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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMark Halperin 'Threatened' MSNBC Chief Phil Griffin for Nixing His Comeback
Disgraced political pundit Mark Halperin was very unhappy when MSNBC brass nixed his attempt to repair his career through a possible collaboration with the stars of Morning Joe. So he picked up the phone and called network chief Phil Griffin.
It did not go well.
Multiple sources tell The Daily Beast that the conversation earlier this year became acrimonious, with Halperin dishing up vague threats against his former boss.MSNBC declined to comment on the episode. But MSNBC insiders said Griffin was furious about the conversation and wouldnt likely take Halperins calls in the future. The hostile exchange was a sign of Halperins frustration that his dream of returning to the punditry businessalmost two years after numerous women came forward with stories of sexual misconducthas been thwarted at each turn.
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And then when Halperins pals Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski sought to collaborate with him on an online-only MSNBC broadcast analyzing the 2018 midterm elections, network brass shut down the entire plan. The failed scheme caused consternation within the buildingEverybody was going WTF!, one MSNBC insider told The Daily Beastand ultimately led to Halperins hostile call with Griffin.
Not only has Halperins career revival been curbed by his own ex-employer, its been poorly received by the public at large.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)Hes kinda nasty.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)Never liked Halperin even before that...
rsdsharp
(9,035 posts)I think he called Obama a "Richard."
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)would simply go into retirement and not want to be back in the public eye.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)Not just for sexually assaulting staffers and calling Obama a "dick" (for which MSNBC temporarily suspended him) and apparently having anger management issues even when pleading with superiors to get his job back, but for being a petulant right-wing toady who will gladly twist the facts to defend his beloved GOP.
And shame on Mika & Joe for defending him.
Gothmog
(143,999 posts)Scum bucket is a good description for this asshole
50 Shades Of Blue
(9,771 posts)UTUSN
(70,494 posts)Moostache
(9,895 posts)To steal from Lethal Weapon 2:
"Who is the dickhead now?"
HipChick
(25,485 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Never say never. Just come up with a better idea, Mark. Phil Griffin will help rehabilitate you. Your voice must have a national platform as a vital contributor to the scene!
Gothmog
(143,999 posts)I am very glad that MSNBC will not put this asshole back on TV
OnDoutside
(19,906 posts)learnt nothing. He's still the smarmy, violent asshole we remember.
hlthe2b
(101,711 posts)but, I guess he's not likely to be caught up in a female sexual harassment scandal, so apparently he's now a Morning "SCHMOE" regular.
OnDoutside
(19,906 posts)CommonSenseMom
(43 posts)at the Boca Raton broadcast of Morning Joe when the 2012 debate was happening at Lynn U. I went very early (pre-dawn) to get a good spot to watch them. All the others, Joe, Mika, Willy, Michael Steele, etc., came out into the crowd outside and talked to us, shook hands, were very nice. Halperin later had to walk through the crowd to get inside for his slotted time & he was so rude to everyone. Wouldn't smile, wouldn't wave - practically sneered at the Morning Joe fans. Can't say it surprised me then, and the news about him since hasn't either. He came across as a real dickhead.
hlthe2b
(101,711 posts)Ilsa
(61,675 posts)I'm disappointed that she didn't. I don't even want to think about what Joe Scab was considering.
hlthe2b
(101,711 posts)and I would also suspect he does so because he may have engaged in similar behavior himself--just a suspicion, mind you. Mika, for all her protestations, seems to "go along to get along" far too often.
aaaaaa5a
(4,667 posts)This is the same woman who joined Joe Scarborough in fawning all over Trump during the 2016 elections. They didnt turn against him until the crazy man kicked them to the curb. Now we all watch their show and are supposed to forget the hours of great, free, unchallenged publicity they gave Trump during the campaign.
This is just another example of Mika and Morning Joe playing us to be fools.
Sure, Mika is all for helping women as long as she can sell a book on it. But when it comes time to work with creeps... shes all for it if it will help her ratings.
Mark Halperin not only harassed women in the workplace, but also called Obama a dck on live TV.
MSNBC was right to nix the idea.