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MSNBC has announced a significant overhaul of its primetime lineup, which will take effect in April. These changes come as the network aims to maintain its growing viewership following the start of the Trump administration. Among the major changes, longtime anchor Joy Reid will be leaving the network, and "The ReidOut" will be canceled.
Jen Psaki and Rachel Maddow Take Key Slots
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will now anchor the 9 p.m. slot from Tuesday to Friday. Her current show, "Inside with Jen Psaki," has been performing well since its expansion. Meanwhile, Rachel Maddow will continue to host her highly popular 9 p.m. show, which previously aired only on Mondays. However, following Donald Trump’s return to office, MSNBC extended her show to run from Tuesday to Friday for the first 100 days of his administration. After this period, Psaki will take over the slot permanently, and Maddow will return to her once-a-week hosting schedule.
New Hosts Replace ‘The ReidOut’
With Joy Reid’s departure and the cancellation of "The ReidOut," MSNBC has introduced new faces for the 7 p.m. time slot. Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez, who currently co-host "The Weekend," will now anchor the 7 p.m. show from Tuesday to Friday. They will also host a two-hour show from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays.
Alex Wagner on Special Assignment
Alex Wagner, who previously hosted the 9 p.m. slot from Tuesday to Friday, has been reassigned to cover the impact of Trump’s policies. She will remain with MSNBC as a senior political analyst but will not return to her previous show.
More Weekend and Daytime Changes
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MSNBC will introduce new co-hosts for "The Weekend" at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Jonathan Capehart will co-anchor the morning edition, while Ayman Mohyeldin will lead the evening edition.
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Ali Velshi’s weekend show "Velshi" will be extended by an hour.
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Ana Cabrera’s show will now run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by Chris Jansing from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and Katy Tur from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Miami Operations Shut Down
MSNBC will close its Miami-based broadcasting operations, affecting shows such as "José Díaz-Balart Reports" and "The Katie Phang Show." However, Katie Phang will remain with MSNBC as a legal correspondent, while José Díaz-Balart will continue anchoring "Weekend Nightly News" on NBC.
MSNBC Expands in Washington D.C.
As part of a broader restructuring, MSNBC will consolidate its production operations in New York and Washington, D.C. The network is also establishing a dedicated Washington Bureau to strengthen its political coverage.
More Jobs Despite Layoffs
Although MSNBC has laid off staff from "The ReidOut," network president Rebecca Kutler assured employees that over 100 new jobs will be posted this week. She emphasized that in six months, MSNBC will have more jobs than it does currently.
Is MSNBC Catering to Trump?
During a staff meeting, Kutler was asked whether MSNBC’s changes were made to appease President Trump. She denied these claims, stating that the changes were solely based on the network’s strategy for future growth.
Conclusion
With these sweeping changes, MSNBC aims to strengthen its position as a leading progressive news network. With big names like Jen Psaki and Rachel Maddow continuing to dominate key time slots, the network hopes to keep its audience engaged and informed.
