In light of the recent news surrounding President Joe Biden’s age and possible resignation, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow took the opportunity to shift the focus back on former President Donald Trump and his private affairs. In a two-hour long interview with adult film actress Stormy Daniels, Maddow asked softball questions and glorified Daniels’ actions, ultimately making her seem like a hero for standing up to Trump. This interview was clearly a strategic move to shift the attention away from Biden’s blunders and back to Trump’s alleged scandal.
From the very beginning, it was evident that Maddow had an agenda to promote. She spoke in a frustrated tone about the postponed sentencing of Daniels and hailed her as a real-life person, unlike Trump. In a nearly 10-minute monologue filled with praise and political rhetoric, Maddow introduced Daniels as a hero whose actions have shaped the country’s history.
The interview proceeded as a glorification of Daniels’ character and actions, with Maddow citing her successful GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $700,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. Instead of questioning the validity of Daniels’ story, which has been widely disputed, Maddow focused on her financial struggles after the case with Trump. They also discussed the doxing incident and Daniels’ concerns for her daughter, once again elevating her to the status of martyr for the cause.
With each topic discussed, Maddow and Daniels’ conversation seemed to paint the adult film actress as a hero, with Maddow declaring that real-life villains and heroes are not superhuman, but regular human beings with their own personalities and struggles. Furthermore, she compared Daniels to a historical figure in American history, claiming that she will forever be a part of the “trial by fire” of the American principle that every citizen is subject to the rule of law.
Maddow’s closing remarks, accompanied by NBC News Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss, continued to glorify Daniels and her actions. Describing her as a “brave woman,” Beschloss compared her to the Founders of our nation, who fought for independence from England for a system where no one person could hold all the power. However, in the wake of recent events, it seems that the power imbalance between the President and ordinary citizens has only grown stronger.
Daniels was portrayed as a hero and a symbol in American history, with the media and even historians comparing her to the Founding Fathers. She walked away from the interview with free publicity and over $700,000 raised, further solidifying her status as a cultural icon.
Maddow’s interview focused solely on glorifying Daniels and her actions, rather than providing any critical analysis or questioning of her story. It served as a clear ploy to shift the attention away from President Biden and back to Trump, in hopes of keeping his name in the news.