…and, thus, perhaps, tries to dare Sen. Hillary Clinton to pull out of the Feb. 26 debate scheduled for the network? It is, after all, an odd time to be paying more attention to Chelsea.

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Big Head DC featured an interview with MSNBC’s David Shuster in July of 2006 — after Jessica Cutler shared with us that she once had an affair with the political reporter. Cutler, you’ll recall, is a former congressional staff assistant for former Sen. Mike DeWine. She was fired in 2004 after describing her sexual exploits in a blog called Washingtonienne. 

BHDC: What do you love/hate about reporting from Washington day in and day out?

David Shuster: I love the stories, I hate the humidity. Seriously, the weather here stinks. We should all move the nation’s capital to the California coast. Back to the stories… All of us who work as reporters in D.C. are quite fortunate compared to our colleagues elsewhere. Unlike war correspondents or people who cover natural disasters, the worst thing that ever happens in D.C. is somebody loses their reputation.

BHDC: How do you get along with Chris Matthews/Dan Abrams?

DS: I get along well with both Chris Matthews and Dan Abrams. Chris is the best boss and mentor I’ve ever had. And Dan is the most brilliant management choice I’ve ever seen. Dan is a great guy with a terrific view of cable news and how to improve MSNBC. Read more…

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Big Head DC has learned from sources inside the MSNBC camp that Phil Griffin, senior vice president at the network, “screamed” at reporter David Shuster for not agreeing to immediately apologize to Chelsea Clinton for saying on-air she had been “pimped out” by her mom’s campaign. Griffin threatened to fire Shuster “on the spot,” and it was only with intervention from Tim Russert that Shuster didn’t lose his position.

Meanwhile, Chris Matthews, Hardball anchor and a longtime ally of Shuster, has told acquaintances that he “wishes he could do more” to aid Shuster, but Matthews is already in deep trouble with network bigwigs for making several sexist remarks about Sen. Hillary Clinton. Matthews would like to be vocally supporting Shuster in this situation, but he’s worried that he could lose his current role of anchoring political events on the network, if he does not appear to stay neutral.

Still, that concern hasn’t stopped Matthews from making unattributed quotes to some news outlets, according to our sources.

On another note in this unfolding drama, Big Head DC has learned that Julianna Goldman, wife of Shuster, is “distraught and angry” at MSNBC for the way the network has treated her husband. Goldman, a rising star at Bloomberg News, may be trying to secure a position for Shuster with her bosses at her network.

Earlier: Apology May Keep David Shuster From Being Fired

Shuster Off-Air At MSNBC; Still Could Face Firing

MSNBC Reporter Compares Chelsea Clinton to Prostitute; Clinton Camp Might Not Do Future MSNBC Debates and Appearances

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“On Thursday’s Tucker on MSNBC, David Shuster, who was serving as guest-host of the program, made a comment about Chelsea Clinton and the Clinton campaign that was irresponsible and inappropriate,” NBC News President Steve Capus writes in a statement. “Shuster, who apologized this morning on MSNBC and will again this evening, has been suspended from appearing on all NBC News broadcasts, other than to make his apology. He has also extended an apology to the Clinton family. NBC News takes these matters seriously, and offers our sincere regrets to the Clintons for the remarks.”

An MSNBC insider tells Big Head DC that Shuster did not want to offer the apology in the first place — and only agreed to do so once it was clear that MSNBC would consider firing him if he did not.

Earlier: MSNBC Reporter Compares Chelsea Clinton to Prostitute; Clinton Camp Might Not Do Future MSNBC Debates and Appearances

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