Rachel Maddow’s Troubling Breakdown Last Night
Last night, Rachel Maddow, host of The Rachel Maddow Show, experienced a troubling breakdown on live TV. What began as a discussion of the latest news surrounding the Russia investigation quickly veered as Maddow became increasingly distressed. Over the course of the segment, Maddow’s words became more strained, her rhetoric flew unchecked and more intensely than perhaps ever before, and soon she was shaking and in tears. What other viewers witnessed was not only a powerful outburst of raw emotion from the host, but a powerful yet troubling statement on the effects of the news.
The Context and Build-Up
As is typical of her show, Maddow began with her trademark measured and professional speaking voice as she laid out the basic context for the segment. She talked about how the sudden resignation of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley was quickly followed up with news of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s failure to recuse himself from the Mueller investigation. That news had already been a bit of a bombshell, and Maddow did an admirable job of keeping her cool while she laid it out to her viewers.
The Change In Tone
It quickly became evident that the news of Rosenstein’s recusal was too much for Maddow. Her body language shifted appreciably as she began to talk more rapidly and wildly. It was clear that Maddow was becoming increasingly emotional and her somber tone quickly changed to a more passionate and impassioned cadence. “Just look at the facts,” she implored of viewers, “just look at the facts and don’t let anyone turn it into something it’s not.” It was heartbreaking to watch as Maddow tried desperately to contain her emotion and deliver the news without losing control.
Raging Out of Control
Sadly, Maddow’s attempt to remain composed was doomed to fail. As she continued delivering the news, Maddow’s voice grew ever higher and more strained, and soon it escalated to a full-on emotional breakdown. As she yelled and raged against the injustice of the news, her passionate words flew unchecked and grew so heated that the words soon became almost incomprehensible. Soon, Maddow began shaking, shaking in a manner that made it clear that this was far more than just emotional reactions to a breaking news story. Maddow had tapped into something much deeper here, something that ran far beyond today’s news cycles.
The Impact
It is difficult to say what lasting effect Maddow’s breakdown will have on viewers, but one thing is for sure: It was a powerful moment that should not be taken lightly. It’s a reminder that news, no matter how much we attempt to insulate ourselves from it, affects us deeply. Maddow’s powerful display of emotion should be seen as a call to action, a sobering reality that news cycles can have lasting implications beyond the headlines of today.