Ex-MSNBC host says she couldn't criticize Hillary Clinton without network's approval

A former MSNBC political commentator recently claimed that she could not broadcast criticism of Hillary Clinton leading up to the 2016 presidential election without first getting approval from the network's president, the New York Post reported.

During an interview on Joe Rogan's Spotify podcast last week, Krystal Ball, former co-host for MSNBC's "The Cycle" and former Democratic Party congressional candidate, stated that she was reprimanded for her critical commentary of the Democratic presidential candidate in 2014.

Ball, 41, told Rogan, "I did this whole thing that was like, 'She sold out to Wall Street. People are gonna hate this lady. She's like the terrible candidate for the moment. Please don't run.'"

The former MSNBC host noted that her monologue was initially approved.

"I was allowed to say it," Ball stated. "I deliver my thing. I did it exactly how I wanted to do it. Afterwards, I get pulled into an office."

Ball explained that she was told that the next time she wanted to make any commentary on Clinton, she would have to get approval from the network president, who, at that time, was Phil Griffin.

Ball noted that she did comment on Clinton in later broadcasts but that the reprimand affected how critical she was of the presidential candidate.

"I did further Hillary Clinton commentary, there's no doubt about it. But I would love to say that didn't affect me, and I was just there to be a truth teller," Ball continued. "But, listen, I'm a human being. I'm sure I responded to the incentives in that system of, like, 'God, I don't want to get in trouble with the boss.'"

"For sure," Rogan responded.

"That's a very blatant example, but oftentimes people know where the boundaries are. They know what they're allowed to say, and so they don't need that direct intervention of censorship," she added.

Ball noted that most individuals working in cable news get the position because "they are reliable purveyors of whatever it is that that network wants to purvey," not because they have talent.

"That's ultimately why they get the job, and they understand the parameters of the task," she stated.

MSNBC did not respond to a request for comment, the Post reported.

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