Tag: hardball
#EndorseThis: Chris Matthews Says Delusional Trump Can’t Separate Reality And TV

#EndorseThis: Chris Matthews Says Delusional Trump Can’t Separate Reality And TV

Most of the monologues featured at #EndorseThis are dressed-up for comedic effect. Comics can work from very simple themes and premises, but must dress up their punch lines with misdirection and charm. Trevor Noah likes the slow, meandering start. Samantha Bee likes to throw in a dadaist skit or two. Stephen Colbert has to keep going until even the band laughs.

There’s something to be said for simplicity, however. Like the cold sharpness of Chris Matthews’ latest commentary on President Trump. Matthews suggests that the reason Trump has such a loose command of the truth is that in 45’s reality, there is no difference between the commander-in-chief’s chair in the Oval Office and a reality TV show.

As the MSNBC veteran points out, the decision to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel has caused many deaths as violent protests swirl around the American embassy. Trump made the Jerusalem move with several goals in mind – stroking the Israelis, pleasing his conservative evangelical base, and getting favorable headlines, just to name three – but he may not have considered the real world consequences. Nobody ever died due to bad leadership on The Apprentice.

Click for a reality check.

#EndorseThis: Sanders’ Campaign Manager Turns Tax Return Question On Chris Matthews

#EndorseThis: Sanders’ Campaign Manager Turns Tax Return Question On Chris Matthews

When Chris Matthews brought up Bernie Sanders’ refusal to disclose his tax returns on Monday night’s Hardball, the host never imagined it would get so personal.

His guest was Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, who was clearly tired of being hounded on the issue. In a brilliantly awkward turn of events, Weaver retorted that Matthews was in no position to criticize Sanders, based on his own failure to share tax information during his wife’s campaign.

“Oh, here we go,” Matthews says under his breath, as Weaver begins the rebuttal.

Weaver was referring to Kathleen Matthews, who earlier this year ran for the House of Representatives in Maryland’s 8th congressional district. Despite receiving the endorsement of The Washington Post and help from some of Hillary Clinton’s top donors, she lost to State Senator Jamie Raskin in the Democratic primary.

Sanders’ tax returns have become a point of controversy this election cycle, given that a pillar of his campaign is his crusade for financial integrity. While rival Hillary Clinton has released eight year’s worth of tax returns on her website, and many more years in previous elections, Bernie Sanders has been filibustering the matter for months now, at one point even falsely claiming that his records were available to the public.

During the interview, Matthews repeatedly responded with the excuse that it was an unfair question, as he had no involvement in his wife’s campaign. Weaver wrapped up the interview with the quip, “This is Hardball, Chris.”

Matthews thanked his guests as the show wrapped up — all of them, of course, except Bernie Sanders campaign manager, Jeff Weaver.

Photo and Video: Crooks & Liars, MSNBC

WATCH: Getting Things Done Vs. Ted Cruz

WATCH: Getting Things Done Vs. Ted Cruz

National Memo Editor-in-Chief Joe Conason joined MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews on Wednesday evening to discuss whether the GOP’s warring factions can come together now that the Republican Party controls Congress.

Video of his appearance is below, via MSNBC:

WATCH: Joe Conason Remembers Obama’s Famous Convention Speech On ‘Hardball’

Monday was the tenth anniversary of Barack Obama’s famous keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which launched him to national stardom. National Memo Editor-in-Chief Joe Conason joined MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews to mark the occasion.

Video of their discussion is below, via MSNBC: