When early reports surfaced that a shot had been fired at a Charlie Kirk event in Utah, MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd went on air and said something that cost him his job:
I am an adult, and as such, can listen to someone’s opinions and process them, while perhaps not agreeing with them.
Given Mr. Kirk’s well-documented racist, anti-LBGTG+, sexist, and authoritarian viewpoints, Matthew Dowd was neither wrong nor too honest. IMHO, it was cowardly of MSNBC to fire him.
I agree wholeheartedly. Too many people have been characterizing the act of recounting Charlie Kirk's "well-documented racist, anti-LBGTG+, sexist, and authoritarian viewpoints" as representing the opinion that his murder was justified.
It helps, I suppose, when people first emphatically decry the murder before quoting, with disagreement, the murdered. It sure beats extolling the murdered without recognizing who he denigrated.
You summed up my thoughts on this situation very well. I prefer to look at truth in my life, but I find that is not what society teaches or rewards. It feels like truth has been pushed to a fringe product because it can't be monetized.
MSNBC wasn't high on my list of trustworthy sources to begin with, but they are now completely off my list of any interest whatsoever.
I’m also an adult and would add intelligent, well read, educated and thank God, curious. Consequently, I have 4 search engines on my phone (Perplexity, a free app, is my favorite as it makes it so easy to ask follow up questions which I often have.); can you tell I used to be a researcher?
Violence can never be condoned. I had heard the name Charlie Kirk but knew nothing about him or his rhetoric but I do understand human nature. It is so easy to pander to people’s worst instincts, to get them to hate others. During the Biden presidency, dRumpf (I prefer to use his grandfather’s spelling to remind all of his German heritage) had his people kill the bipartisan deal about immigration & border security as he wanted to run on that issue and it worked as it played into people’s fears & the latent racism still ‘alive & well’ in our country.
I LOVE people who love research! I wish we could bring our phones/laptops to a coffee house and just research the hours away while sharing with each other. We could overload on caffeine and knowledge, a hangover that would be worth it. 🥳
Truth…and the Pedodent throws truth to the ground daily. He has trained CK and his cult well on what to be shocked over. It’s purposeful and will destroy our country if he and they aren’t removed from power.
Completely agree. Don’t you find it incredibly ironic that he named his messaging app Truth Social as if by naming it that that everyone would believe his words, or those writing on his behalf. He’s the 3rd generation of liars and grifters and while his grandfather died before he was born, he learned well racism, misogyny & thievery at the knee of his autocratic father.
Good stuff...needs to be said. i have a list of horrific things Charlie said. Yes, i might have been too soon for TV but it still needs to be heard...and how about the 95 dems that voted yea on the resolution honoring CK?
Saying no would have caused even more attacks against the left. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. They control the narrative. We need to start honoring our fallen and see how they respond.
Another shooting at a New Hampshire country club - 1 killed, multiple other victims. When are we going to have some reasonable gun control. In the late 1990s, Australia did it in 12 days after a shooting killed 35 people & injured many others.
That is the pivotal point that I see - the Reich currently controls the narrative. That needs to change, and I will keep doing my part to dent their story on person at a time.
Right out of the gate, tRump slams, blames, vilifies the "radical left." But Matthew Dowd loses his job because he dared to mention the cultists' hate speech? Same with Jimmy Kimmel.
He did not justify murder only stated facts. I can not believe he was fired over this. Brian Kmeade at Fox called for murdering the homeless with no repercussions.
I think msnbc needs a new president that’s not so rash in their decision making. If you don’t want to hear what the analysts have to offer then don’t invite them on. Just deliver the news, the facts.
The world today is upside down. Backward. Truth is frowned upon. Lies are elevated. I think of Walter Cronkite, Edward R Murrow, Peter Jennings of the great news pioneers tradition and other great news people of the past. What the main stream news media has become a
makes me mourn the loss of truth and integrity. President's and CEOs of media today are cowards and whimps. Thank God for Substack writers like this one.
Other journalists have also moved over. One of my favorites is Professor Heather Cox Richardson who is not a journalist but a historian and writes a daily column called Letters From an American (she has a YouTube channel as well). She speaks of current events and links it back to historical events. She can be found here on SubStack and on Facebook. I always find her interesting & I don’t think she has said a positive thing about the orange buffoon, certainly not during this term.
True. The talking heads on TV have turned transitional banter into opininated quips after every story, no matter what it is. They also rate the stories and their colleagues' delivery as part of their opinion, which segues into more spirited opinion & debate. ugh
I agree with the comments here. Hate can not be ignored. When you speak the truth you have to be ready for whatever comes back.
Matthew has always spoken his mind. It was his choice. He could have waited a bit but who knows for sure if even that would have made his employer's action different.
and here we are two weeks in September and Jimmy Kimmel gets fired for criticizing Trump about Charlie’s death! Just goes to prove that the USA is heading towards a dictatorship. So happy to be a Canadian.
MSNBC is essentially no different from other corporate media. I haven't heard one word of defense for Dowd by any of the other paid colleagues of Dowd.
Exactly. Lots of criticism and hand wringing over Kimmel and Colbert, but not one word about Matthew Doud. I thought at least we’d hear sbout the unfairness of his firing from Rachel Maddow or Lawrence O’Donnel. But, no. Crickets. Fear is a terrible thing.
Well said. It strikes me as incomprehensible how 'truth' has become lost in all this. "Hateful thoughts do become hateful words, and hateful words can become hateful acts.” Its perfectly OK to state the facts as we know them. Our job is to somehow change this narrative and subsitute kindness, compassion and empathy for hate. It needs to start young. Oh naiive me at age 70?
Processing two things at the same time isn't hard, unless you are unable to chew gum and walk. Context should always be included in commentary, it was.
Many news programs begin with an introduction such as Hi, I’m Mary E and welcome to [name of show or network].
Perhaps, going forward, all comments on a death/murder, as Mr. Dowd’s were, can begin with:
‘let me take a moment to express, what at this time, is most important, that is my sincere condolences to the family, to the friends, to the supporters/followers of [deceased].’
Then, comments such as Mr. Dowd made can be presented. Then again, perhaps because I agree 100% with Mr Dowd’s comments, I don’t fully grasp Ms Kutler’s decision.
Matt was responding to Katie Turr's ask for Matt to respond to the news of the CK murder. Matt's response was honest, true and I thought his immediate response to Katie's request was not mocking, blaming or a lie, delivered with empathy and fact. If our "leaders" - corporate, higher ed, business, etc cannot respond to any un-presidential, un-American threats delivered by a bully by stiffening their spines, defending their employees and instead, doing what the bully wants, then our country is much closer to edge than we're willing to admit.
I am an adult, and as such, can listen to someone’s opinions and process them, while perhaps not agreeing with them.
Given Mr. Kirk’s well-documented racist, anti-LBGTG+, sexist, and authoritarian viewpoints, Matthew Dowd was neither wrong nor too honest. IMHO, it was cowardly of MSNBC to fire him.
I agree wholeheartedly. Too many people have been characterizing the act of recounting Charlie Kirk's "well-documented racist, anti-LBGTG+, sexist, and authoritarian viewpoints" as representing the opinion that his murder was justified.
It helps, I suppose, when people first emphatically decry the murder before quoting, with disagreement, the murdered. It sure beats extolling the murdered without recognizing who he denigrated.
You summed up my thoughts on this situation very well. I prefer to look at truth in my life, but I find that is not what society teaches or rewards. It feels like truth has been pushed to a fringe product because it can't be monetized.
MSNBC wasn't high on my list of trustworthy sources to begin with, but they are now completely off my list of any interest whatsoever.
Well said.
Thank you, Susan. And I want to state my unequivocal belief that political violence in any form is completely unacceptable.
I’m also an adult and would add intelligent, well read, educated and thank God, curious. Consequently, I have 4 search engines on my phone (Perplexity, a free app, is my favorite as it makes it so easy to ask follow up questions which I often have.); can you tell I used to be a researcher?
Violence can never be condoned. I had heard the name Charlie Kirk but knew nothing about him or his rhetoric but I do understand human nature. It is so easy to pander to people’s worst instincts, to get them to hate others. During the Biden presidency, dRumpf (I prefer to use his grandfather’s spelling to remind all of his German heritage) had his people kill the bipartisan deal about immigration & border security as he wanted to run on that issue and it worked as it played into people’s fears & the latent racism still ‘alive & well’ in our country.
I LOVE people who love research! I wish we could bring our phones/laptops to a coffee house and just research the hours away while sharing with each other. We could overload on caffeine and knowledge, a hangover that would be worth it. 🥳
Agree 100%. I couldn’t have expressed my views more succinctly than your response.
That's my position as well.
Truth…and the Pedodent throws truth to the ground daily. He has trained CK and his cult well on what to be shocked over. It’s purposeful and will destroy our country if he and they aren’t removed from power.
Completely agree. Don’t you find it incredibly ironic that he named his messaging app Truth Social as if by naming it that that everyone would believe his words, or those writing on his behalf. He’s the 3rd generation of liars and grifters and while his grandfather died before he was born, he learned well racism, misogyny & thievery at the knee of his autocratic father.
The Pedodent! Brilliant!
Good stuff...needs to be said. i have a list of horrific things Charlie said. Yes, i might have been too soon for TV but it still needs to be heard...and how about the 95 dems that voted yea on the resolution honoring CK?
Exactly! What the hell with their decision?!
Are you REALLY surprised? I'm not. He was one of them, right up the stinky orange ass.
Saying no would have caused even more attacks against the left. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. They control the narrative. We need to start honoring our fallen and see how they respond.
Another shooting at a New Hampshire country club - 1 killed, multiple other victims. When are we going to have some reasonable gun control. In the late 1990s, Australia did it in 12 days after a shooting killed 35 people & injured many others.
That is the pivotal point that I see - the Reich currently controls the narrative. That needs to change, and I will keep doing my part to dent their story on person at a time.
Right out of the gate, tRump slams, blames, vilifies the "radical left." But Matthew Dowd loses his job because he dared to mention the cultists' hate speech? Same with Jimmy Kimmel.
There is a double standard! Whatever dRumpf says, goes, regardless of his proven lies.
He did not justify murder only stated facts. I can not believe he was fired over this. Brian Kmeade at Fox called for murdering the homeless with no repercussions.
See above comment!
I think msnbc needs a new president that’s not so rash in their decision making. If you don’t want to hear what the analysts have to offer then don’t invite them on. Just deliver the news, the facts.
That would mean journalists would have the ability to discover facts and not have one hand tied behind their backs.
Can you imagine such a world? Oh wait, I grew up in a time before the 24 hour news cycle that had to be filled with talking head opinions.
The world today is upside down. Backward. Truth is frowned upon. Lies are elevated. I think of Walter Cronkite, Edward R Murrow, Peter Jennings of the great news pioneers tradition and other great news people of the past. What the main stream news media has become a
makes me mourn the loss of truth and integrity. President's and CEOs of media today are cowards and whimps. Thank God for Substack writers like this one.
The news greats of yore would be appalled at what our news has become. Dan Rather is still around and on Substack, and speaks often of it.
Other journalists have also moved over. One of my favorites is Professor Heather Cox Richardson who is not a journalist but a historian and writes a daily column called Letters From an American (she has a YouTube channel as well). She speaks of current events and links it back to historical events. She can be found here on SubStack and on Facebook. I always find her interesting & I don’t think she has said a positive thing about the orange buffoon, certainly not during this term.
I've been subbed to her for a good while now. I love how she ties history in to current events.
True. The talking heads on TV have turned transitional banter into opininated quips after every story, no matter what it is. They also rate the stories and their colleagues' delivery as part of their opinion, which segues into more spirited opinion & debate. ugh
He should not have been fired but we live in a world where shareholder value is more important than the truth.
I agree with the comments here. Hate can not be ignored. When you speak the truth you have to be ready for whatever comes back.
Matthew has always spoken his mind. It was his choice. He could have waited a bit but who knows for sure if even that would have made his employer's action different.
and here we are two weeks in September and Jimmy Kimmel gets fired for criticizing Trump about Charlie’s death! Just goes to prove that the USA is heading towards a dictatorship. So happy to be a Canadian.
Are you open to adopting an American refugee? I'm house trained. ;)
Me too, and so are my dogs!
Me too. But Canada wants $2 million to let me in because I'm retired.
Thanks for the laugh!! I’m alone and laughed out loud.
MSNBC is essentially no different from other corporate media. I haven't heard one word of defense for Dowd by any of the other paid colleagues of Dowd.
Exactly. Lots of criticism and hand wringing over Kimmel and Colbert, but not one word about Matthew Doud. I thought at least we’d hear sbout the unfairness of his firing from Rachel Maddow or Lawrence O’Donnel. But, no. Crickets. Fear is a terrible thing.
Me neither and I find that disturbing.
Well said. It strikes me as incomprehensible how 'truth' has become lost in all this. "Hateful thoughts do become hateful words, and hateful words can become hateful acts.” Its perfectly OK to state the facts as we know them. Our job is to somehow change this narrative and subsitute kindness, compassion and empathy for hate. It needs to start young. Oh naiive me at age 70?
I'm right there with you, 70 right around the corner, always hoping for a world that is peaceful, kind, and generous- as opposed to cruel and greedy.
Dowd was right.
Processing two things at the same time isn't hard, unless you are unable to chew gum and walk. Context should always be included in commentary, it was.
My problem is that I can't even fathom a world where this is a question to debate. Hate kills. Full stop.
Many news programs begin with an introduction such as Hi, I’m Mary E and welcome to [name of show or network].
Perhaps, going forward, all comments on a death/murder, as Mr. Dowd’s were, can begin with:
‘let me take a moment to express, what at this time, is most important, that is my sincere condolences to the family, to the friends, to the supporters/followers of [deceased].’
Then, comments such as Mr. Dowd made can be presented. Then again, perhaps because I agree 100% with Mr Dowd’s comments, I don’t fully grasp Ms Kutler’s decision.
I'd omit condolences to his followers. They made their choices; they can comfort each other. He himself claimed empathy is woke and they cheered.
Matt was responding to Katie Turr's ask for Matt to respond to the news of the CK murder. Matt's response was honest, true and I thought his immediate response to Katie's request was not mocking, blaming or a lie, delivered with empathy and fact. If our "leaders" - corporate, higher ed, business, etc cannot respond to any un-presidential, un-American threats delivered by a bully by stiffening their spines, defending their employees and instead, doing what the bully wants, then our country is much closer to edge than we're willing to admit.
You can’t change the truth