MSNBC has unveiled a significant reshuffling of its programming lineup under the direction of new President Rebecca Kutler, who assumed her role in February. This shake-up includes the departure of Joy Reid, the cancellation of several shows, and the introduction of new on-air talent. The changes are set to impact both weekend and weekday programming, with notable shifts in key time slots and personnel.
The network's sweeping changes see the entire staff of The ReidOut, José Díaz-Balart Reports, and The Katie Phang Show being let go. Joy Reid will be leaving MSNBC, as the network plans to replace her show with a new program featuring three co-anchors: Symone Sanders-Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele. The decision marks a significant shift in the network's approach to its programming and comes amidst broader strategic realignment efforts.
Ayman Mohyeldin's weekend evening show faces cancellation, with its final episode expected to air on April 20. Jonathan Capehart's show will also see its curtain fall. However, Mohyeldin will not be departing entirely; he will serve as an anchor for a different group in the evening edition. Meanwhile, Katie Phang will maintain her presence at MSNBC, transitioning to a role as a legal correspondent.
The reshuffling is part of Kutler's vision to revitalize MSNBC's offerings and adapt to changing viewer preferences. As part of this effort, Jen Psaki will assume the 9 pm primetime slot from Tuesday through Friday, while Alex Wagner remains with the network as a senior political analyst. Rachel Maddow is set to return to hosting on Monday nights at 9 pm.
Ali Velshi's program, Velshi, will expand to a three-hour duration on weekends, providing extended coverage of current events and analysis. Additionally, the network plans to introduce a trio of co-hosts to lead a morning and evening edition of The Weekend on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 am and 6 pm ET, respectively.
Lester Holt is stepping down as the anchor of NBC's Nightly News show, marking another significant change within the broader NBC News family. The leadership transition aligns with the strategic direction aimed at bolstering MSNBC’s competitive edge in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Joy Reid expressed mixed emotions regarding her departure from the network. Reflecting on her experiences and controversies during her tenure, she remarked:
“Whether it’s talking about Gaza and the fact that we as the American people have a right to object, to have a right to object to little babies being bombed … Where I come down on that is I’m not sorry.”
Reid further shared her personal feelings about the impact on her team:
“I’ve been through every emotion from anger, rage, disappointment, hurt, and a feeling of guilt that I let my team lose their jobs.”
The changes come amidst broader industry trends of restructuring and adaptation to new forms of media consumption. MSNBC aims to leverage these transitions to maintain its relevance and appeal to its audience base.