Its ratings may not rock, but MSNBC's use of NBC News resources helped the network shine during Iraqi elections coverage on Sunday. "MSNBC was all over it as a breaking news event, while CNN and Fox were sleep-walking," an industry insider remarked yesterday evening.

Since NBC News wasn't on the air until the polls were close to closing, all of the network's reporters were available to MS. When that happens, "we can kick the backsides of FNC and CNN in terms of content, and I think we did that," another source said.

MSNBC's studio was set up nicely, as well: Staffers added a topographic map on the floor and pictures in the background of the "situation room." The cyber sled was used for blogger updates. (And at one point, Lester Holt appeared!)