I got an email today forewarning me that Lawrence O’Donnell, the host of “The Last Word” on MSNBC will have his show canceled as of early June.  Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m surprised.  O’Donnell is probably the most knowledgeable cable “news” host there is when it comes to understanding the way our government works.  Also, he “tell it like it is.”  Most of what he predicts actually happens and, for people like me (I guess I’m a liberal), it’s refreshing to listen to someone who doesn’t “beat around the bush” when it comes to the American political scene.  Hopefully, O’Donnell will “land” somewhere and continue to be a voice for those of us who are fighting against the DAMAGE Donald Trump and the republicans who are enabling him can accomplish until “we the people” come to our senses and vote these people (Trump and his enablers) out of office.

I’ve written how MSNBC played a significant role in Trump’s ascension to the “White House” during last year’s campaign.  I had to turn them off because EVERY time I turned them on there was Trump, Trump, Trump.  In all my years of following politics I’ve never seen anything like how they allowed themselves to be “played” by Trump.  I could only guess at the amount of free publicity they gave him – all, in my view, for the purpose of pushing their ratings and generating as much income as possible from the election.  The outcome was irrelevant to them.  Now, many of the “hosts” on MSNBC are still enamored with Trump, but the present agenda is all the “breaking news” regarding the one Trump “foo-pah” after another.  While O’Donnell clearly is on the “never Trump” side the reality is that MSNBC is owned by Comcast.  Our “liberal media” is in the hands of about 9 or 10 “conservative” corporations – and, people like O’Donnell very possibly don’t sit well with whoever is on the board of directors.

Shortly after Comcast purchased NBC (“parent” to MSNBC) Keith Olberman was fired.  Now, I’ve heard many stories about Olberman being difficult to work with, but, to me, the reality was that he was too “liberal.”  I know nothing more about O’Donnell than he’s a very competent host of his program and he definitely seems to me to be a “liberal.”  One of my great fears is that these corporations who own our “liberal media” are, one by one getting rid of the true “liberal” spokespersons.  So, will Rachel Maddow be next?  And, then Chris Hayes?  I can tell you this, the rust belt in America and much of the South, from what I’ve heard are exposed to Fox “news” (which should be called GOP “news”) and right wing talkers like Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, Savage, and the like – and that’s it.  It’s no wonder they voted for Trump and it’s no wonder they’re the people in America who believe Trump’s preposterous claims about our “Fake news.”  (a strategy he took right from the Kremlin)

I’ve seen this coming.  Recently, MSNBC gave a prime time spot to Greta Van Susteren of Fox “news” fame.  I try to listen to her, but she’s clearly not been completely cleansed from the brainwashing that goes on at Fox.  And, the latest “addition” to the MSNBC “news” staff is Nicolle Wallace who was part of the Bush/Cheney administration and worked on John McCain’s staff during the 2008 election.  We, in America, make it seem like we’re the “land of the free” and we criticize other nations who don’t have “freedom of the press,” but, right before our eyes, an incredibly sophisticated propaganda scheme seems to be playing out.  If we get to the point where there’s just one perspective (“conservative” whatever that means these days) then for all intents and purposes you’ll have to look on the internet for anything resembling a “free press.”  And, I can guarantee you, there’s people working to control that venue as well.

Many people (like myself – in my naive way) want to think of MSNBC as the “liberal” alternative to Fox.  If you’re a “liberal” their messaging just sounds better (most of the time).  But, slowly, they seem to be purging the “liberals” from their airwaves and plugging in republicans – even if they’re “moderate” republicans.  Let’s face it – those who comprise the board of directors of Comcast are similar to any other corporate “heads” in America and, it’s all about the bottom line, shareholders are supreme, and their role as the “fourth estate” is seemingly secondary.

We’re in a critical time in American history and people like me are concerned that the foundation of our republic is under assault and “we the people” MUST do whatever we can to stop the Russians, any other country which would attempt to interfere with our “free” elections, and the Trump people who have conspired with the Russians during the last election.  People like O’Donnell have the knowledge to understand what is actually happening to “we the people” and taking him off the air says volumes about Comcast and NBC.  His willingness to “tell it like it is” most likely will be his undoing with the corporate “heads.”

I believe there are members of the staff of MSNBC who understand the role they played in enabling the success of Donald Trump.  The HUGE amount of free airtime they gave Trump – I mean, they played numerous Trump speeches on the campaign trail from start to finish – I’ve never seen anything like that before – helping to give him “legitimacy” in the eyes of who knows how many Americans.  Remember, Trump LOST the popular vote by almost 3 MILLION votes and carried the electoral college by a razor thin margin in several key states.  It didn’t take much to turn several key states from “blue” to “red.”  For example, Chris Matthews and Chuck Todd, who I’ve referenced in frustration many times (saying Matthews should “know better” because he worked for democrats for years as a staffer and speech writer) now, I believe, fully understand the DANGER Trump presents to our nation and, I have to believe they have some level of remorse for their role in enabling him.  Their “tune” has changed now that Trump’s incompetence and arrogant behavior is undeniable and they are no longer “coddling” him, but it will be interesting to see if O’Donnell’s departure affects their messaging going forward.  I’m sure they want to keep their jobs.

Another thing that will be interesting – I just thought of this, I don’t watch much “regular” TV but, Trump, I believe, had a show on NBC – will be if Trump has any “sway” with the people “upstairs” at NBC.  Could he be the reason they’re letting O’Donnell “go?”  Honestly, that wouldn’t surprise me.  Just log into the stock market news (I usually log into “Yahoo Finance”) and you’ll see a very different view of Trump.  From what I can tell, those on Wall Street could care less how Trump got elected.  What they care about is whether or not he can cut their taxes and repeal regulations that were invoked after they almost destroyed the economy in 2007-08.  Just like with the “heads” at Comcast, It’s all about the money.  And, by further reducing the “voices” heard by “we the people” they can more easily continue with their brainwashing “every day Americans” into thinking that by giving Wall Street executives MILLIONS in tax cuts we’re all going to get better jobs.  That foolish nonsense didn’t make sense when Reagan initiated it in the 80’s, it hasn’t made sense since Reagan, and it doesn’t make sense today – but, go figure – republicans are still getting away with it and they, and their benefactors, are “laughing all the way to the bank.”  (The way they get away with it is brainwashing via right wing media – I have to wonder, is MSNBC headed in that direction?)

It’s people like Lawrence O’Donnell who are willing to expose the THEFT of America’s resources taking place in the highest levels of America’s corporate hierarchy and, by extension, via republicans in Congress, which makes him dangerous to them.  If you read this post and you agree, please write to letters@msnbc.com  and state your concerns (I’ve already done so).  You could call 212-664-4444 to share your concern.  Honestly, I wouldn’t want ALL “liberal” voices on the air – I’m fine with others disagreeing with me.  (It’s nice when you can actually dialogue about differences without getting angry)  I just feel that the purging of liberal voices from the airwaves is a conspiracy that goes beyond the bottom line of corporations.

Years ago, in my local market (Portland. Oregon) there was a radio station “on the left side of the dial” that had “progressive talk.”  During one of President Obama’s campaigns, I believe it was the one against Mitt Romney, the station was closed down and replaced by ANOTHER sports talk station.  What was most interesting to me related to the justification based on “ratings.”  Of course, after “ratings” was given as the excuse to why they made the programming change it became public knowledge that the “progressive talk” programming had 8 times the audience of the sports talk programming.  I believe the same can be said for “The Last Word.”  I’m pretty sure, based on what I’ve heard, that the ratings for MSNBC during O’Donnell’s time on the air have gone WAY UP.  Supposedly, there are days when he “beats” Sean Hannity who is in the same time slot at Fox.  That would have been unheard of prior to this year.  So, why would MSNBC cancel a show (“The Last Word”) that’s getting progressively more popular?  I’m going to call that number above and ask that question for myself.