On Thursday morning, Mika Brzezinski was all too happy to be having Senator Bernie Sanders on Morning Joe. Not once, but twice during the 7 a.m. ET hour segment, she explained to Joe Scarborough that he had better not interrupt her or cut into the blocked off time that was set aside for Senator Sanders because of how excited she was to have him on the show. Not only that, but she also told her co-host that she was inviting herself to join the Senator’s nationwide tour.
When Sanders’ segment finally began, Brzezinski proceeded to act like a Justin Bieber fan girl. She fiercely agreed with the socialist’s views, his critiques of Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, and praised him for working hard and not vacationing. As Sanders rambled on about where he would be traveling for his tour, Brzezinski interjected that she’d love the chance to go with him and follow him around: “I would like to go on some of those trips! We’ll follow you, if you'll let us!” Bernie accepted with, “Oh, my God. We would love to have you!”
Apart from a few comments and questions from Scarborough, it seemed he heeded Brzezinski ’s warnings and let her take the reins on the interview. Though, as she continued to have her moment with the Vermont Senator, which lasted a whole 10 minutes, Scarborough’s comments and questions appeared to prep Sanders for explosive answers. The Senator’s reactions were not surprising, especially considering how liberally leaning the questions were.
One of Scarborough’s questions began by pointing out one of the “greatest ironies” of this year:
I know we talked a good bit in the beginning, the rich are getting richer, the poorer are getting poorer, the middle class is getting squeezed, the working class is getting left behind, and in a year where your message, that message, all of that undeniable– that really took off in the primary process for you, despite the fact, again, you– it seemed like you had everything stacked against you. How could it be in 2016 that, that year that began with your inspirational campaign ended up with the election of a billionaire whose cabinet actually we here together, I don't know if the numbers are accurate or not, but I've read some stats that say his cabinet appointees alone control more income personally, than one-third of all Americans?
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Sanders took the bait. He discussed bringing ordinary people together to fight these powerful wealthy groups, but he failed to mention his own wealthy status and the three homes he has himself.
As the Senator ranted, Brzezinski firmly agreed with everything he said: “I totally agree with you. I totally feel the chips were stacked against you in an unfair way. I supported your candidacy and I understand everything you're saying and I love what you're doing with these rallies.”
Several times throughout the interview, the hosts both mentioned how this election cycle was rigged against Sanders. Scarborough also specified that he was not sure that Sanders’ supporters really got past the election being rigged against him from the start, possibly referring to his co-host, the Senator’s biggest fan.
Scarborough set Sanders up for one more emotional response before the interview came to a close, by asking about Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency nominee, Scott Pruitt:
I was gonna ask you about that because Scott Pruitt is, and we can say this, as just a matter of fact, he is out of the mainstream, not only of what the overwhelming majority of science shows but also what most Americans believe. How hard are you willing to fight to derail that nomination, considering all the committees that you share that have a direct impact on the protection of America's environment, the world's environment?
Sanders yet again took the bait, hook, line, and sinker. The Vermont Senator explained that it was insane that each nominee Trump was appointing were all too similar in political alignment:
Well, I don't think it's either or. I think we have to look at each nominee and, frankly, you know Trump had– he’s a Republican, we know that. I did not expect him to nominate Progressives to be heads of major agencies. All right? But he did not. He could have appointed center right people but in many instances he appointed right wing extremists, like Mr. Pruitt or Mrs. Devos.
Sanders also proclaimed he would do everything in his power to oppose the Pruitt nomination.
The interview ended as it began, the co-hosts, mainly Brzezinski, were in total agreement with Sanders and his very liberal and socialist opinions.
Here is a transcript of the questions put to Sanders in the January 12 interview:
7:02 AM ET TEASE:
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: And also coming up, Joe, you're going to have to zip it!
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Why is that?
BRZEZINSKI: When I tell you this block is over, it's over, because Bernie Sanders is coming up and I'm so excited about it.
(...)
7:19 AM ET TEASE:
BRZEZINSKI: Oh, god. More from Donald Trump's news conference, including the new questions of whether the president-elect is doing enough to separate himself from his business empire. Plus, our conversation with Bernie Sanders as he prepares to hit the road again. We’re going with him, Joe.
SCARBOROUGH: Yeah, we are.
BRZEZINSKI: I've invited myself.
(...)
7:35 AM ET SEGMENT
BRZEZINSKI: Senator Bernie Sanders may not have won the White House, but his campaign is far from over. The former candidate is doubling down on the themes that powered his presidential run and he is taking that message on the road. Yesterday, we spoke with the Vermont senator about his efforts to organize at the local level, rebuild the Democratic Party really, something President Obama suggests was sorely missing for Democrats leading up to November.
(...)
BRZEZINSKI: And you know Joe, I would think that Bernie Sanders might be taking a vacation right now but, instead, he is doing the work again. That you– I think at some point along the way in the election you notice this in the media and you definitely saw it with the Democrats where they lost touch, and you almost wanted to say you need to get out there in America and actually talk to people about what’s bothering them. Here we go.
SCARBOROUGH: Well, and that’s one of the things about how it was --
SANDERS: Well, Mika–
SCARBOROUGH: We have, we’ve talked before about certain things seemed rigged against you from the start, and I don't know that people ever got past that. Some of your most powerful supporters on the ground.
SANDERS: Well, here is the point and I think Mika, you know, put a finger on the issue. If you look at the poorest states in this country, poorest states, where people have a minimum wage of seven and a quarter, where people don't have any health insurance, why in God's name are those people electing right wing Republicans who are funded and controlled by big money interests? So what our job is, I'm gonna do everything that I can to create a 50-state party, you know? On Sunday, I will be going along with Schumer by the way, Chuck Schumer, to Michigan. But I'm gonna be going to Alabama. I’m gonna be going to Mississippi– We’re gonna do everything we can to fight voter suppression, to react to the grassroots politics in this country. The truth is the very rich are becoming much richer. 43 million living in poverty, middle class declining. We have got to bring people together to create a government and an economy that works for all and I'm pledged to do everything that I can to make that happen.
BRZEZINSKI: Well, I would like to go on some of those trips.
SCARBOROUGH: YeahBRZEZINSKI: We’ll follow you, if you'll let us.
SANDERS: Oh, my god. We would love to have you.
(...)
SCARBOROUGH: And that’s one of the great ironies of this year that – I know we talked a good bit in the beginning, the rich are getting richer, the poorer are getting poorer, the middle class is getting squeezed, the working class is getting left behind, and in a year where your message, that message, all of that undeniable– that really took off in the primary process for you, despite the fact, again, you– it seemed like you had everything stacked against you. How could it be in 2016 that, that year that began with your inspirational campaign ended up with the election of a billionaire whose cabinet actually we hear together, I don't know if the numbers are accurate or not, but I've read some stats that say his cabinet appointees alone control more income personally than one-third of all Americans?
SANDERS: Well, that's a very good question, Joe. And I think honestly, it speaks to the failure of the Democratic party.
(...)
BRZEZINSKI: I totally agree with you. I totally feel the chips were stacked against you in an unfair way. I supported your candidacy and I understand everything you're saying and I love what you're doing with these rallies. I also have to ask you, though, how important is it to reach out to the new administration and to develop relationships there and to try and figure out where there can be some alignment? Is there any opportunity there that you see?
SANDERS: Yeah, I see some, sure. I don't think it makes sense to say, no, we’re not gonna work in any way in any form with the Trump administration.
(...)
SCARBOROUGH: I was gonna ask you about that because Scott Pruitt is, and we can say this, as just a matter of fact, he is out of the mainstream, not only of what the overwhelming majority of science shows but also what most Americans believe. How hard are you willing to fight to derail that nomination, considering all the committees that you share that have a direct impact on the protection of America's environment, the world's environment?
SANDERS: Well, I don't think it's either or. I think we have to look at each nominee and, frankly, you know Trump had– he’s a Republican, we know that. I did not expect him to nominate Progressives to be heads of major agencies. All right? But he did not. He could have appointed center right people but in many instances he appointed right wing extremists like Mr. Pruitt or Mrs. Devos.
BRZEZINSKI:: Right.
SANDERS: And I think, especially as a member of the environmental committee, I’m gonna do everything I can to oppose Pruitt's nomination.
BRZEZINSKI: I’m very concerned about the minimum wage.
SANDERS: The American people overwhelmingly understand that a seven dollar and twenty-five cent federal minimum wage is a starvation wage. In the last election, as bad as it was, I believe it was four states voted to raise the minimum wage. Republicans understand that. Democrats understand that. We need to have a secretary of labor who’s gonna be on the side of working people, not just big business. And that’s another example of a very bad appointment.
SCARBOROUGH: Alright, so if people want to get involved on Sunday, how do they do it?
SANDERS: Go to BernieSanders.com That’s my website. They will find out the places in which rallies around the country are being held.
SCARBOROUGH: Alright.
BRZEZINSKI: Wait a minute. How’s your wife doing?
SCARBOROUGH: How’s Jane?
SANDERS: She is great and she’s a big fan of both of you.
BRZEZINSKI: Aww!
SCARBOROUGH: Well, we’re a big fan of hers.
BRZEZINSKI: We would like you both back on the show. She is the best.
SCARBOROUGH: Yeah she is great!
BRZEZINSKI: You need to read her story. It’s amazing. If you haven't read her story, our viewers, she’s incredible.
