It's one week until Election Day, and Morning Joe is doing its best to usher in as many Democrat victories as it can.
In Maine, Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, not long after telling 73-year-old Susan Collins to “shut up,” accused her of kissing Trump’s “ass.”
On CNN This Morning and Morning Joe, crickets about “shut up” and “ass.” It's simply bizarre to claim Susan Collins, liberal Republican, is some kind of MAGA ass-kisser who hasn't opposed Trump on anything.
What does Jackson have up his sleeve for a campaign finale: hurling a water bottle at Collins, as he is documented to have done to a female lawmaker?
Today's CNN This Morning never mentioned the Maine race. Morning Joe did. But only to give Jackson a big, wet, campaign-closing kiss. The show offered an exclusive first look at Jackson’s closing ad, and spent several minutes extolling him as an authentic Maine man who “matches” the state.
Right! Because nothing says “authentic Maine man” like telling an elderly lady to “shut up” and accusing her of kissing a man’s “ass.” And having a record of hurling a water bottle in anger at a woman.
Now imagine a Republican in 2024 telling Kamala Harris to “shut up,” who accused her of kissing Joe Biden’s “ass.” These networks would erupt in outrage.
Cut to today.
Morning Joe hails Troy Jackson as an "authentic" Maine man: buries him telling Susan Collins to "shut up," and accusing her of kissing Trump's "ass." pic.twitter.com/9vraZ8xzAt
— Mark Finkelstein (@markfinkelstein) October 27, 2026
Listen carefully to the clip’s audio. After Scarborough tells the audience “A lot of people have been saying [Jackson's] a horrible candidate,” and Mika interjects to say, “I don’t think he is [a horrible candidate], Scarborough immediately agrees: “I don’t think he is, either.”
JOE: I've been to Maine. You know, you get to that second congressional district in Maine, he looks like Maine. Troy Jackson, I don't know how he's gonna do. Everybody says he's running a horrible campaign. I'm telling you, he matches Maine.
MIKA: It's more than that. I mean, he speaks, he speaks as a Mainer. And so I think he has a very actual, authentic communication with the people of Maine.
Keep in mind that this show was just as impressed with man-of-the-people Graham Platner when he was the designated Collins opponent.
Note: As here and here, Morning Joe has been fixated on Trump's mention of "ass." So wouldn't you think that when a prominent Democratic candidate employs the word against his opponent, Morning Joe would mention it? Trick question: I said "Democratic" candidate.
Here’s the transcript.
MS NOW
Morning Joe
10/27/2026
7:20 am EDTMIKA BRZEZINSKI: Exclusive first look at Democratic US Senate nominee Troy Jackson's seven-figure ad buy. That's to close out his closely watched race in Maine. Take a look.
TROY JACKSON: This November, Mainers will decide the direction of this whole country. Is it for the billionaires and Trump, or everyday people like us? We can protect Social Security, get people health care, and keep more of what we earn. It won't be easy, but I've learned if your heart is in the right place, you can make things better. I owe nothing to the billionaires or Trump. I owe everything to the people of Maine. That's what's in my heart. I'm Troy Jackson. I approve this message, and I'd be honored to have your vote.JOE SCARBOROUGH: A lot of people have been saying he's a horrible candidate. He is --
MIKA: I don't think he is.
SCARBOROUGH: I don't think he is, either. I've been to Maine. You know, you get to that second congressional district in Maine, he looks like Maine. Troy Jackson, I don't know how he's gonna do. Everybody says he's running a horrible campaign. I'm telling you, he matches Maine.
MIKA: It's more than that. I mean, he speaks, he speaks as a Mainer. And so I think he has a very actual, authentic communication with the people of Maine.
