During Iowa Caucus coverage last night, just after 9pmET, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow who was leading the network’s coverage reported that one-time GOP presidential candidate Gary Johnson who dropped out of the race to run as a Libertarian candidate, “has dropped his bid for the Libertarian nomination and instead will be endorsing Ron Paul.”

“That’s fascinating,” chimed in Chris Matthews. And it would be. If it were true.

Five minutes later, Maddow corrected her report, calling it “a hoax. Sorry. That’ll happen.” Added MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, “That will happen. Live television, ladies and gentlemen.”