Morning Joe cohosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have faced an intervention from their network bosses after their personal tensions spilled over into their professional lives.
“An intervention was necessary to get things back on track,” an insider revealed to In Touch on Thursday, July 18. “What used to be cute banter has become irritating.”
The friction between Joe, 61, and Mika, 57, has reportedly escalated to the point where “guests feel uncomfortable on set when they argue.” The insider added, “With the election approaching, there’s a concern things might deteriorate further.”
The intervention followed a heated exchange between the couple on June 27 while discussing President Joe Biden’s debate performance against Donald Trump. Contributor Mike Barnicle criticized Biden, 81, for missing several opportunities, which Mika defended during the June 28 episode.
“Everyone calm down, and I’ll explain,” Mika said. “It’s okay to be honest about last night, and we’re not going to sugarcoat it. He had a terrible night.”
Joe retorted, “Mika, everyone’s calm here. You’re the only one raising your voice.”
Mika, frustrated, countered that people were too quick to suggest the Democrats needed a new candidate, to which Joe responded, “That’s not what Mike said.”
Mika continued, urging for balance in the media’s portrayal, while Joe insisted they were showing balance and that “nobody’s panicking.”
Although the couple resolved their on-air disagreement, it left the production team anxious about their working relationship.
Joe and Mika, who married in 2018 after nearly a decade of cohosting Morning Joe, have had previous marriages. Mika was married to Jim Hoffer for 22 years, and Joe has been married and divorced twice.
Just before their on-air spat, Joe praised Mika in a rare Instagram post, highlighting her immigrant roots and her parents’ achievements, calling Mika their greatest accomplishment.
In a 2017 interview with People, Joe discussed how they manage conflicts at home. “I’m very driven at work, but at home, I don’t want to fight. I’ve learned with Mika that it’s important to address issues immediately.”
Joe emphasized that their relationship thrives on resolving conflicts quickly, saying, “We always knew we had to settle things by 6 a.m. the next morning.”
He concluded by acknowledging Mika’s transparency, noting, “She can’t hide her feelings on air. If she’s upset, everyone will know.”