Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Rachel Maddow

Public opinion and media debates around Rachel Maddow—discover key moments of controversy.

Rachel Maddow is an American television news program host and liberal political commentator. She is best known for hosting *The Rachel Maddow Show* on MSNBC, where she also serves as a special event co-anchor. Previously, she hosted a syndicated talk radio program of the same name on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. Maddow's work is characterized by her progressive political views and insightful analysis of current events.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2003: Opposition to the Invasion of Iraq

Rachel Maddow opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

2010: Speculation about Senate Run

In 2010, Republican Senator Scott Brown speculated that Rachel Maddow was going to run against him in the 2012 Senate election, which Maddow denied by running a full-page advertisement in The Boston Globe.

2016: Maddow suggests Trump-Russia collusion continued beyond the 2016 election

In 2016, Rachel Maddow suggested that the alleged Trump-Russia collusion had continued beyond the 2016 presidential election, stating that if the Trump presidency resulted from a foreign-intelligence operation, that is a national crisis.

March 2017: Maddow blames Russia for WikiLeaks' Vault 7 disclosure of CIA hacking tools

In March 2017, Rachel Maddow blamed Russia for WikiLeaks' Vault 7 disclosure of the CIA's hacking tools, suggesting it was an attempt by Putin to undermine the CIA.

October 2018: Maddow raises concerns about Trump's business ties to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi's murder

Following the October 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Rachel Maddow argued that Donald Trump's business ties to Saudi Arabia were raising troubling questions.

December 2018: Maddow criticizes Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria

In December 2018, Rachel Maddow criticized President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

September 10, 2019: OAN Sues Rachel Maddow

On September 10, 2019, the One America News Network (OAN) filed suit against Rachel Maddow for $10 million after she described the network as "paid Russian propaganda" on her program in July. Also named in the suit were Comcast, MSNBC, and NBCUniversal Media.

May 22, 2020: OAN Lawsuit Dismissed

On May 22, 2020, Judge Cynthia Bashant dismissed the case filed by OAN against Rachel Maddow, stating that "the contested statement is an opinion that cannot serve as the basis for a defamation".

July 2020: Maddow's unemployment figures prediction named one of the year's most incorrect

In July 2020, Rachel Maddow predicted that unemployment figures covering the previous month would be "absolutely terrible." However, after the figures were released, showing the largest growth in employment in a single month in U.S. history, Politico named Maddow's prediction one of "the most audacious, confident and spectacularly incorrect prognostications about the year".

May 2021: Maddow named as example of reporter manipulated by private intelligence sources

In May 2021, former New York Times reporter Barry Meier published Spooked: The Trump Dossier, Black Cube, and the Rise of Private Spies, which cited the Steele dossier as a case study in how reporters can be manipulated by private intelligence sources. Meier named Rachel Maddow as one example.

August 2021: Decision in favor of Maddow Affirmed

In August 2021, after considering Herring's appeal, the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the decision in favor of Rachel Maddow. The Court of Appeals also affirmed a trial court ruling that requires Herring to pay Maddow's attorneys' fees.