Lasting less than one Scaramucci…
Ousted Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Ronna McDaniel's days as a paid contributor at NBC News are numbered.
Dylan Byers of Puck News first reported that NBC executives are preparing to decide McDaniel's fate – i.e., fire her – following a revolt within the network's ranks and that of its sister station, MSNBC.
Variety's Brian Steinberg explains:
Top executives from NBC News were expected to meet Tuesday to hash out the growing controversy around her recent hire, according to two people familiar with the matter, in a bid to stop a growing insurrection by the NBCUniversal unit's editorial staff. In recent days, prominent anchors ranging from Chuck Todd to Rachel Maddow have spoken out against the hire on NBC News' “Meet The Press” as well as on MSNBC, charging NBC News executives with giving a platform to McDaniel despite her efforts to help former President Donald Trump dismiss the integrity of the 2020 presidential election.
There are some people who think NBC News may have to renege on its contributor deal with McDaniel, because the growing internal outcry about her hire means many producers and anchors will be loath to book her on their programs. Others think NBC News could stand by its decision.
NBC News spokespersons did not immediately respond to queries seeking comment.
Journalists are a quarrelsome lot and often disagree with the editorial mandates of the companies for which they work, but the backlash to the decision around McDaniel has resulted in uncommon displays of rancor. On Sunday, Todd told “Meet The Press” moderator Kristen Welker that “You got put into an impossible situation, booking this interview, and then all of a sudden the rug was pulled out from under you, and you find out she's being paid to show up?” He added: “It's unfortunate for this program, but I am glad you did the best that you could.”
After playing a clip of McDaniel telling Chris Wallace last July that she didn't believe Biden won “fair,” Welker pressed the network's newest on-air hire: “Can you say as you sit here today, did Joe Biden win the election fair and square?”
“He won, he's the legitimate president,” McDaniel began.
“Did he win fair and square?” Welker interjected.
McDaniel eventually admitted that Biden won “fair and square.”
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