Ah, the sweet smell of accountability in action—or, in MSNBC’s case, the complete lack of it.
Two weeks have passed since the revelation that Al Sharpton’s nonprofit, the National Action Network, pocketed a cool half-million dollars from Kamala Harris’s campaign. The payments conveniently preceded Sharpton hosting Harris for what can only be described as a televised love letter disguised as an “interview.” Yet here we are, still waiting for MSNBC to muster even a shred of outrage, much less action.
Let’s break this down. Sharpton’s PoliticsNation interview wasn’t just a softball—it was practically a campaign ad. Between gushing over Harris’s “historic campaign” and taking shots at Donald Trump as “hostile and erratic,” the segment was a masterclass in unbridled partisanship.
Sharpton even teed up Harris to address her critics—like those pesky black voters concerned about her record as “Kamala the Cop.” All of this aired on MSNBC without so much as a whisper about the $500,000 that had just been funneled to Sharpton’s nonprofit. Payola, anyone?
MSNBC, of course, claims they were blissfully unaware of the payment. That’s a bold move, considering the network’s hosts have been reprimanded in the past for far less egregious violations. Back in 2010, Joe Scarborough and Keith Olbermann were both suspended for making political contributions—contributions, mind you, that they disclosed and complied with campaign finance laws. But apparently, Sharpton collecting six figures and failing to disclose it before interviewing a major candidate isn’t a big enough deal to warrant even a slap on the wrist.
Harris campaign donated $500K to Al Sharpton’s nonprofit before softball MSNBC interview https://t.co/F9AIMbO4fR pic.twitter.com/1HS3FTZ7Yd
— New York Post (@nypost) November 12, 2024
Let’s not forget that “payola” isn’t just a shady media practice; it’s a violation of federal law when it involves public broadcasts. While MSNBC doesn’t technically fall under FCC rules because it’s cable-based, the situation still reeks of corruption. The law exists to prevent exactly this type of transaction, where money changes hands behind the scenes to manipulate what viewers see and hear.
What’s MSNBC’s excuse? They’re claiming ignorance while letting Sharpton continue hosting his show as if nothing happened. Two weeks later, no public reprimand, no internal investigation—just radio silence. NBC’s policies explicitly state that staff must disclose any activities that could compromise their impartiality, but apparently, that rule doesn’t apply to certain golden geese in their lineup.
NEW: Kamala Harris’ campaign dished out $500k to Al Sharpton’s nonprofit just weeks before her big interview with him.
So… was the Harris campaign just one big money laundering scheme?
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Harris campaign sent one $250k payment on… pic.twitter.com/L79LVVzmK1
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 12, 2024
This isn’t just a bad look for Sharpton; it’s an indictment of MSNBC as a whole. If the network can’t be bothered to hold one of its own accountable for such blatant ethical violations, why should anyone trust their coverage? The message is loud and clear: if you’re politically useful, MSNBC will look the other way—even if you take a half-million-dollar bribe. Adjust your trust level accordingly.
