Joy Reid & Don Lemon claim CANADA can kick USA’s butt in a WAR
In this DML Report…
Former MSNBC host Joy Reid appeared on ex-CNN host Don Lemon’s show, marking her first public statement since her firing from MSNBC in February 2025. Reid claimed that Canada would defeat the United States in a hypothetical war, arguing that President Trump’s idea of making Canada the 51st state would require military conquest. She referenced the War of 1812, asserting incorrectly that Canada “beat” the U.S., citing the British burning of Washington, D.C., in 1814. In reality, the war ended in a stalemate with the Treaty of Ghent, preserving pre-war boundaries. Reid also compared Canada’s vast, uninhabited Arctic terrain to Russia’s defense against Nazi Germany in World War II, suggesting it would thwart a U.S. invasion.
Reid’s MSNBC show, The ReidOut, was canceled in February amid a broader network shakeup led by new president Rebecca Kutler. The cancellation followed a steep ratings drop, with viewership falling from nearly 3 million per episode at its 2020 premiere to 778,000 by February 20, 2025. Alongside Reid, MSNBC axed shows hosted by Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, and Ayman Mohyeldin, all non-white anchors, prompting criticism from colleague Rachel Maddow, who called the moves “indefensible” on air. Kutler defended the changes as data-driven, not influenced by Trump, and aimed at repositioning MSNBC for 2025. Reid’s staff were terminated but offered pay through April plus severance.
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During her interview with Lemon, Reid doubled down on her historical take, claiming Canada’s gun ownership rivals the U.S. and bolsters its defensive edge. This is inaccurate—U.S. civilian firearm ownership stands at nearly 400 million compared to Canada’s 12.7 million, per 2017 World Population Review data, with the U.S. population 8.5 times larger. Reid’s firing stemmed partly from her polarizing progressive stances, including her vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in the Israel-Hamas war, which reportedly clashed with MSNBC’s push for a less divisive liberal tone. She has since hinted at “plotting revenge” against the network, with sources claiming she’s resisting an NDA and may expose internal issues, though no concrete actions have surfaced yet.