MSNBC’s Brzezinski praises Fox News on Sanders town hall: ‘That’s called TV news’

MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski praised rival Fox News on Wednesday, saying the network “did a good job having a diverse audience” at a recent town hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), adding, “That’s called TV news.”

The commentary during a segment on “Morning Joe” comes as more than 2.55 million viewers tuned in to the Fox News town hall with Sanders on Monday night, making it the most-watched town hall of this campaign cycle so far, according to Nielsen Media Research. {mosads}

“One of the ways to level the playing field is to show up,” Brzezinski said. “I think Bernie Sanders did great.”

“Fox did a good job having a diverse audience in there,” she later added. “That’s called TV news. That’s called covering a campaign.”

“Morning Joe” regular and veteran columnist Mike Barnicle proceeded to weigh in on Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez‘s decision to ban Fox News from hosting a Democratic presidential primary debate this campaign cycle.

“Tom Perez, he’s a very good guy, and I like him,” Barnicle said. “But he is so far off the mark here, banning Fox News from the Democratic debate. I mean you’re running for president of the United States, isn’t one of the basic ideas to reach as many Americans as possible? This is one of the ways to reach as many Americans as possible.”

Perez said on March 6 that he had held conversations with Fox News about potentially allowing the network to host a primary debate.

But he later said that a story published in The New Yorker that claimed the network had extensive ties with the Trump administration prompted the committee to end consideration.

“We love Bret Baier and Martha [MacCallum],” Brzezinski added. “They’re great, they’re good journalists, along with Shep [Smith] over there. Fox has some good people.”

“If you’re afraid of Tucker Carlson, how are you going to be president of the United States?” Barnicle added. “Go on to Fox News.”

The Hill reported Tuesday that South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sanders’s fellow Democratic presidential candidate, is also in talks to appear in a Fox News town hall event.

A Buttigieg campaign spokesperson told The Hill that “reaching out to the Fox audience is something we intend to do.”

Several other 2020 Democratic hopefuls also told The Hill they are willing to consider appearing at a Fox News town hall.