On the set of “Morning Joe” Thursday, host Joe Scarborough seemed keen on reviving his famously nasty feud with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
On set with Vanity Fair’s Gabe Sherman, Scarborough opted for a little concern trolling, speculating about whether conspiracy-minded hosts like Sean Hannity might derail Rupert Murdoch’s dream to acquire European media giant Sky News.
“We have heard that Rupert Murdoch is very concerned,” said Scarborough. “What are the Murdochs thinking when they’re seeing Sean Hannity or other people? Are they not concerned anymore that this is going to impact Sky?”
Also Read: 'Morning Joe' Mocks Ted Cruz for Sucking Up to Trump: 'What Kind of a Man Are You?' (Video)
Unlike a normal purchase, the Sky deal must be approved by the British regulatory agency Ofcom, which has been considering Fox News’ sexual harassment allegations as part of its approval process.
Sherman said the sharp right turn at Fox News over the last several weeks might be an attempt to curry favor with President Donald Trump in hopes he might influence the U.S. Justice Department’s own investigation of the network’s personnel practices.
“There is an open federal investigation into Fox News looking at the way they perhaps used company money to cover up Roger Ailes’ sexual harassment settlement. That is a major problem,” Sherman said.
“Perhaps is [Hannity] cozying up to Trump with this completely over-the-top coverage,” he continued. “Perhaps because he hopes that the Trump White House will shut down this federal investigation.”
15 Stars Who Imagined Violence Against Donald Trump, From Kathy Griffin to Pearl Jam (Photos)
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Since the election, several celebrities have voiced their displeasure -- even anger -- with the Trump administration. Some have gone so far as to suggest violent measures. From Robert De Niro to Snoop Dogg, here are some left-leaning noteworthy people who have fanned themes of violence toward Trump and the GOP.
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Mickey Rourke
In a TMZ video from 2015, this boxer-turned-actor directed his rage toward Trump, calling him a "big-mouthed bitch bully," saying he would "love 30 seconds in a room with the little bitch." Rourke has also expressed a desire to "give [Trump] a Louisville slugger."
Also Read: Mickey Rourke Calls Donald Trump ‘Biggest Scumbag on the Planet’ (Video)
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Larry Wilmore
In late February 2016, the host of Comedy Central's now-canceled "The Nightly Show" joked about then-candidate Donald Trump: “I don’t want to give him any more oxygen. That’s not a euphemism, by the way. I mean it literally. Somebody get me the pillow they used to kill [Supreme Court Justice Antonin] Scalia and I’ll do it — I’ll do it!"
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
George Lopez
During the Republican primaries in March 2016, the Mexican American comedian tweeted a cartoon image of former Mexican president Vincente Fox holding the decapitated head of Donald Trump aloft, with the caption "Make America Great Again."
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Marilyn Manson
Shock-rocker Marilyn Manson had to take his turn in the Trump-bashing festivities. In a teaser video for his song, "Say10," released just after the 2016 election, a Trump-like figure wearing a suit and a red tie lies decapitated on a concrete floor, in a pool of his own blood.
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Rosie O'Donnell
In July 2017, O'Donnell tweeted out a link to a game called "Push Trump Off A Cliff Again." This made many conservatives want to push her off a cliff, not POTUS.
Also Read: Rosie O’Donnell Draws Fire for Tweeting ‘Push Trump Off a Cliff’ Game
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Madonna
Madonna told a crowd of thousands at the Women's March on Washington in January 2017 that she had “thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House." The singer's profanity-riddled jab at the Republican administration provoked the anger of many conservatives.
Also Read: Madonna Thought About ‘Blowing Up the White House,’ Unloads F-Bombs in Speech (Video)
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Robert De Niro
The actor is not afraid to express his disdain for the commander in chief. De Niro confirmed to ABC's "The View" in February 2017 that he would like to punch Trump in the face. He clarified earlier comments, saying "It wasn’t like I was gonna go find him and [really] punch him in the face, but he’s gotta hear it."
Also Read: Robert De Niro Doubles Down on Trump Rant: ‘Of Course I Want to Punch Him’ (Video)
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg's music video for "Lavender," released in March 2017, (literally) paints POTUS as a clown and orchestrates his death. At the video's end, the "Gin and Juice" rapper points a gun at the harlequin Trump figure and shoots. But instead of a bullet, a red flag that reads "Bang!" fires out of the gun.
Also Read: Watch Snoop Dogg Shoot ‘F—ing Clown’ Dressed as Trump in New Music Video
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Kathy Griffin
The comedian landed in hot water in May 2017 after photos surfaced of her holding a fake bloody, decapitated Trump head. Griffin was promptly dropped from her annual New Year's Eve gig by CNN. Toilet stool company Squatty Potty also pulled its ads featuring Griffin. Trump himself called the photos "sick" and tweeted that his youngest son, Barron, was "having a hard time" with the images. Griffin later apologized.
Also Read: Kathy Griffin Comedy Shows Canceled Over Trump Photo (Report)
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
NYC Public Theater's "Julius Caesar"
The nonprofit theater staged a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" in May-June 2017 that made conservative viewers want to revolt. In the production, a Trumplike figure playing the title role is stabbed to death by a band of angry Senators. The Public Theater subsequently lost sponsorships from Delta Airlines and Bank of America.
Also Read: ‘Julius Caesar’ Theater Review: Trump and the Bard Both Assassinated in Bloody Debacle
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Moby
The musician's new video, released in June 2017, is simultaneously nostalgic and dystopian. In 1980s cartoon fashion, a giant Transformer-like Trump morphs into a swastika/dollar sign and wreaks havoc on a city before meeting a fiery, explosive demise.
Also Read: Moby Explodes Swastika-Dollar Sign Trump in New Video
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Johnny Depp
During an appearance at the U.K.'s 2017 Glastonbury music and arts festival, the actor tore into the president -- "I think Trump needs help" -- and then made an ill-considered joke: “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” Depp claimed his joke was misconstrued and eventually issued an apology.
Also Read: Johnny Depp on Trump: ‘When Was the Last Time an Actor Assassinated a President?’ (Video)
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Anthony Bourdain
Asked what he'd serve at a peace summit between President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, the celebrity chef told a TMZ video crew in 2017: "Hemlock."
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Big Sean
In February 2017 rapper Big Sean rapped a verse about killing the President on his "I Decided" album. The lyrics are, “And I might just kill ISIS with the same icepick/That I murder Donald Trump in the same night with."
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Pearl Jam
At a show in Montana in August 2018 that served as a fundraiser for Sen. Jon Tester, the Seattle-based rockers released a cartoon poster commemorating the show that featured a bald eagle picking at the rotting corpse of President Trump on the White House lawn.
Also Read: Trump’s Rotting Cartoon Corpse Appears in Pearl Jam Poster for Montana Concert (Photo)
Some celebrities have been more than outspoken in their criticism of the Republican president
Violent words and imagery crosses the aisle as well.
Also Read: 7 Stars Who Imagined Violence Against Barack Obama, Democrats (Photos)