MSNBC's Joy Reid Lights Her Own Bonobo Woman Torch At MSNBC

Josef Adalian zeroes in on one of AOC's most respected journalists -- MSNBC's Joy Reid. Her influence at MSNBC extends far beyond her two-hour 'AM Joy" show on weekend mornings, with the Harvard grad regularly filling in for weekday evening anchors like Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow or Lawrence O'Donnell. As one of the most articulate voices in Trumplandia, Reid's 10-12 timeslot regularly pulls in around 1 million viewers, up between 50 and 60 percent over last year and doubling -- even tripling -- viewers at CNN and Fox News. Why? Because the whip-smart Harvard grad is a one woman debate machine who demands answers and dialogue from her guests -- not talking points. Reid is as informed as Rachel Maddow, giving her a monumental edge in debates, which often involve quick-witted, circuitous dot connecting with guests promoting #FAKENEWS. 

Reid's interview with Adalian is candid and informative. PS, Reid also has no problem throwing darts in the dreams of ideological progressives who haven't the faintest idea how to pass their legislation through Congress. Like Hillary Clinton, Reid is a policy wonk and doesn't appreciate progressive snow jobs any more than ones born in Trumplandia.  Enjoy this sample, then read on:

There has to be some irony here for you. You were obviously doing very well before the 2016 campaign, but that election season and the subsequent elevation of Trump to the presidency have actually been incredible for your career. AM Joy is setting ratings records for MSNBC. You’re reaching twice as many viewers as you did before, probably, and you’re connecting to them on a very deep level. And yet you’re clearly not very happy about where the country has been heading. Is there a mixed-emotion type thing going on for you?

I’ve said to people that this is probably the greatest time to be a journalist, and the worst time to be a human. I’m grateful for the platform that I have. I was grateful for it before, when it was much smaller. I think because this election was so unusual, and because I kind of am a stand-in for my viewers — I can be shocked on their behalf — that made people connect with me more. I’m an opinion journalist, so I don’t have to pretend not to be shocked and appalled. I can actually be shocked and appalled. So it’s kind of played to my strength in a way. My previous job was a bit different.