Is Comcast Pushing Out Lawrence O’Donnell Because Trump Asked Them To?
Multiple news reports have now confirmed that despite Lawrence O’Donnell’s high ratings, MSNBC is not actively negotiating a new contract for the “Last Word” host whose contract expires in just a few weeks.
And now there is reporting that MSNBC is planning to end O’Donnell’s show because of his “tireless criticism of Donald Trump.”
For years, Donald Trump has lobbied MSNBC to fire O’Donnell – presumably because O’Donnell has the gall to point out that Donald Trump is a giant liar.
According to a report by showbiz411.com, “Phil Griffin fought back Trump’s demands to Comcast chief Steve Burke that O’Donnell get fired for years. But now he’s president and now it’s Andy Lack’s decision and Andy has never run a single promo for O’Donnell and he wants access to Trump for Lester Holt interview and more.”
After years of losing the ratings race, MSNBC is finally number one in cable news beating Fox News and CNN on a nightly basis and O’Donnell’s show regularly is the second highest rated show on cable news behind Rachel Maddow.
So the question is why get rid of O’Donnell now?
The Daily Beast reported on the issue noting that MSNBC insiders speaking on the condition of anonymity told them that the network head appears “to be altering the cable outlet’s ideological coloration in the Age of Trump.”
MSNBC has also taken a visible turn to the right when it comes to on-air talent. Gretta Van Susteren recently started a new 6pm show after leaving Fox News and former George W. Bush Communications Director Nicole Wallace just started a 4pm daily show.
There is nothing inherently wrong with having conservative voices on the network, especially sharp ones like Wallace who has maintained consistent criticism of Trump while many in her party have folded. However, if the MSNBC is trying to appease the White House by letting go of O’Donnell in order to gain more access that is truly troubling revelation.
