POLITICO TAKEOVER: Aside from Mike Barnicle and WaPo and MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart, “Morning Joe” had three Politico employees on set today. They included Executive Editor Jim VandeHei, and reporters Maggie Haberman and Mike Allen.

Dare to dream

“If I could get one less email a day calling me the c-word I would be happy.” — Progressive talk radio host Stephanie Miller appearing on CNN Wednesday night.

Predawn Politico Playbook Publish Time: 4:50 a.m.

Journo Love

“When I did @CNN this morning w/ @rolandsmartin I didn’t yet realize I was sitting next to @NABJ’s Journalist of the Year. Congrats my man!” — National Journal‘s Chris Frates, who’s also apparently sporting a mullet lately. Indeed, as reported by Maynard Institute’s Richard Prince, Roland Martin has been named the National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year. The award will be presented to him at the national convention in Orlando in August. Martin was previously awarded the organization’s President’s award.

Pundit has issues on Acela

“To the snoring asshat sitting next to me on the Acela: I’m going to do to you what I used to do to my ex when he snored & you won’t like it.” — MSNBC Contributor Jimmy Williams.

First World Problems: Maddow or Morgan? 

“Having a tough time deciding between Maddow and Piers right now. Two totally different shows. No DVR. Who. Will. Win?” — BuzzFeed‘s Dorsey Shaw, who subsequently had these big thoughts on cable news: “Jay Leno should go to Fox News. Matt Lauer should go to CNN. Alex Wagner should go to 7pm. I should take the day off.”

Forget writer’s block…

“Experiencing serious case of Twitter block. Nothing funny or interesting to say about Ashley Judd.” — The New Yorker‘s Ryan Lizza.

Harshness is…

“That sound you hear is 10,000 political hacks unfollowing @AshleyJudd” — Politico‘s Ben White.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

What was the highlight of Inauguration for you? The highlight for me was standing int he press line during the red carpet and seeing Jesse Jackson Sr. standing right next to us. He’s just one of those people who has an aura about him when he walks in a room. Also, doing the show. That’s why we came to town. That was really exciting. It was a real honor to be asked to be part of that celebration because they do a lot of great work on behalf of the arts.

Are you an Obama supporter? I definitely supported him in the last election. I couldn’t get behind the Republicans’ views on women’s issues and marriage equality. I don’t know, I just felt like they are really out of touch with what is going on in America. Just like Joe the cabdriver, it’s the same thing. Joe the cabdriver gets to have a political opinion, so I’m entitled to mine.

What do you like and hate about Washington? I love the Smithsonian. I’m a real dork for that kind of stuff. I love Georgetown, I love all the row houses, I love the feel and energy of this city. The only thing I hate is the traffic and I live in LA. It’s a beautiful city and it’s got so much character and it’s old and I like it.

Who are your favorite members of the media? I enjoy watching Chris Matthews a lot. He reminds me of a throwback to the older school kind of pundits like Tim Russert. I like George Will, I don’t agree with him particularly, but he’s probably the smartest conservative out there. I refuse to listen to Rush Limbaugh. I listen to a lot of conservative radio when I drive around in my car. I refuse to listen to him because he’s just ridiculous, just a clown. I love Rachel Maddow obviously. Jon Stewart. I know it’s a comedy show, but its probably one of the most informative shows out there. Stephanie Miller! I love her! Like ughhh, she’s the best. I agree with her views on issues, I think they check her facts pretty carefully. She’s got an insane sense of humor. It’s nice to see Tim Russert’s son [Luke Russert] in there and doing well too. I was brought up in a very blue collar, Democratic, pro-union house and that’s soaked into your DNA.

Do you have an opinion about Beyoncé lip syncing America the Beautiful? There’s no question in my mind that even if it was a computer playing it back because it was 20 degrees outside, she actually sang whatever on the page. She is brilliant. When you’re in situations like that and the whole world is watching on television, no one plays live on the Super Bowl. There’s no time for a mistake. Could she have sang that live? Absolutely. It was freezing out there. Unless you know how incredibly hard it is to sing when it’s 25 degrees out there, your opinion means nothing.

Have you ever been burned by the media? No. Not really. Maybe a nasty review of my work in a magazine, but who cares?

Does TMZ follow you around? I’m not dating an actress or a supermodel. Nobody is throwing me out of Hyde.

What networks or cable shows do you prefer? I do watch Fox. Sometimes I really enjoy watching Bill O’Reilly. It’s interesting because the older he gets, the more moderate he seems to get. Sort of like watching the end of how the Grinch stole Christmas. I still have hope for him. I can’t discount that everyone I’ve mentioned is part of an agenda. There is no fairness doctrine with the media and you spend time watching everyone and give them equal time.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Dressed in a blue-jean hued suit, Hyatt arrived on the tail end of Press’s program, claiming jet lag.

Press and fellow lefty radio personality Stephanie Miller are Current TV’s first foray into the daytime live talk game. And Hyatt is promising more surprise announcements on the horizon. “Quite candidly, we were dead in the morning,” Hyatt tells us. “Now we’re very much alive. ”

Then the CEO went full bore on the other networks. “There are only three competitors, and they are all vulnerable,” he declared.

He called MSNBC “inauthentic,” CNN “victimized” by its own legacy as a “news” network and Fox News at best an “infotainment” network. “They are liberal by accident,” Hyatt said of MSNBC, adding that the network is a “confused, inauthentic brand” that is supported for their ratings and not their views. “It’s just not a real brand.” He also said CNN has “lost its way” in terms of its identity.

Current TV, on the other hand, is the real deal, he said, insisting, “We’re liberal because of who we are.”

While reluctant to discuss any network controversy surrounding the network’s “brilliant” star broadcaster Keith Olbermann, Hyatt said the recent debacle involving Olbermann being yanked off campaign coverage was nothing more than “just a big distraction.” He acknowledged that more was made of the recent flap than was necessary.

Apart from Olbermann, another sore spot for Current: the cracks on how it is the network no one can find. Hyatt insists this bad rap is changing. On the Dish network Current TV is right next to the Weather Channel. But he admits it hasn’t been easy. On XFinity, the system run by Comcast, a majority owner of NBCU, it is still hard to find. “Increasingly more and more people are finding it,” Hyatt says, adding, “It’s very hard to start a new media network.”

Further reading: So What Do You Do Joel Hyatt? See mediabistro’s recent interview with the CEO.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“Our goal for Current is to influence the conversation of democracy,” says Hyatt in our So What Do You Do? interview. ”We want to have an impact on the public policy discussion.”

Hyatt, who stepped back into the CEO role in July 2012, also gave his two cents on how the Big Three (MSNBC, CNN and Fox News) are doing in covering the Republican primaries and Presidential race.

“There are times in which the cable networks do a really outstanding job; there are times in which I think the job they do is embarrassingly bad,” Hyatt said. “What journalism needs to do is seek truth. Convey it; explore it; create context for it; connect the dots.”

Is that the general rule on those rival networks? “No,” he said.

Read the full interview here.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Our blind item from Valentine’s Day: Read here.

Two TV journos part ways…WaPo‘s Reliable Source and Politico report it. Sources: WaPo’s Reliable Source — “a friend” and “another friend.” Politico – “A source at CNN confirms…”

Take that Blind Tipster

“Dear ‘blind tipster’ – we ain’t carrying your dirty water.” — FamousDC

Journo goes to bed (this morning)

“Having been up since 5am yesterday, I am now going to bed. Good night.” — RedState.com Editor and CNN Contributor Erick Erickson in an early morning tweet.

All over the map

“Obama is in every time zone today.” — Politico White House reporter Byron Tau.

Tasteless or clever?

“Deaf student ‘speechless’ after Obama responds to him in sign language” — HuffPost. Read here.

Illinois primary TV watching at its finest

“When Mitt tells the story of meeting Ann as a teenager what he’s kinda saying is ‘I noticed her when she grew boobs.’ #politicolive” — Publicist and former ABC “This Week” Producer Courtney Cohen.

Poor gets Limbaughed

It’s not Drudge, but it might be the next best thing. “Good story by @jeff_poor @DailyCaller. He gets it right, @mmfa wrong as usual. Read and Retweet.” — Rush Limbaugh on this story by The Daily Caller‘s TV reporter Jeff Poor. It was the second time ever that Poor got Limbaughed. In wildly unrelated news… in a monumental moment last night, we convinced CNN Contributor and “Washington Watch” Host Roland Martin to unblock Poor. They’d been in a year-long feud over God knows what. Roland charges lies. Poor of course refutes that. We’re hopeful peace can prevail (at least for a few more hours).

Odd Current TV fact

“Bill Press‘s last cable show was MSNBC’s Buchanan & Press with Pat. Stephanie Miller‘s last  was CNBC’s Equal Time with Bay Buchanan.” — Bullfight Strategies’ and Syndicated columnist Karl Frisch.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

No South Park for the Dickerson children

“Another successful Documentary Night. Kids loved this NOVA/National Geographic on mystery of da Vinci painting.” — CBS News Political Director John Dickerson.

How a press secretary spends his Sunday

“Nothing like two hours in the office on a bright, warm Sunday afternoon. Blech.” — Sen. Chris Coons‘s press secretary Ian Koski.

Uh, creepy.

“Julianne Moore charming (and, uh, low cut) on red carpet, describing how she listened to Palin’s book on tape and tried to capture her” — The Daily Beast/Newsweek/CNN host Howard Kurtz in a recent skeevy tweet from the “Game Change” screening at the Newseum late last week.

Babe. Slut. What’s next — skank?

“Listen, Rush has only called me a babe on the air. So I don’t know if that’s a gateway word to slut, but so far we’re okay.” — Liberal radio host Stephanie Miller on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” Sunday.

Arianna addresses daylight savings

“We lost an hour of sleep last night. Bad timing: I had to get up at 5 (body time: 4am ) for a flight to San Fran. How’d you fare? #sleepweek” — HuffPost/AOL’s Arianna Huffington.

Question to ponder: “When did ‘you’re fine’ become an acceptable thing to say to an apology.” — Politico‘s Jake Sherman, who spent the weekend in Alabama. He couldn’t resist a reference to a Grateful Dead song with this: “Alabama getaway.”

Bret takes weekend off Twitter

“Make it a great weekend! I am heading home and turning off my iPhone for a weekend with the fam. No tweeting until Monday! Have a good 1!” — FNC’s Bret Baier. And yes, he stuck to his word! Only one follower remarked on it. MsRoey (teacher by day, mom by night) wrote, “You rock Bret. Have a good one!”

The world is her oyster

“Enjoyed oysters and sparkling wine with my realtors yesterday after a lovely day of house hunting.” — Kimberly Leonard, a health reporter at the Center for Public Integrity.

Self-appointed Media Critics

“David Gregory has turned meet the press into the voice of the Democratic Party. Tim Russert would be embarrassed.” — Former U.N. Spokesman and crisis communications specialist and HuffPost contributor Richard Grenell.

“As I watch Sunday Morning shows, can’t distinguish reporters from politicians proving it’s insider game that leaves you on the outside.” — Former CNNer Rick Sanchez.

Rumors and Gossip…A waiter at Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda recently spilled the beans about Washington tippers. For instance, he said, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton (now a FNC Commentator and senior fellow at A.E.I.) is stingy — a 10 percent tipper — while U.S. Sec. of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano veered in the other direction at 25 percent.

Pssst…a journo tells us Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews band was spotted hanging around Georgetown this weekend.

Peter Ogburn contributed to this report.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

This spring, Current TV will launch a new morning news block featuring live simulcasts of the radio programs featuring Bill Press and Stephanie Miller.  “The Bill Press Show” will air from 6am-9am ET and “The Stephanie Miller Show” will air from 9am-12pm ET every weekday starting early this spring.  The network claims these additions “further strengthen” Current’s line-up of political commentary and analysis programs which include “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” “The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur,” and “The War Room with Jennifer Granholm.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

We so adore soon-to-be Current TV’s David Shuster here in the Fishbowl because he never fails to give us something funky to work with. Funky is not a word we use lightly. Whether the ex-MSNBCer is allegedly crashing a late-night MSNBC party (he insists he was invited), insulting USA Today’s Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page over the old-school ways of Washington’s Gridiron Dinner, playing air guitar or getting his car booted, he’s a ball of priceless intrigue.

Late last night he declared his flirtatious intentions for a certain liberal radio host.

He wrote on Twitter: “I’ll be talking (and flirting) with my friend Stephanie Miller on her @smshow tomorrow 10:30am eastern. Lots of political news…”

D. Shuster is phoning into Miller’s radio program this morning at 10:30 a.m. ET. We hope he won’t be “flirting” over the Weiner matter, but you never know what will happen when Shuster shows up. The show can be heard live on both XM and Sirius on America Left 127 from 10 a.m. to 12noon ET.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

CBS’ Face the Nation: Rep. Peter King (R-NY), ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero, Slate and CBS’ John Dickerson and USA Today‘s Joan Biskupic

ABC’s This Week: Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) and a roundtable with James Carville, Liz Cheney, Steve Schmidt, The Nation‘s Katrina vanden Heuvel and ABC’s George Will

Fox News Sunday: University of Notre Dame professor Rev. Richard McBrien, National Director of Priests for Life Rev. Frank Pavone, Sen. Mitch McConnell, a roundtable with FNC’s Brit Hume, Fortune‘s Nina Easton, Weekly Standard‘s Bill Kristol and AP’s Jennifer Loven and “power player” Smithsonian Board of Regents chair Patty Stonesifer

CNN’s State of the Union: White House Budget Director Peter Orszag, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

CNN’s Reliable Sources with Howard Kurtz: Radio talk show host Stephanie Miller, Politico’s Roger Simon, radio talk show host Michael Medved, actress Mariel Hemingway and “Poliwood” director Barry Levinson

CNN’s GPS with Fareed Zakaria: Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf

NBC’s The Chris Matthews Show: The Atlantic‘s Andrew Sullivan, NPR’s Michele Norris, Newsweek‘s Howard Fineman and NBC’s Savannah Guthrie

Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal: Slate and CBS’ John Dickerson, CNBC and NYT‘s John Harwood, WaPo‘s Ceci Connolly and Time Mag’s Michael Duffy

Bloomberg’s Political Capital with Al Hunt: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chairman Sheila Bair, CFR president Richard Haass and Bloomberg’s Hans Nichols, Margaret Carlson and Kate O’Beirne

Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Scott Talbott and Roll Call‘s Emily Pierce and Emily Heil

Will update throughout the day as we learn them.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

CBS’ Face the Nation: National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers and NYT’s Thomas Friedman

ABC’s This Week: National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and a roundtable with BusinessWeek’s Jim Ellis, The American Prospect’s Robert Kuttner, NYT’s Frank Rich and ABC’s George Will

Fox News Sunday: President’s Council of Economic Advisors Austan Goolsbee, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), Rep. Barney Franks (D-MA), Moody’s Economy.com’s Mark Zandi and FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair

CNN’s State of the Union: Former Vice President Dick Cheney and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

CNN’s Reliable Sources with Howard Kurtz: Tucker Carlson, The Baltimore Sun’s David Zurawik, Stephanie Miller, “The Difference” author Jean Chatzky

NBC’s The Chris Matthews Show: CNBC’s Erin Burnett, Newsweek’s Howard Fineman, WaPo’s Anne Kornblut, Wall Street Reporter/NYT’s Andrew Ross-Sorkin

Bloomberg’s Political Capital with Al Hunt: Former US Senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley, Bloomberg’s Christine Harper, Lizzie O’Leary, Mike Tackett, Margaret Carlson and Kate O’Beirne

Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal: Time Magazine’s Michael Duffy, Slate’s John Dickerson and NBC’s Mike Viqueira

Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham: MPAA’s Dan Glickman, former communications director to Sen. Ben Nelson David DiMartino and Roll Call’s Emily Heil

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.