In a poignant television moment, Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) could not hold back her tears during her appearance on MSNBC's "Katie Phang Show." The emotional reaction came as host Katie Phang lauded the congresswoman for her dedication to political work and support for democracy. The heartfelt scene unfolded during one of the final episodes of the show, which is set to be canceled as part of a broader corporate reshuffling at MSNBC.
During the interview, prior to the tearful conclusion, Rep. Crockett made headlines with a controversial statement comparing former President Donald Trump to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported individual previously identified as a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. Garcia had been deported to El Salvador in March after an immigration judge determined his involvement with the gang, which is notorious for drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent crimes, including murder.
Crockett, not mincing words, asserted, “As far as I’m concerned, he’s a lot less criminal than the person in the White House.” She referenced Garcia's lack of criminal convictions in contrast to the legal entanglements faced by Trump. “The last time I checked, he didn’t have any criminal convictions,” Crockett pointed out, referring to Garcia. She highlighted the stark difference in their legal backgrounds, mentioning that Trump “still had cases pending when he was sworn in on January 20 and also has 34 felony convictions.”
These remarks added a layer of controversy to the segment, sparking discussions on the legal system, immigration, and political leadership. Phang underscored Crockett's statements by revisiting a clip of the congresswoman from an earlier show appearance, followed by personal comments as the program neared its end. “Congresswoman, I wanted to thank you for always getting up early and delivering it,” Phang said, expressing gratitude for Crockett's unwavering support for democracy, which she described as part of Crockett's brand and a testament to her integrity.
Visibly affected by the praise, Crockett was overcome with emotion, unable to continue as tears streamed down her face. Phang wrapped up the segment, thanking Crockett for her contributions to the show.
The cancellation of the Katie Phang Show is part of a larger reorganization within MSNBC's parent company, Comcast, which is merging several media properties into a new publicly traded entity. This restructuring includes the end of other shows like "The Reid Out" and affects networks such as E!, SYFY, Oxygen, USA Network, and the Golf Channel. NBCUniversal assets like NBC News and Peacock will remain under Comcast's wing. Comcast President Mike Cavanagh clarified that the transaction would be a tax-free spin to existing shareholders, with the transition expected to take about a year to complete.
