Just when you think the dust was beginning to settle on what will, no doubt, go down as one of the most galactically stupid moves in the history of journalism, Puck News breaks the story that both, NBC News Chief Cesar Conde, as well as SVP, Carrie Budoff Brown, coordinated w/ a GOP operative to throw their own Jen Psaki under the bus in an attempt to save Ronna McDaniel. If this is true, both Conde, as well as Brown, and anyone else who might’ve been involved, need to resign, yesterday, or face removal. Until they do, NBC will have zero credibility. As it stands, even if they resign, NBC’s trust amongst its viewers is now shot, due to reports of Republican sympathizers at the highest levels of power. Listen to Keith Olberman destroying them on the latest podcast.
What this situation does is make you wonder what’s going on at CBS, ABC, Yahoo News, and other supposed trusted sources for facts in the age of Orwellian propaganda? CNN’s Chris Licht was recently eviscerated and shown the door for giving Donald Trump an ‘open mic’ platform on its network to spew his unchecked lies, and Yahoo News continues to allow the 24/7 spigot of lies that is Fox News to propagate its front page on a daily basis, unchecked. Even after its top executives admitted lying to their viewers about pretty much everything. This recent scandal at NBC does nothing to change the opinion of those of us who believe the media isn’t just part of the problem, it is the problem.
But, as the Ronna McDaniel fiasco continues to worsen, let’s take a step back and pose the question: Who thought this was a good idea to being with? Who at NBC Universal looked in the mirror and thought, given where we are, given how fragile the public trust is in its news media at this crucial moment, giving safe harbor, and $300k, to a voracious election denier, was a good idea? As it stands now, that answer is most likely Cesar Conde and Carrie Budoff Brown. And possibly Rebecca Blumenstein.
Should the Ronna McDaniel hiring have been allowed to move forward, NBC News would've positioned itself as the journalistic "Argentina" - sending a message to every lying, democracy-destroying sycophant out there, you will always have a home with the peacock. No matter what.
Defend an insurrection? No problem. Get caught on the phone pressuring state officials to submit fake electors? We got cho' back. Spend every waking moment for the past six years working to undermine facts and the Truth? Reach out, anytime. We love gaslighters!
Hiring the female Joseph Goebbels to provide a 'diverse viewpoint', is like hiring Hannibal Lecter to create the menu at your wedding. And, while it's great to see NBC reverse course and admit their mistake; while it shows an angry public - along with a few high-profile advocates, can right a wrong, the damage has been done. Firing McDaniel after you're outed, is like a thief putting the money back after he's caught.
This disaster is far from over. There were/are too many "higher-ups" at the network who approved this move. They are, as previously mentioned, Cesar Conde, NBC Universal News Chairman; Rebecca Blumenstein - President NBC News; Carrie Budoff Brown - SVP Meet the Press. Unfortunately, for Ms. Brown, she was the one put forth to offer what will surely be remembered as one of the most historically tone deaf statements on behalf of a news division, ever -- “It couldn’t be a more important moment to have a voice like Ronna’s on the team.” Translation: “We know how much damage the MAGA movement’s done to facts, the Truth, the rule of law, etc. Now, pardon us, as we throw some more gasoline on the fire." We now know, not only is Budoff Brown beyond obtuse when it comes to her responsibility to her viewers, she made the situation ten times worse by trying to throw one of her own under the bus to save her own skin. This would be an epic betrayal for anyone in an executive role, let alone the field of journalism in 2024 ‘Amerika’.
In the film The Insider, in which whistleblower, Jeffrey Wigand, takes on big tobacco, the producers of 60 Minutes are accused of betraying the legacy of Edward R. Murrow. You can add NBC News and its executives to that list. Not only did they betray their viewership, as well as their staff -including the late Tim Russert (who's most likely projectile vomiting in his grave just knowing the network he called home for so long even considered pulling such a stentorianly ignorant stunt), they've further damaged the already broken public trust, beyond repair. Who's next, NBC? Mike Lindell as CEO? Jim Jordan as Head of PR? The flames of 'public paranoia' have been fanned.
Whether there are some sympathetic ears to the MAGA movement at 30 Rock, or not, at the end of the day, the judgement of the executives at NBC News can no longer be trusted. You can't put this horse back in the barn. There needs to be accountability for such an egregious violation of the journalistic code and the complete failure towards its viewership. Getting paid millions of dollars means the buck stops with you. Time for a reckoning. Somebody call Brian Roberts. Heads need to roll. A lot of ‘em.