‘Distinct Lack of Moral Clarity’: MSNBC Chasing Anti-Israel Ratings In Gaza Coverage, Says Colby Hall

In covering news from the war in Gaza, anti-Israel sentiment among its core viewer base seems to be a strong factor in MSNBC’s reporting, Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall told NewsNation anchor Leland Vittert on Tuesday, and that’s “a really scary proposition.”

As Israeli troops were headed into the Al-Shifa hospital on an operation to engage Hamas terrorists — whom both Israeli and American intelligence officials have confirmed were using it as base for conducting and coordinating attacks — media coverage left Vittert questioning the “moral clarity” of certain outlets.

He asked Hall about it on Tuesday’s On Balance on NewsNation after showing some clips, including one of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

“I think what you’re seeing here is a distinct lack of moral clarity, especially with many on MSNBC,” said Hall. “And I hesitate to say this, but I think it’s it’s fueled by ratings.”

Hall expanded on the point, saying that “you have a largely progressive set of viewers that has really funded MSNBC for a long time. And they don’t, they don’t like this. And so, as a result, it seems that some of the hosts and anchors on MSNBC are doing less about reporting the facts that have been confirmed by the U.S. military and instead raising doubt, because that’s the sort of comfort food that their viewers are tuning in for.”

“That’s a really scary proposition,” he said.

VITTERT: I don’t get it, Colby. For so long we were told by the media that it was important to treat different sides, saying things that were demonstrably false and demonstrably true, differently. But yet when it comes to Israel and Hamas, that moral clarity is totally gone.

HALL: Exactly right. I think what you’re seeing here is a distinct lack of moral clarity, especially with many on MSNBC. And I hesitate to say this, but I think it’s it’s fueled by ratings. I think you have a largely progressive set of viewers that has really funded, MSNBC for a long time. And they don’t, they don’t like this. And so, as a result, it seems that some of the hosts and anchors on MSNBC are doing less about reporting the facts that have been confirmed by the U.S. military and instead raising doubt, because that’s the sort of comfort food that their viewers are tuning in for. And that’s a really scary proposition. And, you know, this is the “fog of war.” I understand the need to be cautious when you’re taking the statements from the IDF or the Hamas side. But when the U.S. military can confirm a report, we should be able to believe that to be true. So while I understand the caution, the willingness to bend over backwards to both sides is pretty feckless and it doesn’t serve anyone well.

VITTERT: Look, look, you guys reported that MSNBC’s ratings crashed when they were covering the Hamas attacks on Israel. Their audience didn’t want to see it. This is video. And look, I mean, we have to be fair, right? Hamas has put out absolutely no proof of any type, and the Israelis are here putting out videos of them going into hospitals and showing you this stuff. They took a CNN crew there as well. But it’s not just MSNBC. I want to get you on this: Washington Post. “Israel alleges that Hamas uses hospitals, especially Al-Shifa, to conceal bases while the injured and to place living on the ground act as human shields. Hamas accuses Israel of targeting health facilities to cut off lifeline for residents.” Again, I just in all the only time that the Washington Post doesn’t have moral clarity is when it comes to Israel.

HALL: Well, I mean, I will say that that’s one example. You can’t judge an entire entity based on one column. But again, I think the same point holds. It’s.. There’s this sort of urgency for complexity and nuance and giving sort of Hamas the benefit of the doubt when in fact, we know that there are sort of a ruthless terrorist organization that will kill the people that work for them if they don’t say or do the right thing. So that MSNBC report that cited a Hamas doctor saying, well, if Hamas were bad guys, I wouldn’t be here. One wonders what would happen if he didn’t agree with Hamas. And that’s fueling the coverage.

Watch the clip above via NewsNation.