Joe Scarborough didn’t hold back on Friday morning.
The Morning Joe host, speaking alongside his wife and co-host Mika Brzezinski, openly cursed on live television while criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans.
At one point, Scarborough let loose a now-famous line: “These people are lying through their f*ck-, their teeth,” quickly correcting himself afterward.
The 62-year-old former congressman from Louisiana has a history of fiery outbursts, but this one was particularly fueled by recent political drama surrounding a viral video and reactions from Republican leaders.
The Video That Sparked the Outrage
Earlier this week, a video posted on X featured six Democratic lawmakers urging members of the military and intelligence community to refuse what they described as “illegal orders” from the Trump administration.
The clip included Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, along with Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander — all veterans — making the call to action.
The video sparked a fiery response from former President Donald Trump, who denounced the lawmakers’ statements on Truth Social as “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
Scarborough’s on-air rant was in part a reaction to Johnson’s attempts to spin the situation positively during a White House press conference on Thursday.
Scarborough Turns Up the Heat
Switching from his usual measured TV delivery to a more candid southern drawl, Scarborough described Johnson as “so shocked and stunned” by the backlash.
The host didn’t mince words when he called out Republican leaders for dishonesty, briefly dropping the F-bomb before correcting himself mid-sentence.
“No apology is expected,” Scarborough said in effect, standing firm on his criticism.
This is not new territory for the host, who last swore on-air in August over Republicans’ “failure” to back stricter gun legislation and during a long 2021 rant following the January 6 Capitol riot.
Accountability Under Fire
Scarborough also accused Johnson of abandoning “his sacred oath,” claiming Republican leaders knowingly misrepresented the actions of the Democratic lawmakers.
The host played a clip of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt incorrectly asserting that the veterans were urging military personnel to defy lawful orders.
Scarborough countered that the lawmakers were careful to reference only illegal orders, highlighting a serious misrepresentation by the administration.
Co-host Jonathan Lemire added perspective, pointing out the gravity of the situation.
“It’s willful ignorance,” he said, “and obviously an extraordinarily serious moment.
The United States is calling for the execution of lawmakers.”
Trump in the Crosshairs
Scarborough suggested Trump was attempting to shift attention away from his own controversies, including his longstanding connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
The former president recently signed legislation demanding the release of documents related to the financier within 30 days.
The Democrats in the video did not specify the orders they considered illegal, but their statements come as Trump faces criticism over recent National Guard deployments and deadly strikes on boats described as “narco-terrorist” threats bringing drugs into the United States.
Cable TV Allows for Candid Commentary
Unlike broadcast networks regulated by the FCC, cable channels like Scarborough’s newly renamed network (formerly MSNBC) allow anchors to curse on-air.
Scarborough and Brzezinski’s passionate reaction highlights both the intensity of the political moment and the freedom cable hosts have to express raw emotion in real-time.
Whether viewers cheered, groaned, or shook their heads, one thing is clear: Scarborough’s outburst underscores just how heated political discourse has become in America today.
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