MSNBC’s veteran cable host Lawrence O’Donnell is facing fierce backlash for his eye-rolling excuse why he’s taking a week off work.
O’Donnell moaned about being “exhausted” in a cringeworthy on-air conversation with co-anchor Rachel Maddow.
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O’Donnell stopped by Maddow’s primetime show on Thursday evening to complain about keeping up with President Donald Trump’s first days in office.
“I thought it was day 92, but it’s only day 52,” he said as Maddow chuckled.
“So, I’m going to take next week off.”
He explained that he didn’t want to “drift away” without giving Maddow a heads-up, knowing she wouldn’t be happy with his sudden absence.
“I know you have pledged to cover and be here for the first hundred days of the Trump presidency,” O’Donnell said.
“I hope you noticed that I did not make that same pledge.”
Maddow indulged in her coworker’s rant and encouraged him to “pace yourself” for the long haul.
O’Donnell shared he was kicking off his week early by taking Friday off, to which Maddow jokingly responded, “Take me with you. Can I go with you?”
DIVIDED OVER TWEET
O’Donnell’s announcement sparked outrage on social media, with people accusing him of using his “privilege” to take a break over political fatigue.
“He’s exhausted from cognitive dissonance. He’s determined to cast DJT as a bad guy, but the facts don’t fit the narrative he’s committed to,” one user said.
“It feels so good to see these people going through the same hopelessness and despair we all felt for 4 years under Biden,” added another user.
“Take Maddow with you and hey – feel free to take an indefinite amount of time – no rush to return,” said a user.
Another person wrote, “It’s called vacation, he just had to politicize it, like they do with everything Trump.
“Perhaps it is just exhaustion from having to make up all the crap they come up with and do it with a straight face.”
MSNBC hosts
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While some defended O’Donnell’s decision, acknowledging the toll of constant political coverage, others weren’t as sympathetic.
“It sounds like the constant stress of covering such a contentious period really took a toll.
“Taking a mental health break is important for anyone facing burnout,” one tweet read.
O’Donnell, a strong supporter of Joe Biden, has been an outspoken critic of Trump throughout his presidency.
He was one of the last journalists to interview Biden before he left office.
Meanwhile, Maddow’s show, which once drew 2.3 million viewers, has suffered a significant ratings slump, dropping to 1.8 million viewers since Trump won the election, according to Fox News.
Maddow, who signed a $25 million contract with MSNBC, agreed to host more shows to cover Trump’s first 100 days.
She is expected to return to a reduced schedule in April, hosting just one show per week.
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