(Photo: Art Streiber/MSNBC)
MSNBC is shaking up its weeknight schedule. The ReidOut, hosted by Joy Reid (above) and Alex Wagner Tonight, are both being cancelled. The ReidOut will air its last episode later this week, according to Variety. Reid is leaving the network.
The shows will be replaced by one hosted by Symone Sanders-Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele. Rachel Maddow is hosting five nights a week during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. After that, she will return to the Mondays at 9 p.m. slot and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki will host a program Tuesday through Friday. Wagner had been hosting Alex Wagner Tonight in the latter timeslot and will stay with the network as a senior political analyst.
The moves come shortly after Rebecca Kutler took over the position of MSNBC president. She has big plans for the cable network, which is being spun off from NBCUniversal. The following was revealed about her plans:
Kutler has described plans to build an independent newsgathering apparatus for MSNBC, which will lose its ties to NBC News after the new company is formed. She wants to launch a separate MSNBC Washington bureau, and to add a new roster of international and domestic correspondents.
She also wants to hire a new head of talent, a Washington bureau chief and a head of content strategy. Yet she has articulated a plan to hew close to the network’s progressive leanings, not trying to steer it to the center.
MSNBC has been working to bring viewers back after the results of the 2024 presidential election. Both MSNBC and CNN saw significant erosion following Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the national conversation, and both have unveiled programing shake-ups in recent weeks.
In addition, The Katie Phang Show has also been cancelled by the cable channel. The former weekend host will shift to become an MSNBC legal correspondent.
Ayman Mohyeldin’s Ayman series and The Saturday/Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart have also been dropped from the weekend evening schedule. Mohyeldin and Capehart are expected to host new programs.
What do you think? Are you a fan of these MSNBC shows? Will you be sad to see them leave the air?