In news media and politics, assume every microphone is live. No exceptions.
Failure to do this is how you end up saying to thousands of people something that was originally intended for only one set of ears. Thinking that the microphone isn’t live is how you get a CNBC guest host referring to a Democratic lawmaker’s talking points as a “crock of shit” on live television.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., appeared Wednesday on CNBC’s Squawk Box Wednesday to discuss efforts by New York Democrats to renegotiate the scuttled Amazon HQ2 deal, which called originally for the online retailer to build part of its second headquarters in New York City. Amazon walked away from the arrangement in February, citing anti-business hostility from state and municipal lawmakers.
On Wednesday, Meeks stressed that any renegotiated deal between the online retailer and New York City would have to benefit minority communities.
“I do believe we got to be inclusive in any deals, though,” the congressman said.
“Same here,” Zell said.
When Amazon announced last month that it’d abandon its plans to build part of its second headquarters in New York City, Zell said it was a “sad day,” adding that the scuttled deal represented a “long-term investment in the city.”
Oddly enough, after the congressman’s perfectly cordial appearance on CNBC wrapped Wednesday morning, Zell could be heard grumbling off-camera: “What a crock of shit.”
A shocked-looking Melissa Lee realized immediately that Zell’s microphone was live.
“Squawk Box, where anything can happen,” the show’s host joked before throwing the segment to commercial. When the show came back, Lee continued to play off the gaffe, saying, Zell has “got a lot to say, as you’ve heard.”
Meeks didn’t think it was so funny. He demanded an explanation Wednesday morning, tweeting: “Sam Zell should explain what about minority inclusion in economic development is a ‘crock of shit’, and why city’s [sic] like NY and Chicago shouldn’t bake those requirements into tax incentives.”
The congressman added, “This is what women and people of color deal with in the corporate board rooms daily [CNBC].”
CNBC has not yet offered a public comment explaining Zell’s remarks.
This sort of headache is entirely avoidable. From the moment the microphone is clipped on, to the moment it is returned to the studio staff, always assume it’s live. Zell’s goof Wednesday isn’t on the same level as getting caught saying Republicans are “happy to have a party when black people drown.” But it’s not great either.
