Skip to main content
  • Online media
  • Tariffs
  • Epstein
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • RSS
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate

Media Matters for America

  • News & Analysis
  • Research & Studies
  • Audio & Video
  • Archives

Media Matters for America

  • Nav
  • Search
  • News & Analysis
  • Research & Studies
  • Audio & Video
  • Archives
  • Online media
  • Tariffs
  • Epstein
  • Take Action
  • Search
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • RSS

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough again misrepresents polling to attack trans athletes

Scarborough: “And if you don't like how I said it, you and the other 5%, you guys go in a corner somewhere and debate it”

Special Programs LGBTQ

Written by Noah Dowe & Ari Drennen

Published 03/27/24 5:02 PM EDT

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough once again misrepresented polling to attack trans athletes on his March 22 show, claiming that “85% of Americans don't think that a man post-puberty should compete against women in sports” and telling those who disagree with him to “go in a corner somewhere and debate it.”



As Media Matters has previously reported, Scarborough, his co-hosts, and guests have pushed anti-trans talking points numerous times over the last two years, with the MSNBC host repeatedly misrepresenting the findings of a 2022 Pew poll to lament that “82% of Americans don't believe that men who transition post-puberty should be able to compete against women in sports.” In reality, the poll found that while 58% of people “favor” or “strongly favor” laws requiring transgender athletes to compete with members of their birth sex, only 37% of Democrats agree. (The same poll found that 55% of Americans do not know anyone who is transgender.)

Video file

Citation

From the March 22, 2024, edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe

JOE SCARBOROUGH (CO-HOST): In 2022, trans athletes were coming to your neighborhood, and they were going to have sex with whoever you didn't want them to have sex with. I mean, Republicans, some Republicans sent out 20 mailers on trans athletes. Red wave now. Again, sound and fury signifying nothing. 

...



You talk about trans athletes, let's just say it — 85% of Americans don't think that a man post-puberty should compete against women in sports. If you want to have that debate, have that debate. And if you don't like how I said it, you and the other 5%, you guys go in a corner somewhere and debate it. But right here, where 85% of Americans live, Republicans can try to scare people over trans issues or this issue. Americans are like, come on. At the end of the day, Mika, people vote their interests. 

The Latest

  1. After Steve Bannon called for “a MAGA Republican” to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trump fired its commissioner

    Article 08/01/25 4:20 PM EDT

  2. On Fox Business, Stephen Moore reacts to weak jobs report: “I think this is all a result of — this disappointing number — is a result of all the turmoil over tariffs and and the trade wars”

    Video & Audio 08/01/25 11:13 AM EDT

  3. Media Matters weekly newsletter, August 1

    Narrative/Timeline 08/01/25 10:47 AM EDT

  4. Newsmax host: “I want to see Barack Obama dragged out of his Martha's Vineyard mansion in handcuffs”

    Video & Audio 08/01/25 9:29 AM EDT

  5. Fox News since Monday: 85 minutes talking about Sydney Sweeney, 3 minutes talking about Epstein

    Research/Study 07/31/25 2:12 PM EDT

Pagination

  • Previous page ‹‹
  • …
  • Current page 57
  • …
  • Next page ››

In This Article

  • MSNBC

    MSNBC-MMFA-Tag.png
  • Morning Joe

    Morning-Joe-MMFA-Tag.png

Related

  1. MSNBC’s Morning Joe consistently misrepresents trans people as a political liability for Democrats

    Article 06/06/23 12:42 PM EDT

  2. MSNBC's Morning Joe echoes right-wing talking points ahead of the midterms

    Article 10/11/22 4:29 PM EDT

  3. On MSNBC, Angelo Carusone explains the looming merger allegedly influencing decisions to broadcast Jimmy Kimmel

    Video & Audio 09/23/25 9:19 PM EDT

Media Matters for America

Sign up for email updates
  • About
  • Contact
  • Corrections
  • Submissions
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • RSS

© 2025 Media Matters for America

RSS