The logo for the NBC Network is a peacock, something made more appropriate when looking at the affiliate cable news network MSNBC. The collection of preening, performative hosts and panelists will, at times, shame even the most audacious displays from the channel's avian avatar. One case of this took place on Wednesday night, and the more it is investigated, the more hilarious it gets.

On “The Beat With Ari Melber,” the host brought on Donald Trump campaign advisor Corey Lewandowski, and you get the sense this was set up as something of an ambush interview. In the course of their discussion, Melber took issue with Lewandowski having shared quotes attributed to Melber, said to be made during the Republican National Convention (RNC). The host became very intemperate.

In the discussion, Melber declared that he had been misquoted previously by Fox News, and that Lewandowski was repeating what Melber says are inaccurate quotes. He accused Fox of running “a false piece,” and said firmly that the network was in the wrong.

Lewandowski then read off the quote that was in dispute, which enraged Melber further. The host was stern with his guest: “I’m putting you on notice, if you continue to repeat falsely that I said that, you will be potentially in a defamation situation – because I didn’t say that.”

This is all surrounding comments Melber made regarding Donald Trump appearing at the convention with a bandage over his ear, whereby Melber commented about how he was making this into a “spectacle.” What Melber appears to be hinging on is that in the broadcast from Milwaukee in mid-July, made following the opening night, he had been quoting from a New York Times article in a part of his commentary, and possibly suggesting the quote was from that outlet, and not his own words:

Amazing that @MSNBC’s pundit @AriMelber tries to accuse @CLewandowski_ of defamation for accurately delivering his words.

1. Lewandowski reads the actual quote
2. Melber denies it vehemently and threatens defamation.

Problem: there is video
1/2 pic.twitter.com/jK7HdBSPO7

— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 29, 2024

Except that there is both video and printed evidence. The article Melber referred to that night was this piece from Times TV critic James Poniewozik. Melber provided pull quotes from the piece on screen, then followed that up with his own commentary, whereby he made the very comments that Lewandowski referenced. Here is the complete segment by Melber from the RNC:

Here is the full segment from Melber at the RNC.
You see where he provides the pull quotes from The NY Times, then follows with his own commentary, which is where Lewandowski quoted him accurately.
2/2 pic.twitter.com/UkVuxZ5Hp8

— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) August 29, 2024

In that article, the writer used the terms “biggest prop”, and “placard” about Donald Trump’s first night appearance, and Melber provided clips of the article on screen. Nowhere in Poniewozik’s piece is the word “spectacle” ever used, so it is clear that the ensuing commentary was original to Melber. He cannot possibly suggest that he was quoting the Times piece.

As for his claim that Fox News had been the source to misquote him – this, too, is a garbage claim by Melber. I confirmed with Fox media analyst Joe Concha that Ari was referring to this guest spot from Concha on "Fox & Friends," who was commenting on Melber’s coverage of the Trump appearance. Not only does Concha in the clip make the very same quoted references to Melber, but he, too, provided the video evidence of the quote as he did so.

How Melber can make this bold of a denial despite the blatant video evidence is baffling. The lack of an actual defamation suit brought by Ari Melber will be the determining factor in all of this.