Scott Jennings Openly Mocks Brian Stelter’s Reporting on Joe and Mika’s Fear of Trump Retribution

Conservative CNN contributor Scott Jennings openly mocked the network’s chief media analyst Brian Stelter’s reporting that MSNBC Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski reached out to meet with President-elect Donald Trump because they “feared retribution.”

Scarborough and Brzezinski’s move shocked the political media world. The pair, known to be two of Trump’s most influential and vocal critics, rationalized that their meeting with the president-elect was about to “restart communication” as they would pivot away from their previous coverage style.

As backlash rolled in, two sources told Stelter that the two hosts “feared retribution, ” which motivated the controversial meet-up.

Appearing on CNN’s NewsNight, Stelter detailed what the sources had told him in conversation with host Abby Phillip, who mused that the announcement of the meet-up looked like a “hostage video.”

Stelter agreed: “Right. Detente, appeasement. I don’t know what to call it. You know, Joe and Mika didn’t say much about it today, but according to my sources, they believed… they credibly were concerned that they faced governmental and legal harassment with this incoming administration, essentially, that they feared retribution. And that’s partly why they sought out this meeting.”

Prompted by the host on what kind of retribution they were worried about, he continued: “You know, I think there’s a wide spectrum. And to be fair, to Brzezinski and Scarborough, they’re not the only MSNBC hosts or the only – the word journalists is complicated because they’re more like personalities – but there are a number of journalists at places like the [Associated Press] and other big news outlets that are concerned about retaliation in the coming months. Anything from IRS audits to lawsuits and things like that. There are media outlets bulking up on lawyers, thinking about having more libel insurance, those sorts of things.”

He added: “Now, I don’t know exactly what the specific concern Joe and Mika had was or wasn’t. But they’re not the only MSNBC personalities worried about retaliation. However, they are the only ones to go down to Mar-a-Lago and have a meeting.”

Phillip pointed out Jennings, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

“I mean, isn’t it possible too that they’re just two people who think they are so full of themselves, so full of self-aggrandizement that they would feel like that they would be personally…” he began.

Stelter contested that the fear was legitimately felt elsewhere: “I don’t tell anyone, but some of their colleagues feel that way.”

Jennings continued: “Well, I just, first of all, I can see why. Second of all, if that’s what happened and if that’s what they truly believed, why did they go on TV and say that? ‘We went down there to meet with the president to tell him that, hey, anyone who’s been critical of you, you know, you should treat us like journalists and not like the enemy.’”

He added: “They didn’t go on TV and say that, they went on TV and portrayed it much differently. So what I hear you saying in your reporting is they had a motive that they weren’t willing to disclose to their audience, which I think should get them more scorn today than they were already getting to begin with.”

Phillip joined in, reflecting on Stelter’s sources’ claims, and said that the “nature of the conversation” actually “seemed like an attempt to shake hands and make up.”

Stelter replied: “Yes. We know some lawmakers have done this. We know that for January 6th, some lawmakers, Republican lawmakers, were fearful of being attacked. Physical or online harassment.”

Phillip interrupted: “That’s not how journalism is supposed to work.”

Stelter justified the fears further: “It’s not supposed to work in a democracy that way. But this is an unusual time. And look, I understand some people might think this is paranoia inside MSNBC, for example. There are some people who think these fears I’m describing are way overblown. But then there’s others who are worried about prosecution. So there’s a wide range of concerns right now and…”

“Prosecution for what?” Jennings challenged.

Well, that’s a great question,” Phillip added.

As other panelists offered their opinion, Stelter returned to Jennings: “Last week, Steve Bannon said, lawyered up, MSNBC’s producers. So there is an environment, Scott, where there are understandable concerns.”

He continued: “And Trump has said others are calling for meetings. I think the question now, because a year from now, will this all be paranoia? Right? Will these worried producers and hosts and journalists and lawyers, will they all be relaxed a year from now? Because it turns out there was no retribution? I don’t think we know the answer to that.”

Watch above on CNN.