“You’re looking at fan appreciation day!,” jokes Mike Barnicle describing yesterday’s altercation between Washington Nationals teammates Bryce Harper and Jonathan Papelbon. “The whole team should be shut down.” Watch the brawl and listen to Mike’s comments on the struggling MLB team here. Only on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
Ahead of Pope Francis’ address to the United Nations, Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle sums up one of the Pope’s missions: “I view this Pope as a warrior against exclusion.” Watch the discussion on MSNBC between Mike, Father Kevin O’Brien, and Robert Draper, author of “Pope Francis and the New Vatican,” which delves into the Catholic church’s reach beyond its doors and Pope Francis’ substantial transformation of the Vatican.
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle highlights the transcendent tones and themes of Pope Francis’ message to America and how they differ from political candidates who force themselves to rely on focus groups. Watch the conversation here between Mike, NBC News’ Maria Shriver, Father Kevin O’Brien, and Reverend Al Sharpton on the Pope’s focus on joy and mercy and his delicate balance between tradition and progressivism.
“I am not embarrassed to tell you again that it was a hugely emotional moment…,” says Mike describing his experience attending last night’s evening prayer service led by Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. “He epitomizes the roots of the Church, Matthew 25: ‘I was hungry and you fed me….” says Mike of Pope Francis. Watch Mike’s description of the gathering inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral here, along with his perception of what Pope Francis’ all-encompassing approach means for Catholics around the world. Only on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
NBC News’ Tom Brokaw and the Vatican’s Senior Media Advisor Greg Burke join MSNBC’s Morning Joe to talk with Mike Barnicle about Pope Francis’ genuine ability to connect with a wide range of people. “Have you been at all surprised by the impact the Pope has had on the United States?,” asks Mike. Listen in on the conversation, and some good-natured teasing of Mike about his inner “altar boy.”
Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle continues the conversation on what sets Pope Francis apart from previous popes, including Pope John Paul II. “There is an aura to this man that is unmistakable,” says Mike after seeing Pope Francis in New York City. “This Pope is really about the fundamental core of the Catholic church: Help those who need help the most, the least among us,” explains Mike. Listen to Mike’s comments on Pope Francis’ Jesuit philosophy, inclusive message, and the memories triggered by his halting English. Only on MSNBC.
“To come into a beautiful building… a Cathedral built with the hands, labor, and love of immigrants in a very young country at the time it was constructed…. I am not embarrassed to tell you that I had tears in my eyes as this Pope came down the center aisle of the Cathedral past school teachers, day laborers, nuns, doctors, and billionaires, all trying to reach out. And what he brought with him is what he brought to each appearance in this country thus far—joy,” says Mike of his experience attending an evening prayer service led by Pope Francis inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Listen to Mike describe the encounter and discuss his own Catholic faith. Only on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
The MSNBC Morning Joe conversation turns to President Barack Obama’s hosting of Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Jeffrey Sachs, economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, joining the panel to talk with Mike Barnicle about a pending climate pact between the U.S. and China. “There’s an awful lot of doubt within certain economic circles, especially here in the U.S., about the actual strength of the Chinese economy and whether their numbers are accurate. So, if this agreement is even halfway implanted, what does it cost the Chinese? What does it do to their economy?,” asks Mike. Listen to Dr. Sachs’ list the motives for why a climate agreement with the U.S. can only be beneficial for China in the long term. Sachs will also participate in this weekend’s Global Citizen Festival, a movement designed to fight inequality, protect the planet, and end extreme poverty, hosted by Willie Geist, airing live on MSNBC.
As Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush continues to struggle across several polls and stumble in dealing with questions of race, Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle talks with the Reverend Al Sharpton and NPR’s Cokie Roberts about the disconnect between many politicians and the real needs of the black community. “In this period of time in our country’s recent history, we’ve seen Ferguson, Charleston, Baltimore…. How can people dealing in politics, trying to attract minority votes, be so tone-deaf to something that’s right in front of all of us?,” asks Mike. Watch the conversation here on the challenges faced by new voting laws in the South and comparisons of Jeb Bush’s oblivious comments to those made by presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the previous election cycle. On MSNBC.
“There’s no hesitancy in Bernie Sanders when he’s delivering the message. If you see him in the form, wherever he is, there’s total belief in his message and people buy it,” says Mike Barnicle of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), who has surged past fellow candidate Hillary Clinton in the primary polls out of New Hampshire. Listen to Mike’s comments on Sen. Sanders’ conviction here. Only on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
Jim Vandehei, President and CEO of Politico, joins MSNBC’s Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about leading Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and Carly Fiorina and their influence on the rest of the Republican field. “Is there any danger, lethal danger, to the Republican field because of what is happening with [outsider candidates]?,” asks Mike. Listen to Vendehei’s analysis of Republican candidates here and why he thinks Donald Trump will ultimately not be the nominee.
Ahead of Pope Francis’ joint address to Congress, Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle talks with U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), who once served as a Catholic missionary in Honduras, about the perception of the Pope’s message. “The Pope addressing the Congress will be the only person in that room who is not a candidate… and will be speaking about the social justice doctrine that is Catholicism. Is it possible, that many people listening to him will try and realize that the Pope, while he’ll say some things that are going to be perceived as political, is basically talking about the tenets of the Catholic faith?,” asks Mike. Listen to Sen. Kaine’s response here and why he thinks the Pope’s message will raise expectations among members of Congress.
As Pope Francis continues to get to know America and capture people’s imagination along the way, TIME Magazine’s Nancy Gibbs talks with Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle about the magazine’s latest cover story on the Pope’s historic visit. “To the contention on whether the Pope is liberal or conservative… he’s a pastor, that’s how he views himself. What we do, through our prism here in this country as members of the media, is try to put people in certain categories, but he’s not bound to any one category. He’s very sophisticated in the way he approaches all of the issues,” says Mike of Pope Francis. Watch the full discussion on MSNBC and read the story at https://ti.me/1G5y94q.
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle asks leading Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump about hiring practices at his The Mar-A-Lago Club estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and his recent comments on the death of the American dream. “You’re doing very well in Florida and you’ve activated a talk on immigration… but CBS Miami reports that you’ve requested, at Mar-A-Lago, anywhere from 70 to 90 H2B visas a year to hire workers at an average pay of $10 to $12 per hour. Why would you be importing workers from overseas rather than hiring workers from Florida?,” asks Mike of Trump. Listen to Trump’s response here.
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle reacts to the latest news headlines, including Pope Francis’ visit to America. “It was a huge day for the country. The Pope’s tone and demeanor brings a pacifying effect to our politics, which are inflamed on both sides… He’s a peaceful, holy man with a message that is nearly eternal,” says Mike of the Pope. Watch the conversation about the Pope’s historic visit here.
Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle talks with Republican presidential candidate Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) about the situation inside Syria in the fight against ISIS, now complicated further by a rising Russian presence. “There is a growing consensus that Syria is already a failed state and a growing consensus that Jordan, under siege by refugees, is in danger of collapsing. So, as unattractive as it might seem to many people, is it not a possibility that the best immediate strategy is to realize that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is going to be there for a while and to work out some structure with the Russians on the ground to have al-Assad lead whatever is left of Syria for several months—and then have him depart?,” asks Mike. Listen to the discussion and Senator Graham’s admission that there are no good options right now. On MSNBC.
Jim Miklaszewski, chief Pentagon correspondent for NBC News, joins MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss a recent New York Times story that reports that some U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan have been instructed to ignore the sexual abuse of young boys by Afghan allies. “These allegations in the New York Times have been reported just recently, but you’ve heard anecdotal evidence from troops in Afghanistan, coming back from Afghanistan after multiple tours, who in talking about the country, where they live for months at a time, report widespread abuse. You’ve heard this for years…,” remarks Mike. Listen to the discussion here and read the report at https://nyti.ms/1gSc5n7.
Continuing the conversation about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s slide in the polls due to her ongoing email controversy, Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle analyzes the overall frustration with Clinton campaign’s approach: “I’m like a lot of people, lost in the maze of emails. I am now focused on the perception that she has fed, that has led to the frailty of her campaign, as to why haven’t they just dumped out all the emails….’Here they are!’ If they are so competent, which they are in many other aspects, politically and personally, then why didn’t they just dump all these emails out? What are they hiding?.” Watch the discussion on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
William McCants, a fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy and director of the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World at the Brookings Institution, joins MSNBC’s Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about the rise of ISIS and the findings in his new book “The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State.” Mike asks McCants: “How much of the recruitment by ISIS—the lure of ISIS—is geared to the fact that they are so brutally violent, as opposed to Al Qaeda…?,” Hear McCants insight here and watch the discussion on the complex fight against ISIS inside Syria.
“What percentage of Americans would say ‘no’ to the following poll question: ‘Do you think a Muslim ought to be president of the United States?’,” ponders Mike Barnicle on MSNBC’s Morning Joe in reaction to controversial views on both the Republican and Democratic parties. “The problem for the Republican party is Ben Carson has distorted this election for a period of time,” continues Mike reflecting on Republican presidential candidate Carson’s negative, generalized statements against Muslims. Watch the conversation here. On MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
