Rachel Maddow Raises 'Wag the Dog' Possibility as Trump Orders Syria Strikes

Minutes after Donald Trump’s announced U.S. military airstrikes in Syria, Rachel Maddow said on her MSNBC show that no matter how the decision was made, the timing has the appearance of a “wag the dog” situation.

“There are national security consequences to having a presidency that is as chaotic as Mr. Trump’s presidency, that is as consumed by scandal and criminal intrigue as his presidency is,” Maddow said Friday night, referring to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and the FBI raid on Trump attorney Michael Cohen, among other things.

According to Maddow, enemies and allies alike may believe that Trump “issued the order to launch this strike tonight, even in part, because… he wanted to distract from a catastrophic domestic scandal that is blowing up at home at the same time.”

Also Read: Ex-Ambassador Joe Wilson Uses F-Word Live on MSNBC in Anti-Trump Tirade (Video)

“Even if the tail is not wagging the dog, even if you give the president every benefit of the doubt,” Maddow continued, “even if this decision was taken with absolutely no regard for whatever else is going on in the president’s life right now, what else is going on in the president’s life right now unavoidably creates a real perception around the globe that that may have been part of the motivation.”

Maddow called this context “a sad thing,” and “an upsetting thing in terms of American influence around the world.”

Early Friday evening in an address from the White House, Trump announced that U.S. forces would conduct “precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.”

The combined American-British-French operation, Trump said, is in response to a chemical weapons attack ordered by al-Assad against civilians in a town near Syria’s capital of Damascus.

“This massacre was a significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapons used by that very terrible regime,” Trump said.

In 1998, critics accused President Bill Clinton of using the bombing of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan to distract from his sex scandal involving White House intern Monica Lewinsky. News of the Clinton scandal broke just a month after the release of the film “Wag the Dog,” about Hollywood insiders who stage a war to distract from a presidential sex scandal.

Here are some of the responses to Maddow’ remarks:

If you’re going to speculate about the domestic political impact, fine, but what reason is there to believe that scandal speculation will change their military effectiveness? https://t.co/Rlm2ITcUDF

— Alex Burns (@alexanderburns) April 14, 2018

The way @maddow is responding to Trump’s attack on Syria is as shining an example of why our free press, and those who represent it, is an institution we must defend with our lives. She is one of our best. She is brilliant. And she has a soul. I’m grateful to be able to hear her.

— Ken Olin (@kenolin1) April 14, 2018

Dude. So would you have not wanted America to do something about people who were gassed to death? Seriously….I think not tolerating that is more important than the Mueller probe for now. Mueller and porn stars aren't going anywhere, Brian. This is pathetic.

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 14, 2018

https://twitter.com/LouisMarino7/status/984989969746980865

16 MSNBC Shows That Have Gained Since Trump, Ranked (Photos)

Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has boosted ratings for all the major cable news channels. But none more than MSNBC, which grew a whopping 55 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. In fact, the network has the 16 cable news shows that have shown the most growth.

TheWrap wondered on March 15 if Rachel Maddow would turn away viewers after the <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/rachel-maddow-played-us/">mixed reaction to her record-setting episode</a> that revealed Trump's 2005 tax return. Three weeks later, it's safe to say that didn't happen. Using the week of Trump's inauguration as a base and comparing it to the three weeks since Maddow's reveal, here are MSNBC"s big winners, ranked:
16. “For the Record with Greta”

Greta Van Susteren ditched Fox News for MSNBC and her new show has grown 23 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while CNN has remained stagnant over the same time period.
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15. “MSNBC Live with Katy Tur”

The midday newscast that airs from 2-3 p.m. ET has grown 28 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while rival networks have lost viewers over the same timelot.
NBC
14. “MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle”

Ruhle’s daily newscast airs directly after “Morning Joe” at 9 am E.T. and has gained 30 percent of total viewers compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
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13. “The 11th Hour with Brian Williams”

Williams’ nightly program has grown 30 percent since the week of Trump’s inauguration while CNN’s 11 p.m. ET program has gained 10 percent over the same period.

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12. “All In with Chris Hayes”

Rachel Maddow’s lead-in has delivered, growing 32 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while setting the table for one of television’s hottest programs. Hayes has the only cable news program among the big three networks to see an increase over the timeslot.

TheWrap
11. “MSNBC Live with Craig Melvin”

Melvin’s daily newscast that airs from 1-2 p.m. ET has increased 33 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, with Sean Spicer’s White House press briefings being a hot topic this time of day.
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10. “Hardball with Chris Matthews”

“Hardball” paves the way for MSNBC’s red-hot primetime lineup and has seen an increase of 33 percent himself while rivals have lost viewers over the same span.
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9. “MSNBC Live with Kate Snow”

Snow’s version of “MSNBC Live” airs from 3-4 p.m. ET and has increased viewership 34 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration, while both CNN and Fox News have dropped.
NBC
8. “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell”

O’Donnell has one of the best timeslot in cable news… directly after Maddow. His audience has grown 35 percent since the week of her record-setting Trump reveal episode compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
O’Donnell
7. “Morning Joe”

Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist’s “Morning Joe” trends on social media essentially every morning, as it appears to be the go-to morning program for political Twitter. “Morning Joe” has picked up a 35 percent bump in viewers compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
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6. “MTP Daily”

Chuck Todd’s daily version of NBC News’ “Meet the Press” airs at 5 p.m. ET and has grown 37 percent among total viewers over the past three weeks compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
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5. “Andrea Mitchell Reports”

Mitchell’s daily program airs at noon ET and has grown 38 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.
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4. “MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson”

Jackson’s version of “MSNBC Live” airs at 10 a.m. ET and has grown 39 percent in total viewers compared to the week Trump was sworn in, while rival CNN has grown 16 percent over the same time period.

TheWrap
3. “MSNBC Live with Steve Kornacki”

Kornacki’s daily newscast has seen a 42 percent increase among total viewers compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration.

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2. “MSNBC Live” at 11 a.m. ET

Many version of “MSNBC Live” have a permanent host for a specific hour of the day, but the 11 a.m. edition features a rotating group of the network’s talent and has seen a whopping 43 percent increase among total viewers since the week of Trump’s inauguration.
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1. “The Rachel Maddow Show”

Was there really any question which show would occupy the top spot? Maddow’s viewership has increased 44 percent compared to the week of Trump’s inauguration. Maddow was already on fire when she revealed Trump’s 2005 tax return and viewers have continued to flock to her program on a nightly basis ever since.
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MSNBC has shown significant growth since Inauguration Day, particularly after Rachel Maddow revealed Trump’s 2005 tax return

Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has boosted ratings for all the major cable news channels. But none more than MSNBC, which grew a whopping 55 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. In fact, the network has the 16 cable news shows that have shown the most growth.

TheWrap wondered on March 15 if Rachel Maddow would turn away viewers after the <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/rachel-maddow-played-us/">mixed reaction to her record-setting episode</a> that revealed Trump's 2005 tax return. Three weeks later, it's safe to say that didn't happen. Using the week of Trump's inauguration as a base and comparing it to the three weeks since Maddow's reveal, here are MSNBC"s big winners, ranked:

View In Gallery

16 MSNBC Shows That Have Gained Since Trump, Ranked (Photos)

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