MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow discussed the former president’s Iowa caucus victory and made her coworkers laugh after citing a poll that says that two-thirds of Republicans believe Trump is still qualified to be president if he’s convicted of felonies. At one point, the host even whispered, “he’s gonna be convicted.”
Covering the Iowa Caucuses
The network had a special covering the Iowa Caucuses, and Rachel Maddow was joined by Chris Hayes, Joy Reid, Ari Melber, and Steve Kornacki. The conversation regarding Trump’s alleged crimes started with Hayes telling Kornacki to “take us through” the possibility of conviction.
Fit for Presidency
Kornacki returned with a question, “Donald Trump is convicted. Do you consider him fit to be president?” Then he cited polling that suggested that 63% of GOP voters believe that Trump is a viable candidate even if convicted. The two talked about the division in polls, and Kornacki concluded, “the divide you’re seeing there in the party.”
The Big Picture
Maddow repeated, “A third of them think that if Donald Trump is convicted, he is not fit to be president. In this incredibly conservative electorate where, Trump is going to run away with the Iowa caucuses by a mile and then some. Still, a third of that electorate says if he’s convicted.”
“He’s Gonna Be Convicted”
Maddow continued, “They’re going to nominate him nationwide? When even a third of Iowa caucusgoers say no, he can’t be president if convicted? I’m sorry, but (whispers) He’s gonna be convicted!”
The Crew Laughed
The hosts broke into laughter, and Melber tried to turn back the professional mode by stating, “There’s overwhelming evidence in several of these cases, so I can’t say what’s going to happen. But there’s very strong evidence.”
“I can!”
Maddow was not ready to let go, so she said, “I can, not a lawyer. (stage whispers) He’s gonna be convicted!” Everyone laughed again, and Melber joked, “Stage whispering!”
Maddow Interrupted Live Coverage
MSNBC did not cover Trump’s victory speech in Iowa, as Maddow interjected and explained why it wouldn’t be aired on the network. Maddow stated, “The reason I’m saying this is, of course, there is a reason that we and other news organizations have generally stopped giving an unfiltered live platform to remarks by former President Trump.”
Not An Easy Decision
Maddow continued, “It is not an easy decision, but there is a cost to us as a news organization of knowingly broadcasting untrue things. And that is a fundamental truth of our business and who we are.” She concluded, “His remarks tonight will not air here live. We will monitor them and let you know about his moves”.
Maddow on the Rise of “Authoritarianism”
The Emmy award-winning host spoke about more serious issues with Jen Psaki and other MSNBC hosts, where she warned of the rise of “authoritarianism” and explained, “There is an authoritarian movement inside Republican politics that isn’t being bamboozled by Trump; they are pushing Trump to get more and more extreme because the more extreme things he says, the more they adhere, and that is coming from a very large proportion of the American right that appears to the Republican Party.”
Problem Bigger than One Man
While talking to Psaki, Joy Reid, Hayes, and Lawrence O’Donnell, Maddow concluded, “That’s why this is a Republican Party problem more than it is a problem of one man.”
Pritzker Talked About the Iowa Win with Maddow
Governor Pritzker told Maddow that despite his victory, Trump has a weakness, which Democrats see as opportunities in general elections, “This is all about independents, and independents don’t like Donald Trump.”
“Mini-Me Trump”
The Illinois Governor had an interesting remark about the GOP’s presidential hopefuls, “the truth is all of these candidates are running as sort of mini-me Trump Republicans.” He concluded, “Donald Trump is representative of, I think, everything that is wrong with the current political environment.”
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