On MSNBC's Morning Joe on Wednesday, the Daily Beast writer who dredged up Donald Trump's 1989 divorce details found himself on a bit of a hot seat, as the MSNBC panelists generally rejected the idea that it was a relevant and important story. After much buildup and more crosstalk, Joe Scarborough simply bid the writer farewell and cut the segment short, lest he face the firing squad any further.

The Real Clear Politics video above documents the entire encounter, with Daily Beast contributor and author of the hit piece Tim Mak first appearing at about 1:39 in the clip. From RCP:

Trump coverage "is expected to be like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," says panelist Mike Barnicle. "What else are you going to look at? This is -- You can't get a more arcane aspect of the Trump background than a divorce settlement 15 or 20 years ago? What else do you think is out there that could be trolled upon?"

"I'm not sure exactly," replies Tim Mak, "but I think this story is an illustration of what we might see. This is a guy who actually is appealing to a large percentage of the Republican primary base. That's worth looking at and he is worth vetting."

"Okay, you guys let me know when you uncover something new," says Brzezinski, eager to change subjects. "OK, Tim Mak, thanks for coming."

Finally Joe tells him "I think it is best to thank you for coming and slowly step away from this segment." Joe goes on to explain how this kind of reporting discourages people from running for office, when Harold Ford makes the most salient observation of the whole exchange.

If to go after him in this way is the best the press has against him, he's going to be around a little bit longer than some have predicted. In fact he'll find a place in the spotlight, legitimately so, for some time.

The media can't seem to learn that their running as an opposition candidate instead of reporting on the candidates is not OK. They decided Sarah Palin was unacceptable to them, and they sent an army to Alaska to dedicate their lives to attacking her. To this day they have not stopped. They didn't like a question from a private citizen addressed to candidate Obama, so like vultures they descended on Joe the Plumber's life as well. The list of their victims goes on and on.

Yet still they come sneering and superior onto MSNBC from their sacred perches of hipdom to inveigh against those they find insufficiently "fellow traveler" in status, as the snide Mak did here. His first statement on Morning Joe was that "I don't think Republican primary voters have gotten the message," he said, "that Donald Trump is not serious."

You see how he has decided for you? Trump is not serious, Republicans, and your better is here to instruct you. You haven't got the message. Tim Mak is going to give it to you.

Although the Morning Joe resistance was, in the main, predicated on co-host Mika's same belief that Donald Trump is not serious and therefore should not be a topic at all, it seems at least some of the panel are starting to realize that this attitude from the media is starting to backfire significantly. Says Joe:

I wonder if [the Trump candidacy] isn't in part, a reaction by the voters, who say "we don't care." We think people are negotiating stupid trade deals, we want somebody who knows how to get things done. Maybe that is a reaction to the media as well as everything else.

A more complete transcript and additional video are available from Real Clear Politics.