I’ve been watching a morning news show for years. Morning Joe, I know, has gained the attention of Capital Hill players since its inception, and yet, they appear now to be losing their audience, and the gravitas of what they are saying is getting lost in their disbelief, mocking and repetitive political commentary. And, I love this show.
Here’s the rub.
Joe and Mika are partially responsible for giving Donald Trump legitimate political standing. He made great ratings during the primaries and campaign, and he was a friend. He’d call in, they’d air him. Political operatives began listening and unknowingly, Joe and Mika birthed this person into political life. Now, we are all dealing with the baby they invited into the library. No one thought he would burn the joint down.
Joe and Mika are now clearly horrified by the continual attacks on democratic institutions, the hypocrisy and dangerous rhetoric (what thinking person isn’t?), and the unethical abyss opening at the top, but still, 45 prevails. He is a media master like no other. So I propose that someone needs to turn the tables on this dynamic, and fast. Who better than his political mom and dad?
So, Joe and Mika, I suggest you to open a regular show as usual. I encourage you to speak to your audience directly, briefly and firmly about the danger that is before us. America is rapidly becoming a kleptocracy, where a man who lies controls the message, and his personal allies support his radical, right wing propaganda and self-aggrandizing activities, at the expense of the collective.
Rational adults are in danger of losing our rights to control our fates. This, as we know, is not funny. It is real, and yet as consumers of media, we’ve grown too complacent, often seeking the biggest thrill and forgetting that our lives are literally in danger. This man controls the nuclear codes, our democratic process, and the emotions of many of his followers. So, at the top of the show you speak for a few minutes…
and then, your show goes black for the rest of the hour. On purpose.
Of course, you’ll have to figure out what to do about your advertisers, there may be a price to pay. Pay it. It will be worth it.
Haters will say all kinds of stuff. Who cares. Few have the floor like you do to still make a change. Do something so unpredictable, that you seize back the message and wake up Washington. Few have a power that rivals 45, but you are his political “mom and dad” and you can (maybe) send this kid back to his playpen.
Please do.