Rachel Maddow breaks down over babies being sent to 'tender age' shelters
It's hard to rattle Rachel Maddow.
No matter how infuriating the news, she usually stays calm and collected. But news that the Trump administration is forcibly separating babies from their parents and sending them to "tender age" shelters was just too much.
Rachel Maddow chokes up and cries on air as she struggles to deliver news that migrant babies and toddlers have been sent to "tender age" shelters pic.twitter.com/O6crm8cvyR
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 20, 2018
Maddow attempted to read the update from the Associated Press on her MSNBC show on Tuesday night, but was overcome with emotion. Later, she apologized on Twitter for breaking down.
Ugh, I'm sorry.
If nothing else, it is my job to actually be able to speak while I'm on TV.
What I was trying to do — when I suddenly couldn't say/do anything — was read this lede:
1/6— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) June 20, 2018
Here are the opening sentences of the story she was trying to read:
"Trump administration officials have been sending babies and other young children forcibly separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border to at least three 'tender age' shelters in South Texas ... Lawyers and medical providers who have visited the Rio Grande Valley shelters described play rooms of crying preschool-age children in crisis."
There was, of course, no need to apologize. Maddow reacted like most human beings would to such a heartbreaking story — with compassion. And her fans made sure she knew she had their support.
John and I have watched this show for a long, long time now. DVR’ed every night. And I’ve never ever seen her cry. “Summer camp”. “Womp womp”. FUCK these heartless people. https://t.co/ysecicCauy
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) June 20, 2018
Rachel @maddow In all the years I've been watching you report with such intelligence & tenacity, I have never seen you break down & cry like this & I want you to know the 1) I treasure you 2) Please take care of your heart. & 3) THANK YOU from the bottom of MY heart. @MSNBC
— Rabbi Jill Zimmerman (@RabbiJill) June 20, 2018
Watching Rachel Maddow break down on live television given the horror of news about where the Administration is putting babies is surreal.
— Anthony Michael Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) June 20, 2018
Many people contrasted it with former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski going on Fox News earlier the same day to mock a 10-year-old-girl with Down syndrome who was separated from her mother.
A wise person might wish to compare the reactions today of Rachel Maddow and Corey Lewandowski. One shows how a person with normal human compassion and decency reacting to the news coming out. The other, well, the other type of reaction is the sort that created the policy.
— Mark Pitcavage (@egavactip) June 20, 2018
A tale of two parties...
Rachel Maddow breaks down while reporting about children being taken from their parents...
Corey Lewandowski mocks a girl with Down Syndrome being taken from her parents...
You decide which side of history you want to be on.
I have.— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) June 20, 2018
The AP reports more than 2,300 children have been taken from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border since early May. The effort is part of Donald Trump's "zero-tolerance" policy meant to dissuade more immigrants from entering the country, many of whom are fleeing violence in Central American nations such as Guatemala and El Salvador.
