During a live broadcast on Thursday evening, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell engaged in a
somewhat awkward and overly dramatic conversation with his colleague, Rachel Maddow, where he lamented about feeling “exhausted” from covering President Donald Trump’s first weeks in office. O’Donnell, a seasoned journalist and television host, joined Maddow’s
primetime show to air his grievances about the demanding pace of political news under the Trump administration.
“I honestly thought we were at day 92, but in reality, it’s only day 52,” O’Donnell sighed as Maddow chuckled at his remark.
Acknowledging his mounting fatigue, O’Donnell then announced his decision to take a break. “So, I’m going to take next week off,” he stated, expressing the need to step away from the relentless news cycle. However, he was quick to assure Maddow that he wasn’t planning to disappear without a heads-up, knowing she might not be pleased with his sudden absence. “I know you have committed to covering and being here for the first hundred days of Trump’s presidency,” O’Donnell continued. “I hope you noticed that I did not make that same pledge.”
Maddow, seemingly amused by her colleague’s admission, encouraged him to be mindful of his stamina, advising, “Pace yourself for the long haul.” The two shared a lighthearted exchange, with O’Donnell revealing that he was starting his break early by taking Friday off as well. Maddow jokingly responded, “Take me with you. Can I go with you?”
While the conversation may have been intended as a casual and humorous moment between two co-anchors, O’Donnell’s announcement quickly sparked backlash on social media. Critics accused him of flaunting his privilege by opting for a vacation, citing political fatigue as the reason. Many viewers were unimpressed, questioning why a journalist covering such an important time in politics would choose to step away.
“He’s exhausted from cognitive dissonance,” one social media user commented. “He’s determined to cast Trump as the bad guy, but the facts don’t fit the narrative he’s pushing.” Another user expressed satisfaction at seeing journalists struggle with the same sense of disillusionment they claimed to have experienced under Biden’s administration. “It feels so good to see these people going through the same hopelessness and despair we all felt for four years under Biden,” the commenter wrote.
Others were even more critical, suggesting that O’Donnell’s departure should be permanent. “Take Maddow with you and hey—feel free to take an indefinite amount of time off—no rush to return,” one person remarked. Another social media user ridiculed the entire situation, stating, “It’s called a vacation. He just had to politicize it, like they do with everything Trump.”
The backlash continued, with some accusing the media of fabricating narratives to fit their political leanings. “Perhaps it’s just exhaustion from having to make up all the crap they come up with and do it with a straight face,” one individual speculated.
Despite the wave of criticism, some people came to O’Donnell’s defense, pointing out the mental toll of covering a deeply divisive political climate. “It sounds like the constant stress of covering such a contentious period really took a toll,” one tweet read. “Taking a mental health break is important for anyone facing burnout.”
O’Donnell has been a vocal supporter of President Joe Biden and an outspoken critic of Trump throughout the latter’s presidency. His coverage has often reflected his deep disapproval of Trump’s policies and leadership style. Notably, O’Donnell was one of the last journalists to secure an interview with Biden before he left office, further cementing his stance in the political landscape.
Meanwhile, Maddow’s show, once a dominant force in primetime television with an audience of 2.3 million viewers, has experienced a noticeable decline in viewership. Since Trump’s election victory, her ratings have dropped to 1.8 million, according to a Fox News report. Despite this dip, Maddow remains committed to delivering political coverage, having signed a lucrative $25 million contract with MSNBC. As part of the agreement, she pledged to increase her on-air presence to cover Trump’s first 100 days in office. However, reports suggest that she will soon revert to a reduced schedule, hosting only one show per week starting in April.
The exchange between O’Donnell and Maddow serves as a reminder of the demanding nature of political journalism, particularly in an era marked by extreme polarization and rapid news cycles. While some viewers sympathized with O’Donnell’s decision to take a break, others saw it as an unnecessary indulgence, revealing the deep divide in how political media figures are perceived by the public. Whether his absence will have any long-term impact remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: in the world of 24-hour news, the show will always go on.
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