Presidential candidate Andrew Yang was speaking out on Twitter about MSNB in November after he was left out of coverage again. He said that MSNBC asked him to appear on air over the weekend in late November, and he said he would do so, but only after they apologized on-air. The demands, he said, have come after being left out of MSNBC graphics more than 12 times, along with other issues. Here’s a look at the issues between Yang and MSNBC, including some of the graphics that did not include him which sparked trends about a “Yang Media Blackout.”

MSNBC Left Andrew Yang Off Some Graphics Since March, & Apologized Sometimes for the Errors

MSNBC’s coverage of Andrew Yang has been the source of a lot of debate. One good account to follow for updates is Scott Santens on Twitter. Santens, editor of the UBI News Hub, has been documenting many of these instances, so you will see quite a few of his tweets in this story. He has a documented list of media blackouts in his story here. Meanwhile, the Twitter account Memes4Yang is documenting MSNBC’s apologies to Yang. It’s not known why some of the instances happened.

The controversy came back into the spotlight after Yang tweeted on November 23 about an invitation from MSNBC. He wrote: “Was asked to appear on @msnbc this weekend – and told them that I’d be happy to after they apologize on-air, discuss and include our campaign consistent with our polling, and allow surrogates from our campaign as they do other candidates’. They think we need them. We don’t… They’ve omitted me from their graphics 12+ times, called me John Yang on air, and given me a fraction of the speaking time over 2 debates despite my polling higher than other candidates on stage. At some point you have to call it… The whole time we have gotten stronger. This is actually bad for MSNBC. It will only get worse after I make the next debates and keep rising in the polls. The people are smarter than MSNBC would like to think.”

They’ve omitted me from their graphics 12+ times, called me John Yang on air, and given me a fraction of the speaking time over 2 debates despite my polling higher than other candidates on stage. At some point you have to call it. — Andrew Yang? (@AndrewYang) November 23, 2019

Here’s a look at some of the times he was left off graphics or coverage on MSNBC, dating back to March.

In March, Yang was left off MSNBC’s list of all the announced presidential candidates.

In April 2019, Yang was left off an MSNBC graphic even though he was polling higher than three other candidates on the graphic. Joy Reid said it was a mistake and they would fix it.

Very good point Andrew! I didn't notice that on set but we will make sure going forward that the graphics on the show are accurate and inclusive. Thank you for the heads up!! — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) April 22, 2019

Here’s a tweet from MSNBC from April that excludes Yang from the 2020 Democratic candidates.

A look at the top 2020 Democratic presidential contenders, as Joe Biden joins the race. pic.twitter.com/rt0kkQUUO1 — MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 25, 2019

On April 28, while MSNBC was interviewing Yang, a graphic was shown by MSNBC that left Yang off.

In May/June, Yang was polling better than many of the people who were included in the graphic from MSNBC below.

Also in May, Yang was excluded from an MSNBC graphic showing the top contenders, even though he was polling higher than seven of the candidates.

Dear @MSNBC: 10 of the 20 people you've represented to all your viewers as the "2020 Contenders" are polling at or below @AndrewYang. 7 of them are polling lower than Andrew yet you seem determined to exclude him and ignore the #YangGang. #WheresAndrew? pic.twitter.com/wtZco3PZ8I — Nerds for Yang ?(Tom) (@nerdsforyang) May 17, 2019

During the Poor People’s Campaign Forum in June, MSNBC spoke over Yang’s appearance. A video tweeted by HumanityFirstX used to show this, but the Twitter account is now gone.

Here’s an MSNBC graphic from June where Yang’s picture was missing and some candidates who didn’t qualify for the debates were included:

And another tweet from MSNBC in June, showing candidates including ones that Yang was outpolling.

New Iowa Poll: Joe Biden leads the pack. https://t.co/11DC3290LQ — MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 10, 2019

In the photo above, Marianne Williamson was also missing. However, it appears that two other candidates who didn’t qualify were in the graphic. After a lot of complaints online, MSNBC fixed the graphic.

Then in late June, MSNBC showed Yang’s photo in a list of Top 8 candidates and read every name but Yang’s.

Around the same time, MSNBC had a graphic showing the top 7 candidates. Yang, who was polling at 1.1 percent at the time in late June, would have been the eighth on the graphic.

Isn't it kind of odd how @MSNBC went with 7 bars here instead of 8? Doesn't it look asymmetrically unappealing? Does it look to you like something is missing? That number 8 spot belongs to @AndrewYang with 1.1%.#YangGang #Yang2020 pic.twitter.com/HnOtnmBqDT — Scott Santens? (@scottsantens) June 26, 2019

As Yang started doing better in polls and kept making the requirements for the Democratic debates, supporters expected his representation in graphics to improve, but it did not.

In August, MSNBC invited Yang to speak about the Ohio shootings and then cut away to focus on Bernie Sanders.

MSNBC: "Thanks for accepting our invite to speak to our audience today… lol/jk… here's live footage of Bernie."#YangGang #Yang2020pic.twitter.com/hZ2sdi1fPt — Scott Santens? (@scottsantens) August 4, 2019

Yang was included in this August 14 graphic, but he could barely be seen.

MSNBC: "Okay let's make a graphic that displays all 9 of the candidates that have already qualified for the fall debates. Oh and let's use perspective to make our favorites bigger and let's put Yang on the far end. One more thing, make sure to block him. There we go…" #YangGang pic.twitter.com/nW7bT2IyMl — Scott Santens? (@scottsantens) August 14, 2019

On September 5, NBC published a webpage of all the 2020 candidates and left Yang off. He was outpolling five of the candidates on the page at the time.

NBC doesn't even list @AndrewYang on their 2020 Democratic Presidential Election Candidates page. He's MIA. As I write this, Yang is outpolling all but 5 of the candidates on this page of 16 faces.https://t.co/8YU9PkC979#YangGang #Yang2020 #YangMediaBlackout #GoogleAndrewYang pic.twitter.com/SEc0VqWiHi — Scott Santens? (@scottsantens) September 6, 2019

In September, Ari Melber apologized for an error about Yang during a segment on The Beat.

In early September, NBC posted a graphic listing the 10 candidates on the debate stage and Yang was not included. Yang tweeted about it.

Michael Hopper, senior producer for NBC, apologized.

About a month ago in September, reports surfaced that MSNBC live anchor Stephanie Rhule had tweeted that Yang should have been included on an MSNBC graphic. But that tweet appears to be gone, although the discussion about it on Reddit remains.

On Reddit, one person wrote: “The fact that the tweet has been deleted makes this whole thing even MORE upsetting.”

On October 24, six candidates polled at 1 percent in a poll but only Beto O’Rourke’s 1 percent was included.

CNN: "Six candidates got 1% in the latest Quinnipiac poll, including @AndrewYang. How should we display that in our graphic? Hmmm… let's go ahead and just put Beto up there, and exclude the other five." Poll data: https://t.co/Uk1DYeVEsX#YangMediaBlackout #YangGang #Yang2020 pic.twitter.com/JUbG1fpD7F — Scott Santens? (@scottsantens) October 24, 2019

In ironic coverage on November 10, a report on how cable news was covering candidates left Yang off the graphic, although O’Rourke was included even though he had dropped out of the race. At the time, Santens said that only five candidates were outpolling Yang that week.

MSNBC: "News networks like us are disproportionately covering the Democratic Presidential candidates. Let's inform our viewers of that by leaving out @AndrewYang again, but including Beto who already dropped out of the race." (This one is so meta)#YangMediaBlackout #YangGang pic.twitter.com/axc4STz2Op — Scott Santens? (@scottsantens) November 10, 2019

On November 17, Yang was left off a graphic showing how candidates were polling in the Iowa caucus. He was polling at 3 percent, higher than some candidates who were included.

Why does @MSNBC keep leaving out @AndrewYang on their graphics (actually at 3% here)? This has happened on a number of occasions, I haven’t seen with any other candidate. It’s not just a slip up. Unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/2vJrYx5DKQ — ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) November 17, 2019

MSNBC apologized for the oversight during a broadcast. They redid the graphic.

Earlier on UP, we aired a poll graphic that inadvertently left off @AndrewYang. This was a mistake that we've since corrected on air. We apologize to Mr. Yang. Here's the correct graphic: pic.twitter.com/SDoqsxdiiD — Up on MSNBC (@UPonMSNBC) November 17, 2019

MSNBC wrote: “Earlier on UP, we aired a poll graphic that inadvertently left off @AndrewYang. This was a mistake that we’ve since corrected on air. We apologize to Mr. Yang. Here’s the correct graphic.”

Yang Said His Mic Was Muted During the June Debate Hosted by NBC, MSNBC, & Telemundo

During a June 2019 debate hosted by MSNBC, NBC, and Telemundo, Yang said his mic was muted on more than one occasion. This was not the first time he encountered issues with MSNBC, but this was the first time an issue was widely shared online.

Here’s a video that shows Yang trying to speak during the debate. At one point you can see Yang appearing to open his mouth and speak, but unlike the other candidates, his voice isn’t heard. NBC News told Newsweek that the mic was never turned off. “At no point during the debate was any candidate’s microphone turned off or muted.”

Here’s the same video on YouTube.

PROOF Andrew Yang's Microphone Was Muted at DemDebate2Andrew Yang tries to interject after Bernie at #DemDebate2 but his mic audio is cut and Gillibrand's audio is allowed through. Watch Version 2 of this video which keeps Biden within the replay here: https://youtu.be/MzpM_1trxDc. Source video: https://youtu.be/cX7hni-zGD8?t=4357 #LetYangSpeak #Yang2020 #YangGang 2019-06-28T08:17:14.000Z

It appears from the video that either his own mic was muted and he was faintly picked up by other mics, or his mic was leveled down. However, NBC has said this did not happen. Others have pointed out that you can see Joe Biden turning to look at Yang in the video above, indicating that he was talking loud enough for those near him to hear him, but not anyone else.

An alert reader on Twitter also brought up another possible instance.

@StephanieDube great article on @AndrewYang mic being muted. I have more evidence. Please go to 2:23:55 of the following video where you can hear him being heard on @PeteButtigieg mic as he finishes talking:https://t.co/lSQt4zkBjv — Martin Cole ??☂️? (@MCRaven747) June 30, 2019

The video is here and can’t be embedded. Just before 2:24, listen as Pete Buttigieg is speaking. When he finishes his speech, you can see Yang trying to talk but it appears his voice is picked up by Buttigieg’s mic. Then Yang touches his mic as if to indicate it’s not working.

Yang tweeted about his mic being turned off unless he was called on.

Second, I feel bad for those who tuned in to see and support me that I didn’t get more airtime. Will do better (my mic being off unless called on didn’t help) and glad to have another opportunity in July (and afterwards)! — Andrew Yang? (@AndrewYang) June 28, 2019

Marianne Williamson, who was also in the debate, has said her mic was muted at times, too.

As much fun as I've had laughing at all the understandable hilarious tweets about me today, the mic issue is not funny and yes it did happen. I tried a couple of times to jump in and my mic was not on. Particularly wanted in on the subject of race. — Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) June 29, 2019

NBC News told Newsweek that the mic was never turned off. “At no point during the debate was any candidate’s microphone turned off or muted.”

Now Some Yang Supporters Are Considering Boycotting MSNBC Advertisers & Protesting

Brian Yang tweeted that he feels like the silencing of Yang is a symptom of systematic racism. Brian Yang is Andrew Yang’s regional fundraising director.

Hate to say, but after consulting w/someone who works at MSNBC, someone who worked both NY/LA city gov't, & someone who's studied this academically, @MSNBC's silencing of AY feels like systemic racism. This would never happen to an African American/Latinx candidate. #LetYangSpeak — Brian Yang (@briflys) November 21, 2019

Meanwhile, some Yang supporters are organizing a protest to take place outside MSNBC headquarters on Sunday, November 24 at noon.

Redditor YangsterSupreme wrote: “MSNBC HQ is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza; New York City, New York. This isn’t an official event sponsored by the campaign btw this is organized by the Yang Gang. Spread the word as much as possible! We need to put more pressure on MSNBC because words and hashtags alone aren’t enough! We need to take action! LET YANG SPEAK!!!”

Others are calling for a boycott of MSNBC’s top sponsors.

Not all supporters agree with the boycotts and protests, so it’s unclear at this time how many will participate. Some supporters believe the time would be better spent knocking on doors and reaching out to new people. This is a developing story.

If you have comments about this story or additional examples of uneven news coverage, tweet the author of this article.