MS NOW Host Reflects on Presidential Contrasts During Presidents Day Commemoration
In a poignant Presidents Day segment, MS NOW host Lawrence O'Donnell took a reflective approach, offering minimal commentary on current President Donald Trump before dedicating nearly seven uninterrupted minutes to airing recent clips featuring former President Barack Obama. The stark juxtaposition served as a powerful commentary on the state of American political leadership and discourse.
A Reminder of Presidential Eloquence
"As a reminder of what's it like to listen to a president who can speak and think and feel at the same time, here is President Obama's full five-minute answer to Brian Tyler Cohen's first excellent question," O'Donnell stated during Monday's broadcast. He was referring to a recent podcast episode where Obama appeared, which provided the material for this extended comparison.
The "Last Word" host elaborated on the contrast, noting that "The answer includes words Donald Trump doesn't understand, like 'decency,' 'courtesy,' 'kindness.' But the answer also embodies those words as Barack Obama's response to Donald Trump's racist poison." This commentary framed the segment as more than just political analysis—it became an examination of fundamental values in leadership.
Context of the Obama Interview
The interview with podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen was published on Saturday, arriving just one week after Trump shared a racist video on social media that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. In the conversation, Cohen asked how America might "come back" from what he described as the "devolution" of the nation's political discourse.
Obama responded thoughtfully: "Well, first of all, I think it's important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling. It is true that it gets attention. It's true that it's a distraction. But as I'm traveling around the country ... you meet people." He continued with emphasis: "They still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness."
Trump's Controversial Video and Response
The racist video shared by Trump drew widespread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans, creating a rare moment of bipartisan criticism. Following the backlash, Trump deleted the video and made the brazen claim that he hadn't even viewed its racist content before an unnamed staffer supposedly posted it on his behalf.
In his podcast interview, Obama directly addressed "this sort of clown show" on social media, questioning the erosion of political norms. "And what is true is that there doesn't seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and sense of propriety and respect for the office, right?" he observed during the conversation. "So that's been lost."
The American People as the Answer
Obama ultimately argued that ordinary citizens provide the solution to Cohen's question about political discourse. He pointed to recent protests in Minnesota against Trump's immigration agenda as evidence of civic engagement, praising what he called an "extraordinary outpouring" of political organizing, community building, and fundamental "decency" that has emerged in response to divisive politics.
O'Donnell allowed this entire portion of the interview to play without interruption, creating an extended moment for viewers to absorb Obama's perspective. The host only chimed in after six minutes to introduce another segment where Obama discussed how Democrats might counter what he described as the "angry demagoguery" of Trump's administration through unity rather than "us-them divisive politics."
O'Donnell's Analysis of Presidential Communication
While O'Donnell has regularly criticized Trump and his administration for what he views as egregious comments, actions, and policy decisions, Monday's segment revealed his particular astonishment at the contrast between the two presidents as statesmen. "President Obama did what Donald Trump never does: He actually answered every question—really answered the questions," O'Donnell observed. "The Washington press corps often gives Donald Trump unearned points for taking questions from them."
The host expanded on this critique: "Even though Donald Trump never actually answers those questions, he simply throws lie-filled gibberish at the reporters who ask the questions, most of whom never actually attempt to get an answer from Donald Trump." This commentary highlighted what O'Donnell perceives as a fundamental difference in how the two presidents engage with media and, by extension, with the American public.
The full segment remains available for viewing through MS NOW's official YouTube account, preserving this Presidents Day commentary on the contrasting styles of presidential leadership in contemporary American politics.
