In a surprising move, MSNBC decided to give its flagship morning program, "Morning Joe," and its early-A.M. companion show, "Way Too Early," the day off on Monday. The decision was made as the NBCUniversal-backed cable-news outlet prioritized breaking-news coverage related to the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump over regular programming.

Most of NBCUniversal's news outlets, including NBC News, MSNBC, and the live-streaming service NBC News Now, dedicated their coverage to a single "special report" feed, providing viewers with consistent updates on the violent event and its aftermath. Executives at NBCU News Group, led by chairman Cesar Conde, were reportedly concerned about potential sensitivities and wanted to avoid any guest on "Morning Joe" saying something that could offend general sensibilities.

Instead, MSNBC opted for what producers call "rolling" coverage of the Trump shooting and the ongoing investigation. Anchors such as Savannah Sellers, Joe Fryer, and Kate Snow led the special report feed, which was simultaneously shared with NBC News Now. MSNBC clarified that plans for this extensive breaking news coverage had been in place since the weekend.

"With the gravity and complexity of this unfolding story, NBC News, NBC News Now, and MSNBC have remained in rolling breaking news coverage since Saturday evening," MSNBC stated in a released statement. "As we continue to cover this story into the week, the networks will continue to cross simulcast, alternating between NBC News, NBC News Now, and 'MSNBC Reports,' ensuring one news feed covering this developing situation."

The decision to interrupt regular programming, including the absence of "Morning Joe," is particularly noteworthy, considering this week marks the start of the Republican National Convention. Previously, MSNBC had planned to utilize the popular program to kick off each day, attracting a loyal audience within the Beltway and even the Biden White House.

While the majority of MSNBC's coverage of the RNC is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, with Rachel Maddow leading a two-hour primetime special alongside the network's opinion hosts, the network's temporary focus on the breaking news coverage speaks to the significance and complexity of the Trump shooting and subsequent investigation.

As NBCUniversal continues to provide in-depth updates, viewers can expect seamless coverage across their various news platforms, including NBC News, NBC News Now, and MSNBC Reports, ensuring comprehensive reporting on this evolving situation.