Joe and Mika visited Trump because they were asked to do so by their superiors?

[kentuck]

In my opinion, that is what happened.

They were concerned about the precipitous drop in viewers after the election. So they wanted to get back on the "winning" side and requested Joe and Mika to make the trip to Mar-a-Lago.

They both make a tidy salary from MSNBC. They also want to protect their own interests.

So they kissed the ring.

[Ocelot II]

1. I don't think they had to be asked.

It's more likely that it was their idea and they pitched it to MSNBC.

[kentuck]

6. That is possible...

...but I don't think that is the case.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Whatever the reason, it was out of fear. n/t

[BigMin28]

3. Given their money

They could have walked away, if they were asked by superiors. In which case it's either greed versus principles. Greed won.

[travelingthrulife]

14. They are both old enough to retire if they choose. They are rich.

Pure cowardice to bend the knee. The dead intern would have disappeared again when they had no public platform so Trump's threat would have been dead too.

[Hugin]

4. In the chaotic days right before the election...

Leonard Leo had revealed plans to de-liberalize the media (yeah, I had a bitter chuckle saying that). Much as his efforts had done to the SCrOTUS.

I believe what we’re seeing with MSNBC is part of that effort.

[nycbos]

5. Timothy Snyder an expect on authoritarianism...

… who I think ironically has been on Morning Joe several times, has a book called On Tyranny 20 Lessons From The 20th century. It is well worth a read, especially now.

Lesson number one is “don’t obey in advance.” He talks about how dictators like Hitler and Stalin gain power by people surrendering freedoms without being asked. He calls it anticipatory obedience. This is what Joe and Mika did by kissing the ring.

[Keepthesoulalive]

7. That is an excuse

They could have walked away, they don’t need the money. They just showed everyone they have no principles and their supposed dislike of trump was an act.

[kentuck]

8. They thought they could pull it off..

I have no doubt.

But it seems to have backfired in the most dramatic fashion.

[taxi]

9. With the choices being to willfully kiss the ring, or stay at home, one with the other,

the ring had a busy day in the kissing booth.

[kentuck]

10. Indeed!

Then Trump slapped them down.

[OhioTim]

11. I'm Going To Take A Wait And See Attitude

I've mostly stopped watching TV for now. However, I'm not giving up on MSNBC. It's really the only liberal television outlet. Same with the NY Times. I heard an interview on PBS with the previous editor last week. He spoke of a meeting with him, Bezos and Trump during Trump's first presidency. He said Bezos strongly defended the paper to Trump and said that people cancelling their subscriptions would weaken one of the most important papers in the US which could lead to a sale to someone like Musk or worse.

[Paladin]

12. I'm taking an I Don't Give A Shit attitude. For the time being. (nt)

[kentuck]

13. I'm taking the attitude that we already know what is going to happen...

From what we have witnessed in the past.

And it ain't pretty.

[Paladin]

15. I'm afraid you're correct. (nt)