The NBC network’s logo is a peacock, which seems even more fitting given its affiliated cable news channel MSNBC. The gathering of preening, performative hosts and panelists sometimes outshines even the boldest displays of the network’s avian avatar. One such case occurred Wednesday night, and the closer you examine it, the funnier it becomes.
On “The Beat With Ari Melber,” the moderator invited Donald Trump campaign advisor Corey Lewandowski to appear, and it feels like this was designed as some sort of ambush interview. During the course of the discussion, Melber complained that Lewandowski had been passing along quotes attributed to Melber that were supposedly made during the Republican National Convention (RNC). The moderator became very uncontrolled.
During the discussion, Melber stated that he had previously been misquoted by Fox News and that Lewandowski had repeated quotes that Melber said were misleading. He accused Fox of publishing “a false article” and said firmly that the network was in the wrong.
Lewandowski then read out the controversial quote, which made Melber even angrier. The moderator was stern with his guest: “I’m telling you, if you continue to falsely repeat that I said that, you may end up in a defamation situation – because I did not say that.”
This all revolves around comments Melber made about Donald Trump’s appearance at the convention with a bandage over his ear, with Melber commenting that he was making this a “spectacle.” What Melber seems to mean by this is that in the broadcast from Milwaukee in mid-July, made after opening night, he had quoted from a New York Times article in part of his commentary, possibly suggesting that the quote came from that source and not his own words:
Amazing that @MSNBC‘s Expert @AriMelber tried to accuse @CLewandowski_ of slander for the true reproduction of his words.
1. Lewandowski reads the actual quote
2. Melber vehemently denies this and threatens defamation.Problem: There is a video
1/2 pic.twitter.com/jK7HdBSPO7— LieAbleSources (@LieAbleSources) 29 August 2024
Except that there is both video and printed evidence. The article Melber referred to that evening was this article by Times TV critic James Poniewozik. Melber quoted from the video clip and then added his own commentary, making the exact comments Lewandowski was referring to. Here is Melber’s full segment from the RNC:
Here is Melber’s full segment at the RNC.
You see where he quotes the New York Times and then makes his own comment, and there Lewandowski quoted him correctly.
2/2 pic.twitter.com/UkVuxZ5Hp8— LieAbleSources (@LieAbleSources) 29 August 2024
In that article, the author used the terms “biggest prop” and “poster” in reference to Donald Trump’s first appearance, and Melber provided clips of the article on screen. Nowhere in Poniewozik’s article is the word “spectacle” used, so it is clear that the following comment is Melber’s. He cannot possibly claim to have quoted the Times article.
As for his claim that Fox News was the source that misquoted him, that is also a nonsense claim by Melber. I confirmed with Fox media analyst Joe Concha that Ari was referring to this guest appearance by Concha on “Fox & Friendswho commented on Melber’s coverage of Trump’s appearance. In the clip, Concha not only makes the same quoted references to Melber, but also provided video evidence for the quote.
How Melber can deny this so blatantly despite the obvious video evidence is puzzling. The deciding factor in all this will be that Ari Melber has not filed an actual defamation suit.
