Joe Scarborough and the rest of the cast of MSNBC’s Morning Joe spiked the football on Wednesday as they opened the show by laughing at the GOP’s disappointing results. Scarborough, specifically inflated GOP expectations so he could compare Kevin McCarthy to Liz Truss, despite the results still being unknown.
In front of a live studio audience, Mike Brzezinski kicked off the show by noting, “It’s the morning after the election and control of Congress still hangs in the balance. The big news overnight—”
Scarborough then interrupted and after Brzezinski sarcastically expressed shock that he did so, he began his taunt, “No, but Republicans, I mean, historically, I don't know if you know this or not but I follow politics. Like, historically they’re up going 40, 50, 60, 70 seats, right? Right, Michael Steele, we talked about this yesterday.”
If Republicans won 50 seats, that would’ve made for their largest majority since the 1928 election while 60 would have been the largest since 1920. While Tuesday’s results were certainly underwhelming, not breaking a record over a century old is not the great historical counter-trend Scarborough made it out to be.
Scarborough was not done with his potentially premature touchdown dance, “Hey, Kevin McCarthy – Kevin McCarthy, meet Liz Truss,” to which Brzezinski added “and Liz Cheney.”
Kevin McCarthy has been either the House Minority Leader or Majority Leader for eight years. Liz Truss was leader of the Conservative Party for 45 days. Before Scarborough tries self-deprecating humor again, she should at least get his facts straight and guard against premature celebrations.
This segment was sponsored by Liberty Mutual.
Here is a transcript for the November 9 show:
MSNBC Morning Joe
11/9/2022
6:00 AM ET
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: It is –
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Wow.
BRZEZINSKI: The morning after the election.
SCARBOROUGH: Wow. Holy cow.
BRZEZINSKI: Welcome, everybody. Our live audience
SCARBOROUGH: Wow.
BREZINSKI: It’s the morning after the election and control of Congress still hangs in the balance. The big news overnight--
SCARBOROUGH: Wait, wait a second, Hold a second. Wait, hold on—
BRZEZINSKI: Wait, wait. Yes, you’re interrupting. I’m surprised.
SCARBOROUGH: No, but Republicans, I mean, historically, I don't know if you know this or not but I follow politics.
BREZINSKI: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: Like, historically they’re up going 40, 50—
BREZINSKI: Right.
SCARBOROUGH: 60, 70 seats, right? Right, Michael Steele, we talked about this yesterday.
[crosstalk]
MICHAEL STEELE: Yup.
BRZEZINSKI: It’s the midterms, it's tough for the party in power.
SCARBOROUGH: We were thinking, like -- 40, 50, 60. So -- Kevin McCarthy’s like, he’s in charge this morning, right?
MICHAEL STEELE: Yes. Yeah, okay.
SCARBOROUGH: Hey, Kevin McCarthy –
BRZEZINSKI: How many speeches did he give? He’s like—coming out
SCARBOROUGH: Kevin McCarthy, meet Liz Truss.
BRZEZINSKI: And Liz Cheney.
