It’s time to find out who had the Worst Media Quote of the Week. This interactive series is where you — our loyal NewsBusters visitors and MRC supporters — get to vote on which leftist journalist or celebrity had the worst media quote of the week.
Much appreciation to all who voted last week via NewsBusters and the MRC’s various social media sites (Facebook, Instagram and X.com).
The results of the Worst Media Quote of the Week are in and the winner is…
Paul Krugman!
The longtime New York Times columnist won with 48 percent of the vote! Krugman took first place for demanding that America needs a “de-MAGAfication” like Europe had a “de-Nazification,” after WWII. MS NOW contributor Reverend Al Sharpton came in second place with 28 percent. Finishing last was MS NOW host Ali Velshi with 24 percent.
Check out the following clip (via the MRC Video team) to see the nominees in action:
Watch the Worst Quotes from @AliVelshi, @paulkrugman and @TheRevAl pic.twitter.com/Obgv9878xD
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) June 4, 2026
WINNER (48 percent of the vote)
Paul Krugman: We Need a “De-MAGAfication” Like We Had a “De-Nazification”
“We need to de-fang Trump, as much as possible and make sure that neither he nor anybody who follows in his footsteps has power after the next two elections. But beyond that we really need to do a thorough purging of the United States. We need a de-MAGAfication. And that is - you know - I am not going over the top by using a word that is very similar to the de-Nazification that we pursued successfully after World War II in Germany.”
— New York Times columnist Paul Krugman on his official Substack page, May 31.
SECOND PLACE (28 percent of the vote)
Al Sharpton: Trump’s UFC Fights on White House Lawn Is Him Bringing Back the “Fights for the Slave Masters”
“Let’s celebrate how we grew and the people that paid the price for it, and that are continuing to pay the price now because when we’re dealing with this redistricting, Trump and others are trying to bring us back to an America that we struggle to get out of. So there is a connection of why they’re having these fights on the White House lawn, the UFO and all – the UF – whatever they call it, UFC and all that, because they’re trying to go back to that when – you know – they watch people have these fights for the slave masters and they’d be entertained by that. They’re literally going back to that.”
— Reverend Al Sharpton on MS NOW’s Morning Joe, May 28.
THIRD PLACE (24 percent of the vote)
Ali Velshi: I Feel “Deep Unease” About Celebrating 250th Anniversary of “Our So-Called Democracy”
“In one month, America will mark the 250th anniversary of its founding. Like previous anniversaries, there is a deep unease about this. I feel a deep unease about these celebrations to which I am invited to mark the 250th anniversary of our so-called democracy because this 250th anniversary is taking place during yet another period of deep and fundamental and existential unrest in this country brought on by the country’s unresolved racial politics. That’s what this is. Women and Black Americans have seen their rights taken away. The Voting Rights Act has effectively been gutted.”
— Host Ali Velshi on MS NOW’s Velshi, May 31.
Thanks again to all who participated!
Sponsored by James P. Jimirro
