As MSNBC got ready for day two of the impeachment trial, former editor of Time and former Obama Undersecretary of State Rick Stengel joined an panel led by Chris Matthews where he compared President Trump's treatment of the media to Joseph Stalin.
The context for the panel was whether or not Republicans were being truthful in their allegations that they were denied access to the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) during the House's investigation. Not only did the panel conclude that they were not being truthful, but this was a part of a larger, more sinister Trumpian strategy against the media.
Matthews declared, "And this is why the president said a couple years ago to Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, “I call them fake news so when they catch me, it won't count.” It should be noted that the only evidence of this off-camera claim is Stahl's own account and it's not like NBC and MSNBC have never engaged in the propagation of fake news.
Matthews then tossed the conversation over to Stengel who declared that, "He's trying to discredit the media because the media can call him out and he wants to be able to say, “well, they don't have any credibility. I have more credibility.” That's what monarchs do, that's what kings do, that's what Stalin did."
Trump hasn't had his political opponents shot, deported them to Siberian gulags, or killed millions as the result of a man-made famine... but he says mean things about the press, so he's really no different than Stalin.
Adding to Stengel's disgust, Matthews mocked the idea that anybody would believe Trump over the media, "Don't listen to the New York Times, listen to Pat Cipollone," he then forced an awkward laugh and added, "It's unbelievable." It's really not.
Here is a transcript for the January 22 show:
MSNBC
MSNBC Impeachment Coverage
11:55 AM Et
CHRIS MATTHEWS: And this is why the president said a couple years ago to Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, “I call them fake news so when they catch me, it won't count.” Rick?
RICK STENGEL: He's trying to discredit the media because the media can call him out and he wants to be able to say, “well, they don't have any credibility. I have more credibility.” That's what monarchs do, that's what kings do, that's what Stalin did.
MATTHEWS: Don't listen to the New York Times, listen to Pat Cipollone. It's unbelievable.
