One American News Network sued Maddow for defamation regarding a statement Maddow made on air. Maddow claimed OANN "really, literally is paid Russian propaganda" which is demonstrably false.
In her ruling against OANN, Judge Cynthia Bashant wrote, "... a reasonable viewer would not take the statement [Maddow's statement] as factual."
In other words, Maddow is hosting a clown show, and what she says on air is not to be believed.
OANN has appealed the ruling to the Ninth Circus, but in essence, they've already won: the judge ruled that Maddow was spouting farcical bullshit that an intelligent person would never believe to begin with.
See @ Washington Examiner