Former congresswoman Liz Cheney has publicly accused ex-Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel of contributing to Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, labeling her actions as part of a “corrupt fake elector plot” and accusing her of spreading falsehoods about the election outcome. Cheney, who served as vice-chair of the House January 6 committee, specifically criticized McDaniel for her role in reinforcing Trump’s unfounded claims and questioned McDaniel’s recent move to NBC as a political analyst.

Simultaneously, Chuck Todd, NBC News political director, has also expressed strong objections to his network’s decision to hire McDaniel. Todd’s critique aired publicly, pointing to a deeper sense of unease among NBC journalists regarding McDaniel’s appointment due to her past behavior, including supporting Trump’s unsubstantiated election fraud claims. He argued that the hiring decision compromised the network’s journalistic integrity and highlighted a broader concern over maintaining ethical standards in media appointments.

McDaniel, a member of the influential Republican Romney family, has been a controversial figure due to her support for Trump’s allegations of election fraud and her comments downplaying the events of January 6th. Her transition into a political analyst role at NBC has led to internal discord and criticism from notable NBC personalities, including Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, who have echoed concerns about the impact of McDaniel’s hiring on the network’s credibility and the challenge it poses to upholding principles of accuracy and democratic values in broadcasting.

The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing debates about the responsibilities of media organizations in representing diverse viewpoints while safeguarding against the dissemination of misinformation. Critics of McDaniel’s NBC role argue that it underlines critical issues of accountability and the media’s role in reinforcing democratic norms.