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The respected anchor has often expressed her reservations about airing the former president’s remarks without a filter because they are typically filled with lies.
Award-winning out journalist Rachel Maddow called out her own network on Tuesday for broadcasting lies told by former President Donald Trump on television. Maddow, a prominent host on MSNBC, openly criticized the network’s decision to air portions of Trump’s Super Tuesday victory speech live. The criticism comes amid growing concerns over broadcasting misleading information from public figures known for spreading falsehoods.
During MSNBC’s special coverage, Maddow expressed her reservations about giving unfiltered airtime to Trump, given his history of disseminating unverified claims. “Okay, I will say that it is a decision that we revisit constantly in terms of the balance between allowing somebody to knowingly lie on your air about things they lied about before, and you can predict they are going to lie about, and so, therefore, it is irresponsible to allow them to do that,” Maddow said.
The decision to air Trump’s remarks live has been met with mixed reactions, reflecting news organizations’ broader challenge in today’s politically polarized environment. MSNBC, traditionally seen as a liberal counterweight to the right-wing Fox News network, has grappled with how to cover Trump’s public appearances without amplifying false or misleading information.
“It’s a balance between knowing that that’s irresponsible to broadcast, and also knowing that the de facto, soon-to-be de facto nominee of the Republican party—this is not only the man who was likely to be the Republican candidate for president, but this is the way he is running,” Maddow added.
Tuesday was not the first time MSNBC has faced scrutiny over its editorial choices regarding Trump’s speeches. The network has previously opted to cut away from live coverage to fact-check the former president, a practice that has sparked both praise and criticism.
MSNBC has not released an official statement in response to Maddow’s comments.
