaza]], where he claimed to have witnessed an unarmed Palestinian man being shot by Israeli police at the [[Damascus Gate]]; the man turned out to be wielding a large knife.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 15, 2015 |title=MSNBC's Ayman Mohyeldin Corrected On-Air After Suggesting Dead Palestinian Terrorist Wasn't Armed |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbcs-ayman-mohyeldin-corrected-on-air-after-suggesting-dead-palestinian-terrorist-wasnt-armed/ |access-date=May 6, 2016 |publisher=Mediaite}}</ref>

Following the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]], it was reported by ''[[Semafor (website)|Semafor]]'' that a number of Muslim hosts (including [[Mehdi Hasan]], Mohyeldin, and [[Ali Velshi]]) were sidelined from coverage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tani |first1=Max |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Inside MSNBC's Middle East conflict |work=[[Semafor (website)|Semafor]] |url=https://www.semafor.com/article/10/13/2023/inside-msnbcs-middle-east-conflict |access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref>

===Suspensions of hosts===

====Michael Savage====
[[Michael Savage]] briefly hosted a weekend talk show in 2003. That July, Savage responded to a prank caller on his show by calling him a "pig" and a "sodomite", and telling him he "should get AIDS and die." Savage's show was canceled and he was dismissed from MSNBC shortly thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lowry |first=Brian |date=July 8, 2003 |title=Savage gets the boot after on-air anti-gay outburst |page=E1 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-08-et-lowry8-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929175323/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-08-et-lowry8-story.html |archive-date=September 29, 2020}}</ref>

====Don Imus====
[[Don Imus]]' radio show ''[[Imus in the Morning]]'' was simulcast on MSNBC for over ten years. In 2007, he described members of the [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball|Rutgers University women's basketball team]] as "some nappy-headed hoes."  The remark was met with outrage, and advertisers withdrew from the show, with MSNBC canceling the simulcast. Both Imus and NBC News apologized to the Rutgers Basketball team for the remarks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 11, 2007 |title=MSNBC drops simulcast of Don Imus show |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |url=http://www.today.com/id/17999196 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114000456/https://www.today.com/id/wbna17999196 |archive-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref>

====Keith Olbermann and Joe Scarborough====
On November 5, 2010, MSNBC President Phil Griffin suspended Keith Olbermann indefinitely without pay for having contributed $2,400 (the maximum personal donation limit) to each of three Democratic Party candidates during the 2010 midterm election cycle.<ref name="aujla">{{Cite news |last=Aujla |first=Simmi |date=November 5, 2010 |title=Keith Olbermann suspended after donating to Democrats |work=[[Politico]] |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44734.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106123419/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44734.html |archive-date=November 6, 2010}}</ref> NBC News policy prohibited contributions to political campaigns unless NBC News had given its prior permission. On November 7, 2010, Olbermann posted a thank you message to supporters via Twitter.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dolak |first1=Kevin |last2=Goldman |first2=Russell |date=November 7, 2010 |title=Olbermann to Be Back on the Air Tuesday |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/keith-olbermann-breaks-silence-twitter-feed/story?id=12082531 |url-status=live |access-date=November 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118221733/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/keith-olbermann-breaks-silence-twitter-feed/story?id=12082531 |archive-date=January 18, 2012}}</ref> That same day, MSNBC announced that he would be back on the air starting on November 9.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=STATEMENT REGARDING KEITH OLBERMANN – SUNDAY, NOV. 7 |date=November 7, 2010 |url=http://www.nbcuniversal.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=2458&NewsAreaID=2&ClientID=7 |access-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316033151/http://www.nbcuniversal.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=2458&NewsAreaID=2&ClientID=7 |archive-date=March 16, 2011 |website=[[NBCUniversal]] Press Centre}}</ref>

Two weeks later, Griffin announced the suspension of [[Joe Scarborough]] for similar misconduct. The ''Morning Joe'' host had donated $4,000 to Republican candidates in Florida. Like Olbermann's suspension, Scarborough's was brief, and he returned to the airwaves on November 24.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schechner |first=Sam |date=November 19, 2010 |title=MSNBC Suspends 'Morning Joe' Host Scarborough for Political Donations |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/11/19/msnbc-suspends-morning-joe-host-scarborough-for-political-donations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916151846/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/11/19/msnbc-suspends-morning-joe-host-scarborough-for-political-donations |archive-date=September 16, 2017}}</ref>

====Martin Bashir====
Host [[Martin Bashir]] resigned after making a controversial comment about
[[Sarah Palin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christopher |first=Tommy |date=December 4, 2013 |title=Martin Bashir Resigns From MSNBC |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/martin-bashir-resigns-from-msnbc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219154500/http://www.mediaite.com/tv/martin-bashir-resigns-from-msnbc/ |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2014 |website=[[Mediaite]]}}</ref> On November 15, 2013, Bashir criticized Palin for equating the [[National debt of the United States|federal debt]] to slavery.<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--Staff Writer--> |date=November 20, 2013 |title=MSNBC not commenting on whether further action contemplated against Bashir |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/msnbc-not-commenting-on-whether-further-action-contemplated-against-bashir/2013/11/19/ee3df924-518e-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html#selection-3549.0-3549.74 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131120033018/http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/msnbc-not-commenting-on-whether-further-action-contemplated-against-bashir/2013/11/19/ee3df924-518e-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html |archive-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref> Bashir referred to the cruel and barbaric punishment of slaves as described by [[Slavery in the United States|slave overseer]] [[Thomas Thistlewood]], specifically a punishment called "[[Derby's dose]]", which forced slaves to defecate or urinate into the mouth of another slave. Bashir then said, "When Mrs. Palin invokes slavery, she doesn't just prove her rank ignorance. She confirms if anyone truly qualified for a dose of discipline from Thomas Thistlewood, she would be the outstanding candidate."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Rob |date=November 18, 2013 |title=Martin Bashir says Sarah Palin is an 'idiot' and suggests someone |language=en |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/martin-bashir-says-sarah-palin-is-an-idiot-and-suggests-someone-should-defecate-in-her-mouth-8946426.html |access-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006044257/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/martin-bashir-says-sarah-palin-is-an-idiot-and-suggests-someone-should-defecate-in-her-mouth-8946426.html  |archive-date=October 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Millstein | first=Seth | date=December 4, 2013 | title=MSNBC's Martin Bashir Resigns Over Sarah Palin Slavery Comments | url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/10104-msnbcs-martin-bashir-resigns-over-sarah-palin-slavery-comments | work=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]] | access-date=August 25, 2017 | archive-date=July 8, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708090534/https://www.bustle.com/articles/10104-msnbcs-martin-bashir-resigns-over-sarah-palin-slavery-comments | url-status=live }}</ref>

====Alec Baldwin====
[[Alec Baldwin]]'s 2013 show ''[[Up Late with Alec Baldwin]]'' was suspended after five episodes because of a [[List of LGBT slang terms|homophobic slur]] Baldwin made to a photographer in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer--> |date=November 16, 2013 |title=Alec Baldwin's MSNBC Show Suspended After Gay Slur Controversy |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20756802,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122014450/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20756802,00.html |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2014 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>