Ex-MSNBC Host Krystal Ball Slams Network For “Conspiracy Theorizing” Russia Collusion Narrative

The Washington Examiner has more details on Ball's slamming of MSNBC for their handling of the Russia collusion narrative:

Former MSNBC host Krystal Ball said on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher Friday night that she believes her former network has done more to hurt the progressive cause than help it throughout President Trump's time in office.

          

"Do you feel networks like MSNBC ... help or hurt progressive causes?" host Bill Maher asked Ball on the show.

          

"Overall, I think MSNBC in the Trump era has done real damage to the Left, and I’ll tell you why," Ball began to say.

          

"Damage?" Maher interrupted with surprise.

          

"And I say that with love," Ball continued. "I mean these are my former colleagues, friends. I mean, look, the Russia story and what happened there was important. But it was not all-important. And they went so far into the realm of conspiracy theorizing, I mean, they had Jonathan Chait on."

          

Maher cut off Ball again, saying the Russia story "was a conspiracy."

          

"They had Jonathan Chait on to talk about how Trump may have been a Russian plant since 1987," Ball continued.

          

"He may have been," Maher said.

          

"This is ridiculous, OK," Ball said. "This is way out from what journalistic facts said, and it’s to the exclusion of other stories that people actually care about."

Mediaite also said:

Maher had questions for each of his guests, and started with Ball, asking, “Do you feel networks like MSNBC…help or hurt progressive causes?”

“Overall, I think MSNBC in the Trump era had done real damage to the left and I’ll tell you why,” Ball began her answer.

“Damage?” interjected a surprised Maher.

“And I say that with love,” Ball continued. “I mean these are my former colleagues, friends.”

Ball explained. “I mean look, the Russia story and what happened there was important. But it was not all-important. And they went so far into the realm of conspiracy theorizing, I mean they had Jonathan Chait on..”

“Well it was a conspiracy,” interrupted Maher.

“…they had Jonathan Chait on to talk about how Trump may have been a Russian plant since 1987,” Ball continued.

“He may have been,” said Maher.

“This is ridiculous, okay. This is way out from what journalistic facts said, and it’s to the exclusion of other stories that people actually care about,” she said. She listed a number of issues and said “they don’t get focus when you only look at one thing.”

“They built up expectations so much that when the report came out you were like, oh, it’s no big deal. And it was a big deal,” said Ball.