Journalists see themselves as truth-tellers, and sometimes as contrarians.

A top concern for local election workers throughout the country this year is their own safety.

Most news organizations hold its journalists to strict ethical standards to avoid conflicts of interest either real or perceived.

NBC News' messy hiring and firing of former Republican National Committee head Ronna McDaniel puts a spotlight on television's practice of paying on-air political contributors.

Donald Trump’s political operation was widely praised for its professionalism and effectiveness throughout the Republican nomination fight.

NBC News will cut ties with former Republican National Committee chief Ronna McDaniel, hired last week as an on-air political contributor.

Hosts across MSNBC's airwaves are following Chuck Todd in publicly criticizing their network for hiring former Republican National Committee chief Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor.

Donald Trump’s lieutenants are cutting dozens of staff across the Republican National Committee in a cost-cutting move that further cements the former president’s takeover of the GOP’s political and fundraising machinery.

GOP officials have voted to install Donald Trump’s handpicked chair of the Republican National Committee.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel says she will leave her post on March 8.

Donald Trump is calling for a shakeup at the highest levels of the Republican National Committee.

Donald Trump is calling for a leadership change at the Republican National Committee in an attempt to install a new slate of loyalists — including his daughter-in-law — at the top of the GOP’s political machine even before he formally secures the party’s next presidential nomination.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has discussed the possibility of stepping down during a private meeting with former President Donald Trump.

Former President Donald Trump has issued a warning to the Republican National Committee’s chairwoman.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is calling for the party to unite behind the goal of defeating President Joe Biden.

The Republican National Committee is meeting behind closed doors in Las Vegas this week, but top party officials will no longer consider a resolution proposed to declare former President Donald Trump the presumptive Republican nominee.

The Republican National Committee has pulled a resolution to consider declaring Donald Trump the party’s “presumptive 2024 nominee” before he formally clinches the requisite number of delegates.

Donald Trump pressured two elections officials not to certify 2020 vote totals in a key Michigan county.

A fourth Republican presidential debate has been set for next month, with heightened polling requirements that could make the stage less crowded than before.

The Georgia prosecutor who has accused former President Donald Trump and others of trying to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state is seeking to call Republican Party Chair Ronna McDaniel and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones as witnesses in a trial for two of the defendants scheduled to begin later this month.

Sen. Tim Scott wants the Republican National Committee to change specifications for this month's presidential debate, suggestions that could put the South Carolina Republican in a better onstage position.

After years of criticizing mail voting and so-called ballot harvesting as ripe for fraud, Republicans at the top of the party want to change course.

Republicans have narrowly picked a former Kansas secretary of state candidate who promoted election conspiracies to lead it for the next two years.

Ronna McDaniel has become the longest serving leader of the Republican National Committee since the Civil War.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has won her bid to lead the GOP for two more years.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has won her bid to lead the GOP for two more years.

The Republican National Committee is set to resolve a bitter leadership feud that is exposing dangerous divisions within a party that has struggled to move past a disappointing midterm ahead of a critical race for the White House.

Republicans and Democrats are being forced to confront critical questions about the people and policies they want to represent them as the next election season roars into view.

The Republican National Committee is moving forward with a new post-election audit designed to examine the GOP’s underwhelming performance in the recent midterms and the party’s broader struggles since former President Donald Trump rose to power.

The great red wave is looming.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott is barely halfway through his first term, but he's already leaning into a fight against his own party’s leadership.

Former President Donald Trump says Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell “does not speak for the Republican Party.”.

Party leaders at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting this past week left no doubt that the GOP is choosing to serve Donald Trump and his political interests before the next presidential election.

The Republican National Committee has censured two GOP lawmakers for participating on the committee investigating the violent Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

The Republican National Committee says it is planning a rules change that would force presidential candidates seeking the party’s nomination to sign a pledge saying they will not participate in any debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

A tip to Politico claims Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has considered to run for governor, challenging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

that allegedly involved national GOP Party Chair Ronna McDaniel after Weiser allegedly called McDaniel. She is also mentioned in a similar pay-off scheme during her run for Michigan GOP Chair, also allegedly organized by Weiser. Michigan’s GOP elected the new leadership amid party infighting and accusations of illegal activity. One involved an alleged $200,000 pay-off for a candidate to drop out of a race that allegedly involved national GOP Party Chair Ronna McDaniel after Weiser allegedly called McDaniel. She is also mentioned in a similar pay-off scheme during her run for Michigan GOP Chair, also allegedly organized by Weiser.

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2020 file photo, Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee in Washington. The head of the Republican National Committee is declining to encourage former President Donald Trump to run for the White House in 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)NEW YORK – The head of the Republican National Committee on Wednesday declined to encourage former President Donald Trump to run for the White House in 2024, saying the GOP would stay “neutral” in its next presidential primary. I’m not telling anybody to run or not to run in 2024,” McDaniel told The Associated Press when asked whether she wanted to see Trump run again in the next presidential election. I think it’s dangerous.”Moving forward, she said that voters, not Trump, are the head of the Republican Party, though Trump continues to maintain “a huge, huge presence” with his base.

McDaniel was selected by Trump for the role four years ago and he endorsed her for a new term about a week after the Nov. 3 election. That could give the outgoing president additional sway over the party as he ponders his own future, including a potential presidential run in 2024. While she did not repeat Trump's false claims that he won the election, McDaniel said the GOP continues “to fight for President Trump" as he makes legal challenges across the country. Despite Trump's musing about running again in four years, McDaniel pledged to uphold the party's neutrality in primaries. “President Trump earned more minority votes than any Republican candidate in decades, and a record number of women, minorities and veterans were elected to office,” McDaniel wrote.

DETROIT – Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox penned a joint letter dated today to the Michigan Board of State Canvassers asking to delay the certification of election results for two weeks. Since the presidential election Republican leaders have made allegations of voter fraud without substantial evidence. The letter was sent only a day after Michigan Republican leaders met with President Donald Trump. After the meeting both leaders issued a joint letter noting that the meeting with the president was on the state’s fight against COVID-19. @Local4News pic.twitter.com/qUMYjSr35H — Grant Hermes (@GrantHermes) November 21, 2020My joint letter with @GOPChairwoman to the Members of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers.

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):7:15 p.m.President Donald Trump is endorsing the chair of the Republican National Committee for another term, despite his electoral defeat. Cunningham conceded the race on Tuesday, saying that “the voters have spoken” and that it was clear Tillis had won. His Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, was declared the winner of the presidential election on Nov. 7 after flipping Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Trump won those states in 2016. ___11:05 a.m.British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called Donald Trump the “previous president” of the United States and said it was “refreshing” to talk to President-elect Joe Biden.

“We have a whistleblower and now we have 131 affidavits talking about irregularities and problems that were happening in Detroit. According to court filings the DNC tried to intervene when the suit was initially filed but the court denied the request saying the Trump case wouldn’t move on. In its appeal the DNC wrote that as long as the Trump case continues, they should be allowed to intervene. The process must be complete by Nov. 17 when county boards have to send totals to the Secretary of State. On Nov. 23, the state Board of Canvassers meet to conduct another review of the totals and hear more challenges.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and some of his Republican supporters are testing out a rallying cry for his uphill fight to reverse the lead that Joe Biden holds in key battleground states: count all “legal” votes. The language is freighted with a clear implication, namely that Democrats want illegal votes counted, a claim for which there is no evidence. That has not stopped the chorus of Republican leadership arguing all legal ballots must be counted, including from the Governor of Georgia, freshly re-elected Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, and the Vice President. In Nevada, a lawsuit alleges that ineligible votes were cast in the Las Vegas area, the biggest Democratic stronghold in an otherwise predominantly GOP state. “When these kind of lawsuits are filed it just breeds contempt for the whole legal system,” he said.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State House and Senate Oversight Committees will be in session Saturday to discuss the ballot counting process. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was in Oakland County Friday asserting that there are claims that need to be addressed. READ: Michigan House Speaker says GOP will launch vote counting inquiryREAD: Republican National Committee chair calls for investigation into Michigan ballot-counting processREAD: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson disputes claims by Republican National Committee chair on Michigan’s ballot counting processIssues included complaints about the counting process at the TCF Center. There were also questions on why Antrim County had flipped votes for incumbent President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden. Every vote that was cast was counted accurately and there is a paper ballot backup," said Rochester Hills city clerk Tina Barton.

DETROIT – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson dispute claims made by Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in regards to Michigan’s ballot counting process. However, the clerk accidentally did not update the software used to collect voting machine data and report unofficial results. In order to report unofficial results, county clerks use election management system software to combine the electronic totals from tabulators and submit a report of unofficial results. In response, Thomas issued a statement saying, “The accusations are wrong and reveal the person making them doesn’t know Michigan’s election process. The Republican-led Michigan State House and Senate will hold hearings on the “voting and counting process” in the state, according to House Speaker Lee Chatfield.

DETROIT – Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is calling for an investigation into the ballot-counting process in Michigan. “Today (Friday), we announce the Republican National Committee has deployed legal teams in four states, including Michigan, to investigate vote tabulations in those states,” McDaniel said in a press conference. 4 Fast FactsBe InformedWith COVID-19 cases rising exponentially in Michigan, local hospitals are starting to fill with new patients. The university announced all housing contracts for undergrads are being canceled for the winter semester. Read MoreThursday, Nov. 5, 2020 --

DETROIT – Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is calling for an investigation into the ballot-counting process in Michigan. “Today (Friday), we announce the Republican National Committee has deployed legal teams in four states, including Michigan, to investigate vote tabulations in those states," McDaniel said in a press conference. This week at the TCF Center in Detroit, Republican poll watchers claimed they were tossed from the building and not allowed to observe the ballot-counting process. Officials have said that individuals from both the Democratic and Republican parties were present during the ballot-counting process at the TCF Center. In response, Thomas issued a statement saying, “The accusations are wrong and reveal the person making them doesn’t know Michigan’s election process.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 -- and now many who have been near the president are being tested. Trump is experiencing “mild symptoms” of COVID-19. Officials with the White House Medical Unit were still in the process of tracing the president’s contacts, the official said. More: Shock, sympathy, criticism: World reacts to Trump infectionVice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence tested negative for COVID-19 Friday morning, hours after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were diagnosed with the coronavirus. Spokesman Devin O’Malley says Pence “remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.”Other updates:Follow more live updates below:

DETROIT President Donald Trump officially accepted his renomination as the Republican party kicked off its national convention today in Charlotte. While the convention is poised to look a little different due to the coronavirus, Michigan natives will still be center stage. With Michigan no doubt playing an all important part in the 2020 Election, high profile Michiganders will take the stage during this weeks Republican National Convention. Republican Party Chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, is set to speak on Monday. She grew up here, shes from here, she still lives here, and I think shes a great surrogate for the state, said Chris Gustafson, Trump Victory Michigan spokesperson.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, delegates are holding an in-person meeting and roll-call vote in the ballroom of the Charlotte Convention Center before attention turns to prime-time programming. But she thanked the city for allowing the convention to move forward in its truncated form. The GOP convention is a crucial moment for Trump, who is trailing in national and battleground state polls and under intense pressure to turn the race around. After the Charlotte kickoff, most of the GOP convention will take place in Washington, D.C., at and around the White House, as well as by video. But first comes the official business" in Charlotte, which the party selected in 2018 to host the convention.

RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said in a letter to RNC members that only the roughly 2,500 regular delegates to the convention would be permitted to attend the opening three nights of the convention. The move comes after the GOP was forced to move most of the convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, after local officials ruled out a full-capacity crowd amid the pandemic. When we made these changes, we had hoped to be able to plan a traditional convention celebration to which we are all accustomed," McDaniel said. McDaniel said the convention was planning to use both indoor and outdoor spaces. The GOP will be providing on-site temperature checks and face-coverings, and will have COVID-19 testing available for attendees.

WASHINGTON The Republican National Committee and President Donald Trumps campaign say they have now hired 1,500 field staffers, aiming to convert their financial advantage over Democrats into votes in November. Trump Victory, the joint field effort of the two organizations, announced Monday the hiring of an additional 300 staffers set to hit 20 target states by Wednesday in the largest field operation over mounted by a Republican. Republicans are quick to note that their staffer count in the field is more than double that of Biden, whose goal was 600 field staffers by the end of June. Both the Trump and Biden field operations went virtual largely overnight in mid-March as the coronavirus pandemic hit. We have the biggest and best ground game operation ever seen, said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh.

FILE - In this July 21, 2016, file photo, confetti and balloons fall during celebrations after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's acceptance speech on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Jacksonville, Florida, has been selected to host the celebration marking President Donald Trumps acceptance of his partys nomination for reelection, the Republican National Committee chairwoman said Thursday. The governor of North Carolina, the official host of this summers Republican National Convention, had balked at promising Trump a full-blown convention in Charlotte free from social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic. We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion in the great city of Jacksonville, McDaniel said. Not only does Florida hold a special place in President Trumps heart as his home state, but it is crucial in the path to victory in 2020.

But she made clear that Jacksonville is the favorite now that Charlotte, North Carolina, the official host of this summer's Republican National Convention, has balked on promising Trump a full-blown convention free from social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic. Shame on him, because he put politics over the people of his state and revenues coming into his state, McDaniel said in the radio interview. Mayor Len Curry is a former chair of the state Republican Party and the area is the home base of GOP Gov. We are going to keep our convention of, the business of the convention in Charlotte. Charlotte officials on Wednesday said that despite public comments from Trump and GOP officials, they had not been officially informed of any intent to move any part of the convention.

RALEIGH, N.C. North Carolina's top health official asked Friday for more details on how GOP leaders will protect attendees of a Republican National Convention this summer during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Donald Trump has threatened to move his formal renomination elsewhere if he does not soon get guarantees of being able to hold a large-scale event. The GOP's letter Thursday did not mention such a request, but Cohen said it had been discussed by phone. The state continues to support the hosting of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte if it can be done safelty, Cohen wrote to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and convention CEO Marcia Lee Kelly. Cooper is seeking reelection this fall in a state Trump won in 2016.

Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Monday that the party will not be holding a virtual convention," pledging that the presidential nominating convention in late August will be conducted at least partly in-person. The coronavirus outbreak forced Democrats to move their convention from July to August, and it's still unclear whether that event will be entirely online. On a call with reporters about election lawsuits, McDaniel initially demurred when asked about the GOP gathering, slated for Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the party is set to formally choose President Donald Trump as its nominee. Its quite a ways away, and there's ample time for us to adjust, if necessary, McDaniel said. But later, in response to a question about the Minnesota Republican Party's online convention possibly being disrupted by hackers, McDaniel said: We will not be holding a virtual convention.The RNC has hired a medical adviser for the convention, and McDaniel said the party will need to consult with the Charlotte mayor and North Carolina governor on logistics.