Peter Landesman, writer and director of the new film “Concussion,” and Dr. Bennet Omalu, portrayed in the film by Will Smith, join Morning Joe and talk with Mike Barnicle about the physical hazards and damage that can occur by playing football. “One of the reasons the narrative really works is that it’s kind of a detective story… and it’s you against the NFL,” says Mike of the film, which is based on the true story of Dr. Omalu’s discovery of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in National Football League players and the “David vs. Goliath” battle that was launched to get at the truth. Watch the discussion here and listen to Landesman describe the complexities and contradictions faced when watching football games. Only on MSNBC.
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, TIME magazine’s Matt Vella joins Mike Barnicle and the panel to discuss the latest issue, which features singer-songwriter Adele on the cover and looks forward to the big stories of 2016. Take a peek at the magazine and hear what’s in store for 2016. https://ti.me/1PgPkGe.
The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief James Bennet joins MSNBC’s Morning Joe to talk about an article in the Jan/Feb 2016 issue by Peter Beinart, “Why America Is Moving Left” about the inner struggles in both the Democratic and Republican parties. Asks Mike Barnicle about the premise for the article: “Is Peter … looking at demographics that over the next few years (indicate that) voting booths are going to look like the waiting lines at Starbucks more than they do now?” Watch the discussion that continues about left leaning Republican and Democrat millennials here and read the article at https://theatln.tc/1NztOfo.
Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle interviews Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, currently campaigning in New Hampshire, about his relationship with American Muslims and reluctance to taking-in Syrian refugees. “What are the differences between what you think about the Muslim religion, about Islam, and what Donald Trump has said?,” asks Mike. Listen to Governor Christie’s answer here, as well as what he thinks are the differences between him and Presidential candidate and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), and how he feels about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Only on MSNBC.
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the Associated Press’ David Crary discusses the news agency’s top 10 stories of 2015. “If you take #1, #3 and #10—Rise of the Islamic State, the Paris attacks and Europe’s migrant crisis—those three global altering events go together,” says Mike of this year’s grim list. Watch the conversation and see the full list here and read the AP poll at https://apne.ws/1TeO6fL.
Historian and author Jon Meacham joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about the presidential race and how Republican candidate Donald Trump stacks up against the late President Ronald Reagan. “Reagan concentrated his rhetoric largely on optimism… and it seems to be missing this year among a lot of the candidates. There was very little anger in Reagan, and I’ve always thought it was a huge, huge part of his popularity,” suggests Mike. Does Meacham agree? Is Trump’s campaign harkening memories of Reagan. Find out here. Only on MSNBC.
“If you’re Donald Trump… why would you want to spend your own money and put biographical ads on TV when he has ‘us’ — he has the media,” commented Mike Barnicle about the “genius” marketing of Donald Trump as Republican presidential candidate. “The accessibility of Donald J. Trump was extraordinary at the inception of his campaign. People know who he is… and nobody has played the press better,” says Barnicle on Morning Joe. Watch the MSNBC panel discussion with Hardball’s Chris Matthews about Trump’s ongoing popularity here.
“I’d buy that,” says Mike Barnicle of the general premise that ISIS terrorists are in some way using Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s statements in their recruiting strategy. “It is a fact. I had a long conversation with someone who is very knowledgeable with what ISIS is doing overseas video-wise. He was comparing the ISIS videos to our attempts to counteract ISIS, which are pathetic. We’re sending out high school videos against very professional videos that could have been done by Steven Soderbergh.” Watch the Morning Joe discussion here on the back and forth between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton over her claims that Trump’s speeches are recruiting tools for ISIS. Only on MSNBC.
On MSNBC, Mike Barnicle and the Morning Joe panel discuss how voters in New Hampshire are accustomed to seeing and knowing candidates up-close and personal before making their final decisions. “They expect to see these candidates, they expect to be able to talk with them. I don’t think New Hampshire has changed at all, and I think Rubio missed an opportunity up there,” says Mike of Republican presidential candidate Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who has visited New Hampshire relatively little compared with the other Republican candidates. Listen to Mike’s comments on Senator Rubio here and watch the panel’s discussion on his campaign’s focus on “nativist” ads and TV appearances opposed to on-the-ground effort.
Author and New York Times columnist Anand Giridharadas joins MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss his latest column, “Trumpism After Trump,” which takes a closer look at the crowds rallying for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Asks Morning Joe panelist Mike Barnicle: “Do you get the sense that a lot of public people, candidates, have not yet addressed the inner angst in America over the fact that for many Americans their roots literally collapsed seven years ago in the economic crash—and Trump is addressing that?,” asks Mike. Listen to Giridharadas’ answer and his analysis of the fear and anxiety that holds Trump’s constituency together here and read his column at https://nyti.ms/1jTPok2.
Senator and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum (R-PA) joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about gun control as well as his disagreement with President Barack Obama’s Middle East strategy. “You’ve said in the past that we have a leader who refuses to be truthful with the American people about the threat we’re facing in the Middle East—what specifically is the President of the United States not being truthful about?,” asks Mike of Santorum. Hear Santorum’s answer here on MSNBC.
On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, discussion turned to Senator Bernie Sanders’ (D-VT) aides gaining access to fellow presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s voter data during a technical glitch with the committee’s voter list. The response from the Democratic National Committee, prompted panelist Mike Barnicle to comment: “The reaction is so over the top… it’s almost enough to make you want to go out and get a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker.” Hear the whole conversation about what the data breach and reach to it means for Sanders, Clinton and the party.
In the most recent column for The Daily Beast, Mike Barnicle hopes that the upcoming holiday serves as a much needed reprieve from the cartoonish, yet dangerous, lowest-denominator presidential campaigns of fear that have consumed American politics this year. “Thankfully, it’s Christmas Week, and the fires of their ambition will be forced to a low simmer while the rest of us pause for a breath. For normal people, this is a week to reflect on hope and mercy and memory,” writes Mike. Read Mike’s thoughts on putting this Christmas break to good use.
Continuing the conversation from last night’s Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about why he believes fellow candidate Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) foreign policy proposals do not make any sense. “How does Senator Ted Cruz champion the military and carpet-bombing Syria, defeating ISIS, at the same time he was a proponent of cutting budgets, including the Pentagon’s?,” asks Mike. Watch the discussion between Mike and Sen. Graham here, and learn why Graham thinks Cruz was in some ways the biggest loser from last night’s debate. Only on MSNBC.
With near-record levels of homelessness in New York City and the departure of Gilbert Taylor as the head of NYC’s Department of Homeless Services, Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle says: “[Homelessness] could cost De Blasio a second term. People are very frustrated.” Watch the discussion here and listen to Mike describe the homeless families he encounters on the streets of Manhattan, the home of the Morning Joe studio. Only on MSNBC.
Following last night’s Republican presidential debate, candidate Carly Fiorina joins Morning Joe and talks with Mike Barnicle about the political frustrations of many Americans. “You use the phrase ‘we have to take our country back.’ I’m wondering…. Is there an element within your party that you think you have to take your party back from them—in the sense that they have such a reliance on the language of fear, estrangement, preventing Muslims from coming to America– things that are sort of out of the mainstream? Do you feel you can use common sense language and still win the nomination of your party?,” asks Mike of Fiorina. Watch the MSNBC conversation here.
On Morning Joe, Mike Barnicle talks with Republican presidential candidate and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush about the previous night’s debate. “How do you get some of the elements of your party away from a really, really rhetorical emphasis on fear, safety and Islam (the religion itself) and present a more stable form of leadership—and win while doing it? Can you do it?,” Mike Barnicle asks Bush. Hear what Bush has to say on the topic, and about fellow candidate Donald Trump’s blanket statements against Muslim immigrants. Only on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
Following last night’s Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle sums up U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) standout performance in the undercard. “Lindsey Graham’s performance last night was a vital and very effective antidote to a lot of the rhetoric that’s consuming the Republican party,” says Mike of Senator Graham’s positive statements on American Muslims and Muslim allies. Watch clips from Sen. Graham’s debate performance here and listen to the rest of Mike’s analysis on how his campaign brings much needed contrast to the Republican field. Only on MSNBC.
On Morning Joe’s “What did we learn today” segment, Mika Brzezinski learned that she was going to take a selfie with Mike Barnicle’s daughter Julia. Watch the moment here. Only on MSNBC.
“There are no surprises left with Donald Trump, as far as coverage….The real secret in this primary, as you watch it evolve, could well be Chris Christie,” says Morning Joe’s Mike Barnicle of Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Listen to Mike’s assessment of Trump’s campaign, and its challenges with the general electorate, and why he thinks Gov. Christie could still break-out among the Republican field. Only on MSNBC.
