Following NBC News' announcement of hiring Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, criticism quickly arose from both media critics and prominent journalists within the network. McDaniel, who was the chair of the Republican National Committee from early 2017 until recently, faced skepticism and opposition due to her alignment with former President Donald Trump during his post-election activities, which many find concerning given her history of supporting efforts to overturn the election results.

Several NBC News journalists, notably Chuck Todd, Joe Scarborough, and Mika Brzezinski, spoke out against McDaniel's hiring, expressing discomfort and disapproval over the decision. Chuck Todd called out the network for putting their colleagues in a difficult position, highlighting the unease felt among many at NBC News regarding the hiring of a figure who has been known for launching attacks on MSNBC hosts and the network itself during her time as RNC chair. The move to bring McDaniel on board was deemed highly unusual, with concerns raised about her credibility and the message it sends to viewers about the network's values and journalistic integrity.

The backlash against NBC's decision to hire McDaniel extended beyond internal criticism, with commentators and media reporters like Oliver Darcy from CNN describing the situation as a "disaster" for the network. The controversy surrounding McDaniel's appointment has raised questions about NBC News' commitment to journalistic principles and its responsibility to provide balanced and credible perspectives. Critics have also pointed out the discrepancy between the network's layoffs in its news division earlier this year and the significant salary reportedly offered to McDaniel, which has further fueled discontent among NBC staff and observers. Additionally, hosts like Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski expressed their objections to McDaniel's hiring, emphasizing the importance of having diverse voices but calling for a reconsideration of the choice to include someone with a controversial track record in election denialism.