‘Civil War’ Erupts At MSNBC After Longtime Contributor Turns Fire On ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts

A rare fissure erupted within MSNBC on Monday as network contributor and Washington Post opinion writer Jennifer Rubin called for viewers to reconsider tuning into Morning Joe after revelations that co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

The meeting, described as a step toward rebuilding communication, sparked indignation among some of the network’s fans and contributors, laying bare deep divisions within the progressive media outlet.

Once a staunch conservative, Rubin shifted toward liberal viewpoints during the Trump administration, becoming a vocal critic of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Her transformation has made her a polarizing figure. She is also a frequent guest on cable news networks, particularly MSNBC.

Rubin suggested on social media that the co-hosts’ decision amounted to a betrayal of their audience. “The market works great. You can stop watching Morning Joe anytime,” Rubin wrote on Monday evening.

The market works great. You can stop watching Morning Joe anytime.

— Jen Rubin (@jenrubin.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 5:09 PM

Her post added, “If you don’t appreciate the audience you have, betray that audience, and lose their trust, you are going to lose lots of them. I have seen this movie.”

On MJ: If you don’t appreciate the audience you have, betray that audience and lose their trust you are ging to lose lots of them. i have seen this movie.

— Jen Rubin (@jenrubin.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 5:50 PM

The backlash began after Brzezinski and Scarborough opened their Monday broadcast with an admission that they had met with Trump over the weekend to discuss his agenda and the possibility of finding common ground with Democrats. Brzezinski framed the meeting as a necessary step in addressing the political divide.

“For those asking why we would go speak with the president-elect during such fraught times, especially between us, I guess I would ask back: why wouldn’t we?” Brzezinski said, explaining that the meeting offered a chance to reopen lines of communication. “Joe and I realize it’s time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but talking with him,” she said.

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While the pair insisted they remain committed to holding Trump accountable, the optics of their trip to Mar-a-Lago seemed to have angered liberals in awe. Critics, like Rubin, view the move as a capitulation that undercuts the network’s credibility.

According to two sources familiar with the situation who spoke to CNN, Scarborough and Brzezinski had legitimate worries about potential governmental and legal harassment from the incoming Trump administration. According to another source familiar with the situation, management had no concerns about Scarborough and Brzezinski’s meeting at the executive level.

For now, Brzezinski and Scarborough remain unapologetic, insisting that engagement with Trump is crucial to bridging America’s political divide. Whether their audience agrees is another matter entirely.

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