MSNBC picks Alex Wagner to fill Rachel Maddow's time slot

Veteran. journalist Alex Wagner will host news show for MSNBC.

Asian American journalist Alex Wagner has been named to take over MSNBC host Rachel Maddow's prime time slot on the news network starting August 16.

Wagner, 44, who has worked at CBS News, as a co-host of Showtime's “The Circus” and as an editor at The Atlantic, is on her second stint at MSNBC. She rejoined MSNBC as a fil-in host and commentator in February after hosting a show on the network a decade ago.

“I'm honored to be anchoring a key hour of television in such a critical time for American democracy,” Wagner said. In taking over the 9 p.m. slot, she will be one of  the most high-profile Asian American journalists in the country.

“In many ways, the stakes have never been higher, and there’s no better place to explore this moment than MSNBC," she said. "I’m thrilled to be coming home.”

A first-generation Asian American whose mother emigrated to the U.S. from Myanmar, Wagner wrote a book about her experiences, “FutureFace: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest and the Secret to Belonging.”

Since leaving MSNBC 10 years ago, she has been an editor at The Atlantic, an economics reporter for HuffPost and the White House correspondent for AOL's Politics Daily. She was also the editor-in-chief of The Fader, a culture-oriented magazine, and was executive director of an advocacy organization that aimed to stop mass atrocities.

“Her unique perspective, built on more than two decades in journalism, and tenacious reporting in the U.S. and abroad will help our audiences contextualize what matters,” said MSNBC president Rashida Jones.

"Alex Wagner in the 9 PM hour was a clear choice. Her unique perspective—built on more than two decades in journalism—and tenacious reporting in the U.S. and abroad will help our audiences contextualize what matters,” Rashida Jones said in a statement. “I am looking forward to watching Alex thrive in MSNBC’s primetime lineup.”

Wagner returns to MSNBC to shore up its prime time lineup. Ratings without Maddow, the network's most popular news host, has flagged since she went to Monday nights only. 

Wanger is not a newbie. She has operated in the Washington, DC area for two decades during which she has met and interviewed the movers and shakers of the Capitol. In addition, she has a ready-made fan base from her previous daytime news-oriented show and her numerous media jobs, including her latest Showtime gig, The Circus. that follows candidates in their campaigns.

Maddow will continue to work Monday nights with Wagner working Tuesday through Friday. Maddow signed a reported $30 million per year contract extension with NBC, which gives her “the freedom to pursue a range of formats including film and TV series.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Historical footnote: Networks feature two panels with all-AAPI commentators

COMMENTARY:

Did anybody notice last weekend a small footnote in history occurred when two major news networks featured two guest panels who were all Asian Americans?

Both MSNBC and CNN had all-Asian guests talking different aspects of the coronavirus.

Saturday, MSNBC's Richard Liu had his guests talking about the economic impact of COVID-19 with businesses forced to shut down by government edict and Wall Street dropping like a lead balloon.(Wiping ou people's 401K investments).

On Liu's weekly show, guests included:

• Kurt Bardella, former publicist for right-wing Breitbart and ex-Republican; 
• Chris Lu, former Obama White House advisor; and 
• Lanhee Chen, director of Domestic Policy at Stanford University. 

At rival network, CNN, Jake Tapper hosted a panel on his Sunday talk show, State of the Union.

His topic were the medical policies generated by COVID-19 and how unprepared the US was for this inevitable happening. 

Tapper's  guests included:

• Dr. Jennifer Lee, senior medical advisor and Emergency Medicine Clinical associate professor at George Washington University.
• Dr. Vivek Murthy, medical author and the former US Surgeon General under Obama;
• Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Florida, who is under self-quarantine; and
• Lahnee Chen, who must have driven over to MSNBC after his stint at CNN.

For years, Liu always made sure to have a diverse guest list on his MSNBC show and I don't watch every show he's aired so I can't say for sure if he hasn't had an all-AAPI panel before.

It was not too long ago that one would have to look long and hard to see even one Asian American pundit on a subject that wasn't about race or an Asan American issue. 

No matter how long AAPI have lived in the US, they have always been targeted as foreigners, outsiders or nonhuman "Others." It makes it easier to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act, Executive Order 9066 (Japanese American incarceration), or to the present day limiting of family reunification and work visas to out-and-out travel bans

People need to see AAPI as part and parcel of this country. AAPI are doctors, nurses, lawyers, construction workers, farmers, teachers, students and also homeless, elderly and physically challenged.

And we are journalists and expert enough to be "talking heads." The two TV networks, perhaps unwittingly, provided the visual reminder that AAPI are threaded through every aspect of this country. It was only one weekend and two panels, but they were small steps in the right direction. 

US residents need to see Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders more often -- not only in fictional TV series which is starting to happen more frequently, now -- but also on serious, real-life news events because something like the coronavirus affects all of us, no matter what ethnicity.

What it says, albeit subliminally, is that we are all Americans.

It shouldn't take a worldwide pandemic for this to happen and maybe one day, the occasion might not be worthy of noting. I am waiting for that day.

AAPI community groups want equitable coverage of Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang with some of his Asian American supporters.

Twenty-three community organizations representing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders rallied around Democratic Presidential candiate Andrew Yang and his criticism of MSNBC.
The coalition of nonprofits released an open letter to MSNBC President Phil Griffin raising concerns about MSNBC's apparent lack of coverage of Yang and the potential damage to the American democracy and racial equality; they urge MSNBC to provide fair coverage to all candidates. 

They were responding to allegations that the news network was "ignoring" Yang.

"Depriving Mr. Yang of a fair share of airtime during the debate is depriving the American people of the fair opportunity to learn about a qualified candidate, and thus compromising our democracy," the letter stated. "Furthermore, as we are embracing diversity and inclusion, MSNBC's lack of coverage of Mr. Yang may deepen this country's racial inequality, and also play right into the books of those who attack media as 'Fake News.'"

Since Yang declared his intention to seek the highest office in the country, MSNBC has produced several graphics showing how the Democratic candidates were faring according to the national and state polls. In at least a dozen or more graphics, Yang's name was omitted even though he was doing better than several other candidates who were included in the graphic.

The final straw, apparently, was last week's debate hosted by MSNBC.  During the two and one-half hour debate, Yang was allowed 6.8 minutes of speaking time, the least amount of air time among the ten candidates on stage and half of frontrunners Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mayor Pete Bittigeig and former Vice President Joe Biden.

In an interview on CNN after the debate, Yang expressed his dismay at his apparent marginalization. The network invited the candidate to be a guest on one of the MSNBC programs but Yang rejected the offer until the network issues an on-air apology.

Over 1000 businesses, organizations and individuals also expressed support for the letter,  printed on the letterhead of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs letterhead, is below:

Phil GriffinPresident, MSNBC30 Rockefeller PlazaNew York, NY 10112

Dear Mr. Griffin

Under your leadership, MSNBC has become one of America's most influential cable news networks and attracts hundreds of millions of viewers. Congratulations on hosting the fifth Democratic Presidential Debate. We are community nonprofit organizations that do not intend to support or oppose any particular candidate here, but would like to raise our concerns and register our displeasure about your network's unfair treatment of Mr. Andrew Yang, the first Asian American man to run for president as a Democrat in our nation's history.

Mr. Yang was one of the 10 presidential candidates that participated in the debate in Atlanta on November 20, 2019. The American people expected each candidate would receive relatively equal amount of time to share their ideas on how to run our country as president, but MSNBC moderators did not let Mr. Yang speak for the first 32 minutes of the two-hour debate. CNN reported Mr. Yang only received 6.8 minutes speaking time, barely over half of the time Sen. Warren spoke (13.4 minutes). In addition, it's reported MSNBC left Mr. Yang out 15 times in its coverage of presidential candidates, while including others who polled lower.

We were troubled by these oversights and equally worried about their damage to MSNBC's credibility, to the American democracy, and to this country's racial equality. Following the debate, many media outlets reported that Andrew Yang was "ignored" or had a "lack of speaking time". Mr. Yang is one of the eight candidates that qualified for all five debates per DNC rules. RealClearPolitics' national polling average shows Mr. Yang at 3%, ahead of three sitting senators, two House members, a governor and Mr. Mike Bloomberg. Depriving Mr. Yang of a fair share of airtime during the debate is depriving the American people of the fair opportunity to learn about a qualified candidate, and thus compromising our democracy. Furthermore, as we are embracing diversity and inclusion, MSNBC's lack of coverage of Mr. Yang may deepen this country's racial inequality, and also play right into the books of those who attack media as "Fake News".

There are over 22 million Asian Americans in the U.S., which is the fastest growing ethnic group in our country; 51% of Asian Americans have a bachelor's degree or higher. It's reported 43% of MSNBC's audience has a bachelor's degree or higher. The run for president by three Asian Americans, Mr. Andrew Yang, Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, has elevated Asian Americans' participation in politics and civic affairs to a historical new height. Overlooking Mr. Yang's candidacy in reporting the 2020 presidential election will lead to millions of Americans being uninformed and adversely impact our democracy.

We request that MSNBC

Give all the presidential candidates fair coverage, and Investigate the root causes of the incidents listed above about Andrew Yang and take corrective actions accordingly.

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact Joel Wong at (510) 999-5763 or joelwong@comcast.net if you have any questions. We are looking forward to seeing MSNBC's fair, transparent coverage of the 2020 elections and other important issues, and ongoing dialogue to ensure public trust of media and other institutions.

Sincerely,

80-20 National Asian American PACAsian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA)Asian American Democratic Club (AADC)United Chinese Americans (UCA)Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC)National Council of Chinese Americans (NCCA)APAPA New York ChapterAPAPA Ohio State ChapterAPAPA Peninsula ChapterAPAPA Southern California RegionAsian American Pacific Islander Coalition Of AlaskaAtlanta Chinese IT AssociationChinese Chamber of Commerce of New YorkChina Institute in North AmericaGreater Seattle Chinese Chamber of CommerceHouston Chinese AllianceMinnesota Chinese WorldMonterey Bay Chinese AssociationOhio Chinese American AssociationSan Diego Asian Americans For Equality FoundationUCA Illinois ChapterUCA Washington ChapterWestlake Chinese Culture Association

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Members of Congress want more AAPI journalists in news networks

Newsrooms can be lonely places for journalists of color.

During the course of my career as a journalist, I was aware every day that I was one of the few Asian Americans in a newsroom. Even in the racially diverse Bay Area where there are large AAPI communities, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were woefully underrepresented in journalism. 

Decades passed but in all that time, not much has changed.

On Monday, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) sent a letter to executives at ABC News, CBS News, CNN Worldwide, Fox News, NBC News and MSNBC requesting information on what steps are being taken to promote representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) both on camera and behind the scenes. 

The letter was led by CAPAC Chair Judy Chu, D-CA, CAPAC First Vice Chair Grace Meng, D-NY, and CAPAC Whip Ted Lieu, D-CA. 

Specifically, the letter requests information on steps being taken to increase paid television contributors, how many AAPIs are currently in decision making positions, how many AAPI anchors there are, and what networks are doing to cultivate new talent.

“As AAPIs continue to grow in population and influence, it is important to see that change reflected in our media as well. That includes not only on-air representation, but also more seats at the table as producers and contributors in order to help ensure more perspectives are reflected in the news coverage we watch,” said Chu. 

“Increased AAPI representation is particularly important on issues like immigration, where AAPIs are the fastest growing demographic, but are often excluded from coverage of immigration issues," she said. "This is a change that media executives have acknowledged is necessary, and so we are sending this letter for an update on where things stand. As the 2020 election approaches and news coverage becomes more important, it is vital that we ensure all voices are heard and represented.”

“Diversity and inclusion are the building blocks for a more just and equitable society. That is why, I have continued to fight to make sure our institutions - from businesses to academia; from entertainment to government - live up to these ideals. Actions, however, must match words, which is why shining a light onto the diversity and inclusion efforts at major media outlets is so important,” said Meng. 

“The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, and - whether in front of or behind the camera; whether in the editing room or in the executive room - our diverse communities must have fair and meaningful representation. 

"No longer are we made invisible, without a voice, or a mere afterthought. We must hold the major network news accountable for their inclusion and engagement efforts, including efforts to build the pipeline of representation, and commitment to telling AAPI stories that resonate, not just with our AAPI community, but with our entire nation. After all, the AAPI story is the American story. The AAPI perspective and roles are critical to the full American story. I look forward to the responses from each of the major networks.”

“As a proud member of CAPAC, I am pleased to co-lead this effort to encourage increased representation of the AAPI community in the news media,” said Rep. Lieu. “For too long, AAPIs have been underrepresented within this industry, leaving many voices unheard and opinions overlooked. The AAPI community has made monumental contributions to American society and culture, and it is past time to reflect that in our newsrooms.”

A copy of the letter can be found online here.

Data from the American Society of Newspaper Editors shows newsrooms across the US are overwhelmingly white. This is true for both conservative-leaning papers like The Wall Street Journal (80.81% white) and liberal-leaning papers like The Washington Post (71.08% white).

Among the newspapers with the largest circulations in the US, The Los Angeles Times (14.8% Asian) and Washington Post (12.65% Asian) reported comparatively larger percentages of staff who identified as Asian, while The Chicago Tribune (3.42% Asian) and Boston Globe (4.86% Asian) reported smaller percentages.

Television news has a similar problem with Asian American representation. According to the most recent data from the Radio Television Digital News Association, Asian American representation in TV news has declined to 2%.

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Andrew Yang's feud with MSNBC heats up

SCREEN CAPTURE / FOX

Andrew Yang during the last Democratic debate in Atlanta

"MSNBC is trying to suppress and minimize my campaign because there are certain other candidates that they might favor," Yang said told Politico.

At last week’s fifth Democratic primary debate, hosted by MSNBC in Atlanta, Yang was allowed to speak for a total of six minutes and 48 seconds, the least time of any of the candidates on stage and about half the speaking time of Elizabeth Warren.

The moderators asked Yang fewer questions and didn't call on him when he wanted to add his two cents to a discussion. He wasn't even asked a question until 32 minutes into the debate.

The day after the debate he went on CNN to raise his criticism of rival MSNBC. On Saturday, his campaign talked with MSNBC when the network invited Yang to appear on the one of its programs. Yang rejected the offer and said he would not appear on the network until MSNBC offers an on-air apology.

“I’m not the kind of guy who takes offense easily but at this point you have to call it like you see it,” the tech entrepreneur told CNN’s Ana Cabrera.

Yang's supporters demonstrated in front of MSNBC headquaraters in New York City Saturday and #BoycottMSNBC and #LetYangSpeak trended on social media.

“We're just asking for fair and equitable treatment,” the New York-born Yang told Politico. “And after they make that commitment, then I'd be thrilled to go on air with them and talk to voters.”

In addition to the lack of speaking time in the two debates hosted by MSNBC, the network has left out Yang's name in graphics showing polling numbers at least a dozen times. On one of the MSNBC shows in September, he was referred to as "John Yang." The show's host later apologized for that gaff.

MSNBC has not officially responded on the criticism from the candidate and Yang's campaign, however, in graphics used the criticism was raised, Yang's name has been appearing without comment.

SCREEN CAPTURE / MSNBC

A graphic used by MSNBC on Monday, Nov. 26, included Andrew Yang.

An analysis by Business Insider concluded that Yang “has had the least amount of speaking time ... compared to how much we would expect him to speak given his polling numbers.” Yang is polling fifth or sixth according to national and Iowa and New Hampshire surveys.

Although at times, Yang raises his hand to add his comments on an ongoing discussion, he doesn't jump into the fray or interrupt other speakers. His answers are succinct and to the point unlike his rivals who often speak longer than their allotted time limit.

The candidate is hard put to explain the network's behavior towards his campaign. The decision to boycott MSNBC could harm his campaign in the long run even though he makes appearances on CNN and the conservative, Republican-leaning Fox network.

“If you were generous, you could just say that they didn’t understand my campaign at first,” Yang said in an interview. The thing he finds most “off-putting” is that other news organizations that didn’t take him that “seriously” at first eventually “figured out that I’d beaten half a dozen sitting senators and governors and congresspeople and then they started treating me like other candidates.”

“But for whatever reason, MSNBC never made that transition,” he said.

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MSNBC documentary spotlight's 'Dragon Lady' Anna Chennault' & Nixon's 'Betrayal'

WHITE HOUSE FILE

Anna Chennault hobnobbed with the rich and powerful.

IF NOT FOR an Asian American businesswoman, dubbed by some as the Steel Butterfly or the Dragon Lady, Richard Nixon would never have become president -- and hundreds of thousands of lives, including the lives of 20,000 American soldiers -- would have been spared.

The role of Anna Chennault, widow of a WWII hero, in Nixon's 1968 campaign has almost been forgotten, thanks to President Lyndon Johnson's deep patriotism of putting country over partisanship, according to a recent television special Betrayal: The Plot That Won the White House, hosted by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

Maddow painted Chennault as a behind the scenes political wheeler-dealer and noted Washington socialite, who used her sex appeal and government connections to become the key figure in scuttling the peace talks between North and South Vietnam, thus continuing the Vietnam War for another six years.

Chennault, also known as Chen Xiangmei who came from a wealthy Chinese family, in 1947 married American war hero Gen. Claire Chennault, the dynamic and charismatic leader of the Flying Tigers, famous for its raids against the Japanese in Southeast Asia and China wuring WWII.

After the death of Gen. Chennault, she settled in Washington, D.C., where she became prominent among elite social circles, hosting lavish parties in her Watergate penthouse attended by “cabinet members, congressmen, diplomats, foreign dignitaries and journalists.” She was named vice president of the Flying Tigers, an air cargo company rumored to have dies with the CIA.

Long-time readers of Views From the Edge, have known about Chennault's infamous role from a two-part posting way back in 2014: Part 1: Nixon was worst that I thought and Part 2: Nixon - The Traitor.

Nixon knew that if Johnson was able to broker peace, the Democrat nominee Hubert Humphrey would win the election. After losing the Presidency twice in 1960 and 1964, Nixon was determined to win this time and he would do anything to win the White House.

That was when he decided to use his nuclear option: Anna Chennault. He asked Chennault's widow, who headed anan airline, to use her contacts in the South  Vietnam government. The message she delivered was, don't take part in the peae talks and when Nixon wins, he would give South Vietnam more favorable terms.

But it was not until this year, 50 years after Nixon's 1968 campaign, that Johnson's personal notes on his conversations with Nixon and his knowledge of Chennault's role  have become public. Johnson's handwritten notes have been locked away in President Johnson's Library. On the file was a note not to open for 50 years.

Hoping to fend off Nixon's interference in the peace process, Johnson talked to Sen. Everett Dirksen, who led the Republicans and described what Chennault had done under orders of Nixon. "It's treason," said Johnson.

Johnson knew of Nixon's and Chennault's role in sabotaging the peace talks and threatened Nixon that he would go to the press with his knowledge days before the election. 

On Meet The Press, Nixon denied the rumors of his interference -- an out-and-out lie.

Upon the advice of his close associates and his own belief that if he went public with the subterfuge, it would send the country into a downward spiral it might not be able to recover from. For the sake of the overall well-being of the country, Johnson chose to not reveal what he knew. A few days later, Nixon was elected president

A few years later in in the midst of Nixon's re-election campaign, the Nixon's win-at-any-cost outlook resulted in the Watergate scandal and ultimately, his resignation. The Presidency was toppled off its pedestal and ever since then, government has never regained the respect and trust of the people.

Betrayal: The Plot that Won the White House special is available online here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: U[dated Nov. 25 to clarify that Chennault was born in China.
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MSNBC: Lessons from Watergate

WHEN did cynicism and lack of faith in our political system overtake the optimism and dreams that usually were associated with the United States' version of democracy?

Some would say, the election of Donald Trump might be the result of the downward spiral that began with Watergate and the Nixon administration.

Tonight, (June 17) MSNBC will begin airing its 16-hour mini-series, "All the President's Men," looking back at the scandal that knocked democracy off its pedestal and into the gutter. Although it all happened four decades ago, it led to today's nightmare of a presidency.

With all the scandal and questions surrounding the Trump administration, most of America have mostly shrugged its shoulders as if this is what is expected in the new normal of the United States.

If Watergate had not happened, Trump would have been kicked out of office in the first week of his office. 

Then again, if Watergate had not happened, Trump never would have even attempted to run for office. He'd never have been picked by the Republicans to fly its banner int he presidential campaign. He'd never have been elected. America would not be in the mess its in, right now.

There are lessons to be learned, particularly to the parallels to today's administration.

It is particularly instructive to the young people to whom Watergate is ancient history and not made the connection between Nixon, Vietnam, Reagan, Iran-Contra, the Bushes and ultimately, Trump.

It is also good for us old-timers to remind ourselves what America used to be like and what it can be again. 

The protests of the 60s spawned the anti-war movement, gave birth to environmental movement, gave new impetus to the women's movement, that spurred the civil rights movement beyond the black community and provided a link to other minority groups --  including Asian Americans - to rise up for equality.

Watch MSNBC tonight, 9 pm Eastern.

READ The Edge's two-part post on Nixon:"

• Nixon was worst than I thought
• Nixon - the traitor

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