Made-for-TV marital spat, or bona fide Bickersons moment?
On today's Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and wife/co-host Mika Brzezinski got into what appeared to be an authentic and rather nasty argument. It was touched off by Scarborough asking the panel whether it was a good idea for the Senate to stage an impeachment trial. Joe suggested that doing so would hamper the ability of the Biden administration, and Democrats at large, to pursue their agenda.
This was in line with Scarborough's recent assertion that prosecuting President Trump after he leaves office would be taking the nation down a "dangerous road." Scarborough went around the horn, giving each panelist a chance to answer. They all favored pursuing the trial.
When Mika had her say, she, her voice laden with emotion, instructed Joe regarding his question: "don't ask it again."
Mika then dialed the emotional stakes up to 11 by telling Joe to pose his question to the families of the people killed in the Capitol breach, and to the Members whose lives were threatened. Later, she later snapped to Joe that he had asked his question, and "you got the answer."
Scarborough didn't back down, implying that Mika was a "snowflake" for being offended by his question. He taunted her, saying he was going to drink some more coffee, sarcastically asking her permission to do so. Joe also informed Mika that asking questions that spark debate is "actually what our job is here." She surely appreciated the lesson in the principles of journalism.
Could be an interesting evening at Chez Scarborough!
The Joe 'n Mika spat was sponsored in part by Lincoln, Liberty Mutual, Subway, and Chewy
Here's the transcript.
MSNBC
Morning Joe
1/14/21
6:17 am ETJOE SCARBOROUGH: Let me ask you a question. And I’m going to open this up to everybody because it’s going to be controversial.
Former FBI director Jim Comey said yesterday that Donald Trump should be pardoned and should consider being pardoned, and it should be put behind him. I’m not going to go that far. But let me just ask this question because I’m sure people inside the Biden administration are asking this question right now.
Do we really want to start our presidency, do we really want to turn the page on Trumpism? Do we really want to start with Democratic majorities in the House and in the Senate, and a Democratic president in the White House by being occupied by a Senate trial of a guy who is out of the White House, and who is likely going to be prosecuted not only in the State of New York but most likely by the US Attorney in Washington, DC?
. . .
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Okay. I appreciate the question, Joe, but I would ask that you don’t ask it again.
Because it is not a question. It's just not a question.
First of all, the Biden administration, Joe Biden, he actually can lead and he can run things. And he can do two things at once, unlike President Trump who has botched this entire presidency, killed people. Either by coronavirus or by inciting a riot.
So if you want to ask that question, ask it about the family of the Capitol cop who was being crushed in doors and had blood gushing out of his mouth. Ask the families of the Capitol cops who are dead. Ask the Members whose lives were threatened with death during this insurrection, whether or not the president should continue to be held accountable after he leaves office on the 20th. He must! Joe Biden needs to restore faith in our democracy. And unfortunately, that's going to be part of his job. It's going to be very ugly for Donald Trump in the weeks and months to come.
SCARBOROUGH: Well, first of all, no one should be offended by a question that is asked to spark debate. That’s actually what our job is here. Secondly --
MIKA: [exasperated sigh] Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: Secondly, as I said, Donald Trump is going to be prosecuted most likely by the State of New York. Most likely by the city of Manhattan [sic]. I would guess other jurisdictions are going to be doing that as well. So, I was just asking a question. And you know, I understand a lot of Trump supporters are snowflakes.
MIKA: [sarcastically] Thanks.
SCARBOROUGH: I don’t think we should be snowflakes here. We ought to be able to ask questions.
MIKA: Well, you got the answer.
SCARBOROUGH: I got the answer. And you know what? I think we’re better off for having asked that question. And actually listening to a free exchange of ideas. I’m not offended by it. In fact, I think I’m going to have more coffee.
MIKA: Okay. Yeah. That’s a good thing to do. Still ahead on Morning Joe --
SCARBOROUGH: Is it? Okay. Thank you.
MIKA: -- we'll be joined by one of the Democrats —
SCARBOROUGH: Can I drink this coffee?
MIKA: Yeah, drink it.
SCARBOROUGH: Can I ask questions? Is that okay?
