MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell claimed he was “exhausted” from covering Trump’s triumphant return to the White House. Turns out, that exhaustion might have had a lot more to do with his paycheck than his politics.

While viewers were speculating about his prolonged absence from The Last Word, O’Donnell was reportedly laying the groundwork for a bold salary demand — a $25 million annual contract, matching network star Rachel Maddow’s price tag. According to recent reports, the longtime anchor wants not just the fat check, but also a scaled-back workload, à la Maddow’s once-a-week primetime appearance.

So much for principled burnout over Trump’s presidency. This smells more like classic network posturing: play up the emotional fatigue, disappear for a bit, and quietly push for more money behind the scenes.

The timing is interesting. O’Donnell had recently praised Maddow’s rare daily grind during Trump’s first 100 days back in office, declaring on-air that he was “exhausted” just halfway through that stretch. Now, with Trump’s momentum only growing, the MSNBC host seems less eager to fight the good fight and more eager to cash in.

But here’s the kicker: while O’Donnell wants Maddow-level money, he doesn’t pull Maddow-level ratings. In fact, MSNBC as a whole has been hemorrhaging viewers lately, especially as left-wing audiences tune out in frustration over the Democratic Party’s implosion. Even Maddow had to accept a $5 million pay cut when she negotiated her $25M deal five years ago.

If MSNBC leadership is reluctant to grant O’Donnell his ask, they’ve got plenty of reasons. O’Donnell’s absence isn’t sparking the kind of viewer revolt that would pressure the network. He’s not bringing in new eyes, and frankly, his brand of low-energy, Trump-deranged commentary is starting to wear thin in an age where Democrats are imploding under their own contradictions.

And yet — here he is, using his “Trump fatigue” as cover for a massive contract grab.

This isn’t just media drama. It’s emblematic of the broader hypocrisy on the left: scream about equity, decry capitalism, and then demand $25 million while the network you work for tanks in ratings. It’s the same game played by politicians, pundits, and activists who rail against “privilege” while cashing checks that the average American could only dream of.

Let’s not forget, this is the same MSNBC that has no problem running endless segments on how Trump’s policies are supposedly destroying working families — all while their top talent tries to secure mega-deals for fewer hours.

Maybe O’Donnell really is tired. But if that’s the case, perhaps he should step aside and let someone else pick up the slack. Someone who’s not demanding a Maddow-sized fortune to preach to a shrinking audience.

And if this is just about the money, then maybe — just maybe — he’s closer to understanding conservative principles than he realizes. After all, wanting to be rewarded for your work, market demand, and performance? Sounds downright capitalistic.

We didn’t have “Lawrence O’Donnell embraces free market values” on our 2025 bingo card. But stranger things have happened. Just ask Rachel Maddow — she might be the only person at MSNBC still making the math work.

Keep it here at RedState, where we’ll continue reporting on the hypocrisies, the power plays, and the implosions of a media elite that preaches socialism while practicing self-enrichment.