As others and I reported at PJ Media last week, cable news’ alpha male Rachel Maddow went on a tirade on-air after the network fired the Race Lady and apparently close personal friend of Maddow, Joy Ann Reid.
Reid, for her part, literally cried while playing a tiny violin for herself in front of a sympathetic Zoom audience in the aftermath of her just desserts.
Related: WATCH: Fired Joy Reid LITERALLY Bawls Tears of Regret
What struck me, which I mused about at the time, was that the MSNBC brass would just allow her to take to its own airwaves and unsubtly accuse the network of racism.
I take it for granted that, if I ever used my platform here to denounce PJ Media or Salem for whatever grievance I might have — which, to be clear, I wouldn’t because I am happy here; even if I did have an issue, I would address it through proper channels, meaning not in public — I probably wouldn’t be around very long. It’s probably the same wherever you work, even if it’s not in media.
I’ve thought about the failure-to-fire-Maddow mystery more, yet still the answer is elusive.
Maddow rakes in a monster $25 million per year, renegotiated down from $30 million prior to Trump’s election and a ratings bloodbath. And, according to her regular schedule, currently rejiggered for Trump’s first 100 days in office, she only regularly appears on air once a week. That works out to nearly half a million dollars for every one-hour weekly program.
Related: Physician: Libs Experiencing ‘9/11-Style’ Trauma After MAGA Takeover
Given Maddow's comments, it would seem that a great opportunity presented itself last week to terminate this albatross around the network’s neck. Imagine the talent they could hire from independent media with that money. (Of course, they won’t because their on-air personalities are carefully vetted members of the insular D.C. cocktail circuit.)
Recently, the network announced it was purging Maddow’s staff — which Maddow also publicly complained about.
Via Quartz (emphasis added):
MSNBC is set to implement significant production cuts, resulting in layoffs for much of Rachel Maddow’s staff. The changes are expected to take effect in April, following Maddow’s completion of a special primetime coverage of President Trump’s first 100 days in office, according to Fox News. After this period, “The Rachel Maddow Show” will revert to airing only on Mondays, a schedule Maddow negotiated despite her substantial salary...
Maddow addressed the situation on her show, acknowledging the impact of the layoffs on her team and criticizing MSNBC’s handling of the situation. She expressed concern over the treatment of staff, stating that they were “really being put through the wringer” and highlighting the anxiety and uncertainty faced by those affected. “Dozens of producers and staffers, including some who are among the most experienced and most talented and most specialist producers in the building, are facing being laid off,” Maddow said, adding that the process of inviting them to reapply for new jobs was unprecedented at this scale and inefficient.
It’s unclear whether this was already planned or it was retaliation for her comments. Yet Maddow remains in place, leeching $25 million annually out of the network.
Does her talent justify it? It’s true that her ratings are the best at MSNBC — which makes her the tallest kid in kindergarten — but is that sufficient rationale for management to tolerate her rabid biting of the hand that feeds?
Or is something else going on?
