An email released by WikiLeaks details concerns at the Democratic National Committee over the party’s relationship with MSNBC, describing it as “severely frayed” and discusses plans for a meeting between DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and MSNBC president Phil Griffin aimed at clearing the air. “Ideally we could lower the temperature and seek common ground.”
The email, written in May by DNC communications director Luis Miranda, outlines the strategy for the off-the-record meeting with Griffin, set for the following day:
There had been stories suggesting that MSNBC was in turmoil last year, and they underwent a major shift on programming. There had been rumors that Griffin was going to be fired. However, internal sources suggest he is fine and not going anywhere and MSNBC has seen a significant improvement over last year in ratings.
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Miranda directed Wasserman Schultz to a TVNewser story on MSNBC’s triple-digit ratings increase the previous month.
The “severely frayed” relationship was attributed to the March 9 Democratic primary debate hosted by Univision, which CNN paid to simulcast. The DNC email describes MSNBC as feeling snubbed, with “CNN getting favored treatment.”
In the email, Miranda says the meeting will cover plans for an MSNBC voting rights town hall, but also making clear to Griffin that “we want to have greater collaboration with their team on having the Democratic Party represented on their shows. MSNBC has largely moved to having their contributors and talent do most of the on-air commentary and we don’t get many opportunities to have the Party represented. While Mika won’t be there, you should point out that you’re reaching out to re-engage with her.”
In another email posted on WikiLeaks, Miranda writes about another MSNBC host, Joe Scarborough: “Fucking Joe claiming the system is rigged, party against him, we need to complain to their producer. “