MSNBC plans to change its lineup including replacing host Joy Reid’s show The ReidOut, according to a source familiar with the situation.
MSNBC declined to comment on Sunday morning.
Why It Matters
The changes come after new president, Rebecca Kutler, takes over leadership of the liberal-leaning network. The move also comes as MSNBC is set to be spun-off from Comcast as part of the new SpinCo venture, which has created uncertainty around how the network’s programming will be impacted.
Reid was an iconic, and often controversial, host on MSNBC. Her program has been seen as a fixture on the network, and has long included in-depth interviews with politicians and other high-profile individuals. Her commentary, which has routinely criticized President Donald Trump and Republicans, has often gone viral on social media.
What To Know
The last episode of The ReidOut will be this week, the source familiar told Newsweek.
The source said that the current co-hosts of The Weekend—Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele and Alicia Menendez—will now take over the 7 p.m. ET slot that Reid previously hosted Monday through Friday. The show will run for two hours, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and for one hour the rest of the weekdays.
The Weekend was originally created by Kutler and launched in January 2024. The show was seen to improve viewership in its time slot by more than 30 percent. This also was key to MSNBC beating CNN on weekend mornings for the first time in over a decade.
Menendez will be the first Latina woman to host a primetime cable news program on MSNBC. Sanders Townsend previously served as senior adviser and chief spokesperson to former Vice President Kamala Harris after working as a senior adviser on the 2020 campaign of Joe Biden. Steele served as the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 to 2011 and has been a longtime Trump critic.
Additional changes at the network include Alex Wagner who will no longer be an anchor but will remain at MSNBC as a correspondent. Host Jen Psaki, who served as former President Biden’s White House press secretary, reportedly may be taking over the 9 p.m. ET slot. Psaki’s Inside With Jen Psaki was launched in 2023 and is MSNBC most-watched weekend program.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow returned in January to host the 9 p.m. slot five days a week, after doing just one day a week. Wagner, who had been doing the other four days, was previously said to be returning to host that primetime slot in April.
The network has seen its viewership grow since Trump’s inauguration—with a 77 percent increase in viewers during primetime and a 34 percent increase for the total day.
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE
What People Are Saying
Mark Lazarus, SpinCo CEO, said of Kutler when naming her permanent MSNBC president: “In the short time that Rebecca was the interim president, it became clear to me that she has the big-picture strategic view and the right leadership skills to ensure MSNBC delivers on its brand promise and is positioned for growth during a time of industry change.”
Christopher Webb, a social media influencer who describes himself as a life-long Democrat, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Nooooo! @MSNBC, this is a huge mistake. The Weekend trio is [fire emoji]—they keep it real, and that’s exactly what we need. But so does Joy Reid. She delivers the facts with clarity and a message we can count on. Don’t lose that! Viewers are over it. Real talk: If you’re looking to shake things up, replace Morning Joe. Viewers are done with their nonsense.”
Rebecca Kutler told MSNBC leaders during a meeting in February on the year ahead: “This is going to be a really exciting time but also a challenging time. I think it’s important that we as leaders are honest about that and about the challenges ahead. Our jobs are hard on a normal day, and these are not normal times.”
What Happens Next?
Reid’s last show will take place this week. It’s unclear what other specific programming changes will take place, but more are expected under the new SpinCo venture.
Kutler plans to establish an MSNBC Washington Bureau and will add a roster of domestic and international correspondents to the network in the coming months.
Update 2/23/25, 10:09 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
