The assassination attempt on Donald Trump over the weekend has led to significant upheaval within MSNBC, resulting in the unexpected preemption of the network's flagship morning show, Morning Joe.

The decision by NBCUniversal News leadership to bench Morning Joe caused internal and external controversy, with the network replacing all Monday morning’s programming with a single NBC News feed until primetime, as Fox News reports.

Hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, along with their production team, were taken aback when they were informed their show would not air on Monday.

The decision was made by Cesar Conde, NBCUniversal News Group chair, and Rashida Jones, MSNBC president, who opted for a unified response to the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, which wounded the former president and killed one of his supporters.

Unified News Feed Covers Assassination Attempt

NBC's Today show, hosted by Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, continued as scheduled. However, starting at 6 a.m., MSNBC aired special reporting from Ana Cabrera of NBC News, followed by coverage from NBC News Now.

Even though Scarborough and Brzezinski were informed and acquiesced to the plan initially, Morning Joe published a statement on X, promising a return on Tuesday. An insider revealed that had Scarborough and Brzezinski known the scope of the one feed decision encompassing all platforms, they might have insisted on proceeding with their show.

Significant Internal and External Reactions

The preemption sparked a wave of reactions internally within MSNBC. “A lot of people are pissed off,” an insider said, emphasizing the production team’s frustration and shock. This sentiment was reinforced by another remark stressing the unexpected nature of the decision: “They were shocked.”

The move also drew commentary from industry observers and analysts. One former top producer at NBC News remarked on the irony of pulling a flagship show during significant news, calling the decision embarrassing. Similarly, Fox News contributor Joe Concha critiqued the network’s rhetoric about Trump and suggested the assassination attempt marked a turning point in media coverage.

Weekend Programming and Regular Shows Disrupted

The assassination attempt had already impacted MSNBC’s weekend programming, leading to an earlier preemption by NBC News special coverage. On Monday, following three hours of programming from Cabrera and NBC News Now, José Diaz-Balart took over at 9 a.m., followed by Andrea Mitchell and Chris Jansing at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Nicolle Wallace provided coverage of the Republican National Convention at 4 p.m. ET.

CNN reported concerns about potential inappropriate remarks from guests about Trump, prompting MSNBC to dismiss these claims.

Journalistic and Public Critique

The decision continued to face criticism throughout the day. Clay Travis, founder of OutKick, expressed strong disapproval on X, suggesting drastic career implications in a similar situation.

Liberal journalist Jeff Jarvis angrily questioned MSNBC's programming choice on the same platform, lamenting the replacement of Morning Joe with what he described as a lesser, streaming news service.

Broader Implications for MSNBC

The impacts of this decision have broader implications beyond just Monday’s programming. Tim Graham, NewsBusters executive editor, pointed out the dissonance between MSNBC’s harsh rhetoric towards Trump and President Biden's recent calls for civility. This incident, some observers suggest, could be perceived as an acknowledgment of the network’s aggressive tone.

Cornell Law professor William A. Jacobson and DePauw University journalism professor Jeffrey McCall offered critiques on the day’s events. Jacobson noted the humiliation for Morning Joe hosts on a critical day, while McCall questioned the leadership's trust in Joe and Mika’s ability to navigate such significant news coverage.

Reflection on Future Coverage Decisions

This preemption moment has ignited internal discussions within MSNBC about managing significant news events and maintaining balanced programming across its platforms.

The overarching sentiment among the staff reflects a need for better communication and coordination to avoid similar disruptions in the future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the assassination attempt on former President Trump not only disrupted regular broadcasts but also revealed significant internal and external tensions at MSNBC.

The network's decision to preempt Morning Joe for unified coverage has led to widespread shock, criticism, and reflection on its programming strategies.