Entries from Jun 2015
Mike Barnicle: “the Mick Jagger of the Morning Joe set”

On Morning Joe, watch how the conversation shifts from Gov. Chris Christie, to scouting analogies, to Mike Barnicle being referred to as “the Mick Jagger of the Morning Joe set” in under a minute! Only on MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle and the Morning Joe panel discuss Gov. Chris Christie

Following Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) formally announcing his candidacy for president, Mike Barnicle and the Morning Joe panel discuss how Christie’s abrasive personality will be a factor in his run for the White House. “Over a long period of time, I don’t think [Gov. Christie’s personality] works quite as well. He is a terrific inside politician, one-on-one, but the abrasive stuff—‘sit down, shut up!’—I don’t think that flies,” says Mike. Watch the conversation on Gov. Christie’s campaign potential here. On MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle tries to get at the root of Greece’s debt crisis

As Greece’s debt crisis amplifies within the Eurozone, Mike Barnicle tries to get at the root of the problem on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “Is part of the issue perhaps that the euro was contrived? It came out of what was supposed to be a political union rather than an economic union, and then the economics of it became a priority over the politics,” explains Mike of the situation in the European Union. Watch the discussion here.

“You can’t underestimate the impact of social media on judicial change....

“You can’t underestimate the impact of social media on judicial change. Had the [16th Street Baptist Church bombing] (1963) occurred at a time of Skype and Twitter it would have been different,” says Mike of the relatively rapid changes enacted by the U.S. Supreme Court recently. Listen in on the Morning Joe discussion on the growing support for same-sex marriage over the last decade, which ultimately concluded with the Supreme Court’s approval on Friday. On MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle on President Barack Obama’s approval rating growing

On Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle and the panel discuss a new CNN/ORC poll that shows President Barack Obama’s approval rating growing, including a 52% approval of his handling of the economy. “I harken back to the interview in Marc Maron’s garage when [President Obama] said: ‘I am now fearless.’ He is a free man and people sense he is much stronger. He’s won a couple of things. Last Friday’s (speech) performance was electric for the country. All of those combine to give people a much more comfortable feeling about the president than two, three or four months ago,” says Mike of the public’s renewed confidence in President Obama. Watch the discussion here. On MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle on concerns over negotiations with Iran

In the wake of the U.S. and other powers missing today’s deadline for a nuclear deal with Iran, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), member of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about concerns over negotiations with Iran. Listen to Rep. McCaul’s remarks here, along with a follow up conversation on domestic terrorism alarms inside the U.S. Only on MSNBC.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the New York prison break

On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo compared the New York prison break to a Hollywood movie and a book Mike Barnicle should write. “‘Cool Hand Luke’ meets ‘Shawshank Redemption’,” suggested the Governor.

Mike Barnicle on President Barack Obama’s eulogy of Rev. Clementa Pinckney

“It was the highlight of his presidency, I think. He seized his presidency back from everyone in the media business who had been writing his presidential obituaries. And as the waning days of his administration approach, we now see him becoming more and more—in public—who he really is,” says Mike Barnicle of President Barack Obama’s eulogy of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, one of nine victims in the Charleston church massacre. Watch MSNBC’s Morning Joe for Mike’s comments on President Obama’s important speech on race relations.

State Sen. Paul Thurmond (R-SC) joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle

State Sen. Paul Thurmond (R-SC), son of controversial, civil rights opponent Strom Thurmond, joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about the reaction in South Carolina to his newfound opposition to the Confederate flag. Watch the conversation with Sen. Thurmond here and hear of the mostly positive encouragement he has received for acknowledging an shameful aspect of his heritage. Only on MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle on Vice President Joe Biden

“The two men–the President and the Vice President–have been joined, figuratively, in the last three weeks since Bo Biden’s death in a uniquely even stronger bond than before,” says Mike Barnicle of Vice President Joe Biden’s Sunday appearance at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, following President Barack Obama’s well-received speech there in reaction to the Charleston church massacre. Watch the conversation here. On MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

On Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle and the New York Times’ Jeremy Peters

On Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle and the New York Times’ Jeremy Peters discuss President Barack Obama’s evolving stance on same-sex marriage in contrast to Vice President Joe Biden’s early support for gay rights. “They had two tracks going in: the President’s track, which is political, and the Vice President’s, which is awesomely human,” says Mike of President Obama’s hesitance in supporting same-sex marriage during the last election. Watch the conversation here. On MSNBC.

NBC News’ Pete Williams joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle

NBC News’ Pete Williams joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about the increasing concern over possible ISIS-inspired terror attacks during the coinciding Ramadan and Fourth of July weekend. “Authorities say this, authorities say that, but an incredible story that has not been covered, for logical reasons, is the work being done daily by officials at every level, especially at the federal level, to prevent an ISIS-type lone wolf situation occurring in this country,” says Mike. Listen to Williams’ thoughts on government uneasiness over unknown influencing factors such as social media radicalization. Only on MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle on the possibility of ISIS-inspired terror threats

Continuing the conversation on the possibility of ISIS-inspired terror threats during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Morning Joe panel discusses the difficulty in profiling lone wolf-type terrorists in real time. “ISIS is prone and very receptive to the ‘lone wolf’ syndrome. They are very difficult to track and monitor, as we all know, and unlike Al-Qaeda, because of the lure, propaganda, and use of social media, ISIS attracts these kinds of people,” says Mike Barnicle. Watch the conversation here. On MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle with Soledad O’Brien on Morning Joe

On MSNBC’S Morning Joe, journalist Soledad O’Brien discusses with Mike Barnicle her upcoming special report, “Honor Delayed,” on why the Medal of Honor remains elusive for many heroic American soldiers, especially minority veterans. Listen to O’Brien describe the incredibly arduous and subjective process behind awarding a Medal of Honor the and watch a preview of the documentary here, which will air on Al Jazeera America.

Mike Barnicle with journalist Michael Wolff on Morning Joe

As perceptions of television content and distribution continue to evolve among viewers, journalist Michael Wolff stops by Morning Joe to discuss his new book, “Television Is the New Television,” and how he believes television has overtaken the internet and not the other way around. “What do you say to people who make you feel absolutely stupid when they talk to you about television and say: ‘Television is going to fade away. People under 35 don’t watch television today.’ What do you say to refute them?,” asks Mike Barnicle. Listen to Wolff’s answer on the future of television here. Only on MSNBC.

Filmmaker Ken Burns joins Morning Joe to talk with Mike Barnicle

Filmmaker Ken Burns joins Morning Joe to talk with Mike Barnicle and the panel about the upcoming PBS re-broadcast of his popular, award-winning documentary “The Civil War,” made all the more relevant by recent calls across the country to remove the Confederate flag from government sites. Watch the full discussion here and listen to Burns provide historical context for recent issues of racism and the lingering influence of the American Civil War, in which maintaining slavery and opposing civil rights was indeed a primary motivator for the South’s rebellion. Only on MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle talks with State Rep. Todd Rutherford (D-SC)

On Morning Joe, the conversation continues about South Carolina’s move toward bringing down the Confederate flag. Mike Barnicle talks with State Rep. Todd Rutherford (D-SC) about the legislative process involved. “Has the accelerated pace of this change shocked you?,” asks Mike of Rep. Rutherford. Listen to the conversation here about the changing attitude in South Carolina politics after the massacre in Charleston. On MSNBC.

Mike Barnicle talks with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA)

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), who today receives the Sandy Hook Promise Champion Award for his efforts to expand background checks for commercial gun sales, joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about the difficulty in passing new gun legislation. “You and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced legislation in the wake of what happened in Connecticut and that legislation expired. What’s your plan now?,” asks Mike of Sen. Toomey. Hear the Senator’s response and thoughts on the future of gun control. On MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

Mike Barnicle talks with Bill Keller

Bill Keller, former executive editor of The New York Times and current editor in chief of the nonprofit The Marshall Project, joins the Morning Joe panel to discuss bipartisan support for prison reform in the U.S. “How do conservatives feel about sentencing options, other than sending someone to jail, that are put on the table?,” asks Mike Barnicle of Keller. Watch the conversation here. Only on MSNBC.

Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle talks with actor Patrick Warburton

Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle talks with actor Patrick Warburton about his role in Seth Macfarlane’s “Ted” and the upcoming, star-studded “Ted 2.” “Listening to Ted, the teddy bear, was like listening to every guy I’ve grown up with,” comments Mike of the first movie, which takes place in Boston. Listen to Warburton discuss his TV and film roles, including playing the iconic Puddy character in the TV series “Seinfeld,” here. On MSNBC.