As her show was coming to an end Tuesday night MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was handed breaking news, a report from the Associated Press on the immigrant crisis at the U.S. southern border. As she tried to read the text, Maddow, a seasoned and highly respected journalist, displayed unusual emotion, blurting out, “this is incredible.”
As she began to read the story live on-air, a story she had not previously read, she was unable to complete it, instead, breaking down and pausing because she was unable to speak.
At one point she asked her director to “put up the graphic,” hoping there was something to show viewers instead of her trying to not cry.
There was no graphic.
She tried to continue but was, understandably, unable.
“I think I’m going to have to hand this off,” she told her viewers, and did just that, as Lawrence O’Donnell’s show began.
Usually there is a bit of banter between the two anchors, but not this night.
O’Donnell reported the story and Maddow posted this series of tweets, apologizing for breaking down – the first time she has done so on MSNBC.
Her viewers responded, many saying they respect her even more after tonight’s reporting.