MS NOW presenter Nicolle Wallace has embarked on what critics are calling a 'bizarre victory lap' over podcast figures like Joe Rogan, who have recently expressed doubts about Donald Trump. However, the commentary has ignited fresh scrutiny of Wallace's own significant political transformation.
From Bush War Room to Liberal Airwaves
During Tuesday's broadcast of Deadline: White House, Wallace, 53, focused on what she termed the 'manosphere' – a network of popular male-dominated podcasts. She played clips featuring Joe Rogan, Shawn Ryan, and Andrew Schulz lavishing praise on Trump, only to highlight their more recent critical remarks.
'Many people who might have associated themselves with Donald Trump, even this time last year, are already having some second thoughts and saying so publicly. It’s easy to see in the so-called manosphere,' Wallace stated.
She was quick to clarify her motives: 'I’m not playing those clips because any of those men are heroic... I’m playing those clips because all three of them contributed to Donald Trump’s victory in an important way.' Wallace emphasised Rogan's vast influence, noting he has 'the biggest podcast in the country, maybe in the world.'
A Glaring Omission: Wallace's Own Political History
What the segment notably omitted was Wallace's own professional history. Prior to her media career, she served as White House Communications Director for President George W. Bush, a role she held until 2006. In that capacity, she was a key defender of the 2003 Iraq invasion.
The war, launched on the premise of locating weapons of mass destruction that were never found, resulted in the deaths of over 4,400 US service personnel and an estimated 200,000 Iraqi civilians. Historians have also linked the conflict to the subsequent rise of ISIS. Wallace's stance shifted dramatically following her well-paid move into television journalism in 2008.
Her critique of the podcasters' 'flip-flop' therefore struck many as ironic. Analysing a 2024 clip where Rogan complimented Trump's appearance, Wallace remarked, 'To go from [that]... I hope he cringes as much as I did.' She added, 'The idea that these guys sucked up to him and helped him win and now... can’t get far enough away from the stench of his political failures, is stunning.'
A Pattern of Provocative Commentary
This incident is not isolated in Wallace's tenure at MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), where she has been since 2015. In October, she hosted actor Jeff Daniels to perform a song about the 'No Kings' protests. Furthermore, she faced a direct rebuke from popular radio host Charlamagne Tha God after she characterised him as a MAGA shill during the last election cycle.
Charlamagne corrected her, stating his commentary merely pointed out issues Democrats were ignoring, like the border and economy. 'I'll never forget when MSNBC did that to me,' he said on her podcast.
Wallace's career trajectory saw her leave the Bush White House, work on Senator John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign—another Iraq War supporter—before ultimately finding her niche as a vocal liberal commentator. The Iraq War itself became deeply unpopular in the US after the failure to find WMDs undermined the Bush administration's core justification.
The episode underscores the complex and often contradictory journeys of political figures who transition into media roles, where past advocacy can collide with present critique.
