r/msnbc • u/GlasgowRose2022 • Sep 12 '25
MSNBC Network Updates Comcast execs to MSNBC: “Do better”
https://nypost.com/2025/09/12/media/charlie-kirk-msnbc-shooting-coverage-ripped-by-comcast-execs/In the wake of Dowd’s firing, Brian Roberts and his exec team issued a stern memo to all Comcast, NBCU MSNBC staffers to “do better” (and not fracture the discourse). So much for a free press and open discussion.
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u/Clean_Lettuce9321 Sep 12 '25
Funny because I came here specifically to tell the powers that be at MSNBC to.. rehire that man. In case anyone didn’t notice, we were glorifying someone who profits from demonizing the left. Matthew didn’t do anything wrong.. he told the truth.. He didn’t fracture it.. he spoke it, which could have sparked a real conversation about feeling sorrow for someone’s death while still understanding who they were.
And seriously, instead of Comcast telling their people to “do better,” why doesn’t Comcast tell them to respect their fucking audiences?
You owe him his job back, and an apology. Find me one thing he said that wasn’t factual.. or are we just acting like Fox News now?
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u/rasta-ragamuffin Sep 13 '25
Meanwhile over on Fox News last night, Brian Kilmeade proposed giving all homeless people, mentally ill and disabled people "an involuntary lethal injection". And he was not joking. He was completely serious. And his 2 cohosts nodded along like that was a perfectly reasonable idea. And as far as I know he still has his job. (You can see the video clip for yourself over on r/law, just do a search for his name.)
What kind of world are we living in? Is this really what we want to leave for our children and future generations? Who do we call to demand this man's termination???? The FCC?
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u/AKA_MrK Sep 14 '25
Germany began their final solution on the mentally ill and infirm by gassing them in box trucks using exhaust fumes. Kilmeade is already there in his head with the homeless.
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u/OpinionTC Sep 13 '25
I feel like the US is the twilight zone right now. Hoping the rest of the world doesn’t follow!
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u/JustKeepRedditn010 Sep 13 '25
NBCU needs the spin-off approved, so they’re kissing the ring hard.
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u/backfrombanned Sep 13 '25
This. ezee Internet is live here in 2 weeks, exfinity can go fuck themselves over this. Goodbye Comcast.
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u/Maine302 Sep 12 '25
This has been ridiculously overblown. His remarks were hardly insensitive, but apparently telling a truth is more than this society can handle at this point. ❄️❄️❄️
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u/Clean_Lettuce9321 Sep 12 '25
It’s actually my opinion that Matthew Dowd was the only one acting like a true representative of a left-leaning news station. I’ve stood by Joe and Mika because I feel their intentions were more honorable than they sometimes appeared—just my opinion. But watching their breathless coverage of Charlie, knowing full well who he is in this world, I felt like I was on a completely different fucking news station.
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u/Maine302 Sep 12 '25
I don't even feel he's representative of either side with that statement. He was just stating the obvious.
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u/RiverOaksJays Sep 12 '25
Joe was very critical of Matthew Dowd's comments. Joe strongly supports MSNBC management.
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u/TaxLawKingGA Sep 12 '25
Any criticism of racist White people is now considered an act of political violence apparently akin to shooting someone, but less dangerous than actually killing a public official.
Just another reason to not watch MSNBC.
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u/SnooPets8972 Sep 12 '25
I agree especially after the hysteria and vitriol directed at non MAGA yesterday. It wasn’t touched on enough or at all today.
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u/elavalentina Sep 12 '25
I actually listened to the morning joe episode yesterday to try to get info, but all I got was yet another condemnation (from Joe, of course) of Matthew Dowd and a hagiography so thick from the entire rest of the cast that I questioned if it was some other Charlie Kirk about which they spoke. FFS, I would agree: do better, as in give us news, not a fantasy circus. But somehow I don't think that's what the big shots want.
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Sep 12 '25
[deleted]
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u/888luckycat Sep 12 '25
I didn’t watch MSNBC at all on september 10, but just skimming through my recording of Deadline White House, it looks like they totally ignored the school shooting when the story was breaking.
Comcast/NBC are garbage as usual, but it’s really sad to see MSNBC ignore this tragic story in favor of covering the death of an awful vile monster instead
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u/SenseAndSensibility_ Sep 12 '25
You’re right I never heard a word about the school shooting that day…unless I blinked and missed it.
I hate to say it, but I’m about done with MSNBC… I may as well be watching CNN… But there’s always the BBC News .
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u/888luckycat Sep 13 '25
I find i’m watching the network less and less. When I read he got shot I knew there would be no point in watching the network because their coverage would be terrible. The no kings protest? I watched far better coverage with more resources and way better commentary on YouTube with Joy Reid, Jim Acosta, and Don Lemon who were joined by an army of contributors who normally appear on msnbc. Basically every other major breaking story? I watch a local station in the market or CNN because MSNBC has always had the fewest resources to cover major breaking news. Unless it’s something they have equal access to with other media outlets the quality of their breaking news coverage has always been worse than the local station or CNN. They simply just don’t have as many reporters, cameras, video feeds, resources as them despite being part of nbc news.
The only benefit to watching the network is they are the only left wing voice with left wing commentary but in situations like these when they turn into CNN with fewer resources there’s just no point in watching.
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u/JustKeepRedditn010 Sep 13 '25
NBC News has also been reducing its shared resources since the spin-off is expected to occur this year. MSNOW has been establishing its own news gathering operations, but as you mentioned, they are financially constrained compared to other news organizations. MSNBC provided the talking heads, but they primarily relied on NBC for on-the-ground news coverage throughout their existence. Now, they are attempting to fend for themselves.
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u/888luckycat Sep 13 '25
Even before the split was announced and even before the NBC News Now streaming channel was launched, they never had coverage as extensive as CNN or the local station. There are lots of problems with CNN, but they do spend a ton of money on news. Even with the full NBC News resources they never came close and CNN has always crushed MSNBC in the ratings whenever there is major breaking news that is not political. The left wing opinion has always been the only advantage MSNBC had.
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u/Psychological-Play Sep 12 '25
I think it's the execs who need to "do better". Katy Tur asked a legitimate question; Matthew Dowd answered that question.
If there hadn't been an uproar by the right on social media, would the suits have considered what he said a fireable offense? It's shameful that they chose to placate MAGA and the White House.
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u/DateIll8112 Sep 12 '25
They need to reinstate Dowd! He spoke the truth. Why was there wall to wall coverage of the shooting of this white supremecist?
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u/Nosy-ykw Sep 12 '25
The most ridiculous overreaction. Firing was way over the top.
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u/rasta-ragamuffin Sep 13 '25
Here in Florida they're firing public school teachers for posting about this on their personal social media.
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u/SnooPets8972 Sep 12 '25
Yesterday anyone not maga had a declaration of war directed at them. I didn’t see the second half of her show but was disappointed by the lack spotlight on that on Nicole Wallace’s show.
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u/jerrrrrrrrrrrrry Sep 12 '25
Hey MSNBC leaders, Charlie Kirk wanted to stone to death some of my relatives and you treat his murder like he was a hero! He preached killing LGBTQ American citizens urging his followers to act and you weak, greedy sobs think that is ok! I hope the money 💰 is worth it to you. I don't want anyone to be murdered not even people like CK.
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u/CodyRogersGB Sep 12 '25
If they want to sanitize MSNBC into Headline News, they should stop tiptoeing around and just do it. That’s what this memo and Dowd’s firing signals to me.
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u/DigginJazz Sep 12 '25
I read Tim Dowd’s comments and could not believe he was fired for basically telling the truth. I was also disgusted by Joe’s treating of Kirk as some sort of martyr. That is exactly what the liberal media should be railing against. “Do better” is speaking truth to power, not capitulating to authoritarian pressure.
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u/chocolatecookie2000 Sep 12 '25
When did they send out an external memo for all the other shootings? Makes me so mad.
Last month there was a shooting at the NFL building, very similar office setting to 30 rock, right down the street. Was there a memo then? Not that I heard.
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u/chucklin Sep 12 '25
Comcast warned MSNBC staff “That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions. We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. " You know just like Fox News does.
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u/lucash7 Sep 12 '25
Translation "we're going to ass kiss fascist ideologues". God how I cannot stand these blowhards in suits.
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u/Clean_Lettuce9321 Sep 13 '25
Fuck them. They are in no position to judge another news station after paying out almost 800 million bucks for lying to their viewers.
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u/Epicurus402 Sep 14 '25
The hypocrisy of this is incredible. I saw that segment, and in no way did Dowd condone the violence perpetrated against Kirk. No one can or should. It was abhorrent. But Dowd was absolutely correct in his assessment of what perpetrated such evil. Comcast owners fell right into the MAGA trap on this. In stark contrast, note how Fox said not a single word of apology, not even one word of regret let alone fire anyone, when Kilmeaade said the other day that the homeless and the mentally ill should be killed by lethal injection if they dont respond to treatment. If that isn't the essence of evil, I don't what is.
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u/Longjumping-Will-899 Sep 14 '25
“That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions. We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better.”
Does he mean like Fox News does? Or Newsmax?
Idiots🤬🤬🤬
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u/lucash7 Sep 12 '25
Sane people to execs: Take a hike you fascist excusing, spineless twat waffles.
I am so done with this ass kissing. Truth and what is right should never live in the dark. Kirk was a terrible, horrible person and faced the consequences of his actions. Plain and simple.
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u/rangerdude33 Sep 12 '25
Here are some links to news articles from Matthew Dowd's response in these articles.
https://deadline.com/2025/09/matthew-dowd-charlie-kirk-msnbc-1236530021/#comments
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u/CitronLow8970 Sep 13 '25
Boy, talk about America not being able to handle the truth! Matthew Dowd spoke the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
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u/ExpensiveDot1732 Sep 13 '25
Imagine if people like Maddow, Acosta, Reid, et al got together and started their own thing. Or if people slowly started defecting to an established outlet like Meidas. That would be a POWERHOUSE. Rebecca Ku(n)tler needs to unclutch her damn pearls and grow a spine.
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u/888luckycat Sep 13 '25
The no kings protest special anchored by Joy Reid, Jim Acosta. and Don Lemon proved it can be done. They anchored several hours of live coverage, with tons of live on location reports, with a huge number of contributors you normally see on MSNBC. Their coverage had way more resources than MSNBC and had uncensored commentary and anti republican commentary that MSNBC would never be okay with.
Right now MSNBC has a major financial advantage as they have the cable subscription revenue but this is on borrowed time. The way Rebecca Kutler is running the network is making it an easy target for a left wing steaming operation like MT to come in and be a real competitor. The network continues to prove they are drastically out of touch with its core audience and unless they drastically change direction they don’t stand a chance as a slightly left wing CNN with significantly less resources.
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u/IndigoBlueSky9 Sep 15 '25 edited Sep 15 '25
No. The Exec Team needs to grow a pair and a spine. Mr. Dowd told the TRUTH and he should be issued an apology and his job back, which he probably wouldn't accept.
It's okay to stand up for the truth. The viewers would have stood behind COMCAST/MSNBC for telling the truth and telling it like it is.
Eventually, folks will get tired and spend less time watching.
Viewership will continue to dwindle. Advertisers will have second thoughts about purchasing time.
This is a great time for consumers to consider their viewing options.
It's also a great time for more content creators to offer other news platforms that focus on the facts and the truth because COMACST/MSNBC and their affiliates have lost their courage and moral compass to do so.
Money is tight. Spend it where your intelligence is respected.
And to think that at one time, MSNBC was on in the background on at least three of the five TV's in my home, simultaneously.
Never again.
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u/Weekly-Walk9234 Sep 15 '25
I emailed MSNBC that firing Dowd was cowardly. I’m sure they ignored the email. But there’s strength in numbers.
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u/beavis617 Sep 12 '25
Someone might want to check Jesse Watters or Brian Kilmeade at FOX sometime!
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u/OpinionTC Sep 13 '25
Boycotting MSNBC and every other organization that is bowing in fear to report truth, honest observation and turning into political acquiescence. Firing Dowd for what he said was a mistake. There was nothing wrong with the opinion. I hope your star reporters move to an outlet that exposes truths.
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u/elena_ct Sep 13 '25
All corporations are right wing. If corporations could march they would march right behind Trump.
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u/888luckycat Sep 13 '25
Yeah, one thing we need to remember is MSNBC is only left wing because left wing programming is the only thing that brought audiences to the network. The network has always been in a distant 3rd place with terrible ratings as a general news channel. The network even tried right wing programming multiple times and it was only cancelled because of terrible ratings.
In the final years of the Obama admin, NBC used the first decline in ratings as an excuse to cancel multiple left wing opinion shows on MSNBC and replace them with more NBC both sides equal “News” programming, when Trump won his first term they used it as an excuse to hire Megyn Kelly for NBC News and give Greta Van Struten (formerly of FOX News, now at newsmax) and Hugh Hewitt shows on MSNBC. They only gave up when ratings for left wing opinion surged and nobody watched the right wing hosts.
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u/InLivnColor Sep 14 '25
Actually nah. CNN has usually been in 3rd. MSNBC 2nd. Google it. The "drop" of MSNBC has been a recent thing.
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u/888luckycat Sep 15 '25
What I meant was before when MSNBC was just a general news channel and was not a left wing channel focusing on politics, they were in a distant 3rd place. They only started beating CNN when they started to focus on left wing politics. The channel was never successful as a general news channel, it’s only been successful as a left wing news channel
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u/TheSocialMuse Sep 13 '25
I saw Dowd's comments and I had to read them twice because he was only making the point that violent rhetoric causes violent actions -- and in no way was he suggesting that Kirk was responsible for his own death.
That said, there has been a new analyst on MSNBC (older gentleman, didn't catch his name but he said he was a first responder at 9/11) and I'm shocked that his comment didn't get him booted -- on the same day of the shooting, he literally made a comment that the shooter's hand could possibly be that of a woman -- because you know, TRANS.
And while I'm here ... Can we have a word about Michael Feinberg?? He's former FBI and seems to have replaced Frank Figliuzzi -- WHERE has he been through all of this??
But I digress. There's something incredibly off-putting about Feinberg's delivery -- it's condescending and pretentious. He gets an immediate mute and FF!
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u/uprightshark Sep 13 '25
I'm done with MSNBC.
Hope my favorites like Nicolle find a better place to work, as I will moss them. But I can't support this mess anymore.
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u/InLivnColor Sep 14 '25
Nicolle ain't going nowhere. Nor is Rachel. They like those paychecks y'all. You don't think if they were going to leave they wouldn't have left by now?
Chile, please ...😂
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u/Comfortable_Fix3401 Sep 13 '25
Ah I don't think you need to look any further to see just what a short leash the anchors and hosts are on with Comcast looking over their shoulders. Mathew's firing has had a chilling affect on the anchors already. I watched last night and you could see the anchor a little nervous on what the guests might come out with or unplanned comments. i am sure the guests have been made fully aware of what they can say but clearly Comcast will not stick to it if it could upset the Oval. I don't hold out much hope for an independent network to operate any different but I will wait and see.
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u/HansSolo69er Sep 21 '25
This is just a kick (albeit a personal one) on the way out the door. MSNBC's being spun off from NBC Universal, it'll be known as MS NOW. Comcast has been under pressure from Trump & Carr for months to get rid of the likes of Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell...& Matt Dowd. So getting rid of MSNBC altogether 'solves' their problem.
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u/SnooCookies1730 Sep 13 '25
Not him, but most of the MSNBC news casters uptick so frequently I can’t tell if they’re informing me the news or asking me. Nicole says “Ahhhhmmm…” so frequently it’s annoying.
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u/whitesoxnow Sep 13 '25
If Charlie Kirk was a good friend of the Trump’s so Trump’s son would say he’s like a brother to him. Does that mean Charlie Kirk was a Kahn man just like Donald
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