MSNBC's Rachel Maddow has won numerous awards for her compelling approach to current events, usually contextualizing them with decades of historical receipts. She's also known for being a thorn in the side of conservative politicians.
So when Maddow announced she'd be taking a brief hiatus from her primetime MSNBC show, conservatives rejoiced, claiming victory over the "owning" of another "Lib."
Former President Donald Trump's son, Don Jr., was among those conservatives.
Seems the TRUTH finally broke her!
Rachel Maddow to take break from MSNBC to produce film: report https://t.co/5orWwyZD89
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 1, 2022
There's just one problem: the reason for Maddow's hiatus isn't because "the TRUTH finally broke her!" It's actually far from controversial.
In 2018—the middle of Trump's first term—Maddow began hosting a podcast called Bag Man. It details the crimes of Richard Nixon's Vice President, Spiro Agnew. As the Watergate scandal heated up, Agnew was being investigated for extortion, bribery, and other crimes that may have taken place during his tenure as Governor of Maryland. Agnew famously decried the investigation and the basis for charges, arguing that a sitting Vice President couldn't be indicted (sound familiar?). Agnew eventually resigned the Vice Presidency. After a secret plea deal, Agnew pled no contest to a single tax-related felony and spent three years under probation.
Maddow's podcast on the scandal has been widely successful, being turned into a book and, now, a film from Focus Features, which Maddow is taking the hiatus to executive produce.
So Don Jr.'s attempt to smear the anchor on Twitter was apparently made without all the facts or even a modicum of self-awareness—something Maddow's account soon noted in the replies.
LOL do you think he knows it's a film about a criminal in the White House? And... prosecuting him? For crimes?
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) February 2, 2022
Donald Trump himself, as well as the Trump Organization (which Donald Trump Jr. oversees), are under multiple investigations. A grand jury has been impaneled in Fulton County, Georgia, where its District Attorney has been investigating Trump's pressure campaign to overturn President Joe Biden's victory in the state of Georgia. Meanwhile, the Trump Organization is taking heat from New York's Attorney General, who's accused the Trump Org of “fraudulent or misleading asset valuations to obtain a host of economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions.”
And let's not forget the House Select Committee investigating Trump's actions and the origins of the deadly failed insurrection his 2020 smear campaign incited.
People adored the shadiness of Maddow's response.
LMAO! Rachel Maddow at her best! https://t.co/0DHDHZCibE
— Reclaiming my time🍀🌊 (@OconnellTherese) February 2, 2022
Omg... Loving her even more now after that 🔥 🔥 🔥 https://t.co/IDefQ6Xnth pic.twitter.com/SXEOlLEmGL
— Texas 🩴 Mist (@SuperWoman045) February 2, 2022
Rachel Maddow is a legend. pic.twitter.com/TmQsLggVgH
— don't.give.a.chic 🌊✈️ (@LanePenny007) February 2, 2022
Jr may draw some parallels from Rachel's film. 😏 https://t.co/gcWmJw7LG3
— Barb: Stop Fascism 💙🌞 🌺 🌞💙 (@BBopTop) February 2, 2022
{{{{Chef’s kiss}}}} https://t.co/FzI4mbYGKH
— Laura Faught (@FaughtLA) February 2, 2022
They soon joined her in mocking Don Jr.'s attempt at trolling.
Do you think he even knows who Spiro Agnew was?
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) February 2, 2022
Gosh, you’re dumb. Like, PAINFULLY so. #Sheesh!
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 2, 2022
Old Faithful... https://t.co/BDs0bWzzB2 pic.twitter.com/qyeXncJ0e6
— Savage Mom, M.A.🏳️🌈🌹 (@_Savage_Mom_) February 2, 2022
And just like that, you got dragged thru the internets... 😂 https://t.co/CtfCTA47U3
— Jay ~ Vote Blue 💙 (@JustAHuskerGal) February 2, 2022
Maddow will be back and hosting her primetime show in April.
