Editing MSNBC (section)

=== 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>