Earlier this week, MS NOW executives gathered with senior producers for the network’s regular 4:30 p.m. meeting. Usually, during the daily gathering, staffers discuss network priorities and exchange notes on which stories they plan to spotlight across prime time programming. But this particular meeting late Tuesday afternoon had an agenda item that strayed from the usual editorial rundown: Donald Trump’s propagandistic taxpayer-funded advertisements.

The ads, which have already aired many times across Fox News, CNN, the major broadcast networks, and national football games, have become a frequent subject of scrutiny during the progressive news network’s coverage over the last week, with MS NOW airing more than a dozen segments examining the campaign’s funding and legality.

Now, executives had an uncomfortable matter to disclose to senior staffers: MS NOW would likely be airing at least one of the ads, with a spot set to run nationally as soon as Thursday. The news startled the participants of the meeting, which included members of the prime time show teams, senior production staffers, and other employees, Status has learned.