MSNBC has seen a big shake-up, mostly revolving around the cancellation of the highly rated political show The ReidOut, anchored by Joy Reid. The cancellation comes when there are major leadership changes at the network, reacting to Donald Trump again being politically relevant and a new look at MSNBC’s prime time.
A Very Big Shake-Up in MSNBC Programming
The ReidOut is a breaking point for MSNBC as it struggles to stay with its ratings in the very competitive cable news world. Joy Reid, a progressive commentator, has filled the 7 p.m. slot for half a decade with relentless attacks on Trump, and now Reid will be replaced by a new panel show joined by co-hosts Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, and Symone Sanders Townsend. Reid’s last show will air later this week, as detailed in The New York Times.
Reasons Behind the Change
This movement comes at a time when MSNBC has been trying to adjust its program schedule to counter varying ratings. Although the network has beaten its rival CNN in viewership, its ratings lie behind that of Fox News. The appointment of Rebecca Jutler as the new president of MSNBC was the main impetus that has hastened the network’s strategic conversions geared toward ratings enhancement and countering the movements of the new political landscape.
A major turning point for MSNBC was Rachel Maddow’s returning to a five-day-a-week hosting program for the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency. Before that, Maddow had been cutting back to hosting only Mondays. Then, in April, the plan for Alex Wagner to return to her four-day-a-week hosting was scrapped. MSNBC, however, is said to be weighing the possibility that Merrylin Psaki, the former White House press secretary under Joe Biden, might slip into the vacant chair, though nothing has been confirmed.
Who Exactly is Joy Reid?
Joy Reid, who is now 56 years old, is a formidable political commentator, television host, and author. The ReidOut is a flagship program on MSNBC, hosting some of the sharpest critiques of conservative politics while defending progressive causes. According to The New York Times, Reid has been called a “heroine” in the political resistance against Trump’s presidency.
Apart from television, Reid is also the author of three political books: Fracture: Barack Obama, the Clintons, and the Racial Divide (2016), The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story (2019), and Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America (2024). Her books deal with racial politics, America’s politics, and ideological warfare dividing the country.
Consequences of the Cancellation
The cancellation of The ReidOut signals MSNBC’s venture into a new editorial line, perhaps to diversify its viewer base. Reid’s sojourn at MSNBC could be characterized by fierce political discourse, earning her one of the most recognizable names on the MSNBC roster. As Donald Trump rises in notoriety once again, MSNBC capitalizing on programming shifts is likely an attempt to shift its narrative and appeal to mass audiences.
Though canceled, Reid’s voice as a political commentator still holds weight. Whether this means she returns to the media scene or engages in other media outlets remains to be seen. In the past, it is quite likely that her voice will not entirely fade in the American political discussion scene.
What Lies Ahead for MSNBC?
The cancellation of The ReidOut is just a part of a larger shake-up at MSNBC, with more changes slated for the following months. This will put programming decisions at the network under scrutiny, especially in what fills the void of Alex Wagner and whether Jen Psaki finds a place in primetime consideration.
As MSNBC embarks upon its next phase, incoming programming will be vital in attracting an audience against stiff competition from CNN and Fox News. How the new offerings fare in a changing political landscape will define the network’s future and its staunchest fans’ responses.
Conclusion
The axing of Joy Reid’s show by MSNBC is a telling indication of a programming shift at the network. With ratings issues affecting the decisions made by changes at the top of its management, the network takes a gamble toward the constantly changing media terrain. While The ReidOut might be leaving, there’s no question that Joy Reid’s footprint in political coverage will be under the spotlight of whatever comes next.
