Jack Shafer writes:As if responding to an alarm setting on a cosmic, biological clock, the press and its minders set to ringing and clanging bloody murder over the weekend as NBC News moved Ronna McDaniel — the recently sacked Republican National Committee chair — to a paid gig in its studio.

The hottest criticism took place on NBC News’ own Sunday edition of Meet the Press after McDaniel made her first appearance, when Chuck Todd, Meet the Press’ former host, laid down a barrage of verbal spitfire. NBC News bosses owed the current host, Kristen Welker, an apology for foisting McDaniel on the show, Todd said. “I have no idea whether any answer she gave to you was because she didn’t want to mess up her contract,” Todd said.

It was a remarkable 2 minutes 21 seconds of television. First, because the first law of journalism was violated by allowing the program itself to become the story. And second, because it put a glaring spotlight on one of the fundamental flaws embedded in the modern news ecosystem, and cable news in particular: the toxic revolving door between political operatives and mainstream media. [Continue reading…]