Joy Reid speaks during the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
Joy Reid is set to step down from her evening news show, The ReidOut, this week as MSNBC undergoes a major programming reshuffle. The decision comes under the leadership of Rebecca Kutler, the network’s new president, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Since its debut in 2020, The ReidOut has occupied the 7 p.m. ET slot. However, MSNBC plans to replace it with a new lineup featuring Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez. The trio currently co-hosts The Weekend, a Saturday and Sunday morning show that has boosted viewership in its time slot by 35%.
Reid, a longtime MSNBC host, previously led AM Joy from 2016 to 2020 before transitioning to primetime.
MSNBC Stays Progressive Amid Programming Shift
Despite the shakeup, MSNBC remains committed to its progressive stance, especially with Donald Trump back in office. Viewership has surged, rising 77% in primetime and 34% in total daytime ratings since his inauguration.
Kutler is expected to announce further changes affecting multiple shows, sources said. However, the network has not officially commented on these developments.
Alex Wagner’s Future at MSNBC
Alex Wagner, who has hosted Alex Wagner Tonight at 9 p.m. ET from Tuesday to Friday as a substitute for The Rachel Maddow Show, will step away from primetime. Instead, she will take on a special assignment role while continuing as a correspondent for MSNBC.
Meanwhile, Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary and host of Inside with Jen Psaki, is expected to take over one of the primetime slots. Psaki’s show, launched in 2023 with Kutler’s backing, is currently MSNBC’s top-rated weekend program. Insiders suggest she may move into the 9 p.m. ET time slot when Rachel Maddow reduces her appearances to once a week.
New Faces and Leadership at MSNBC
Kutler is also looking to strengthen MSNBC’s lineup with fresh talent. Reports indicate she is in discussions to bring in Eugene Daniels, Politico’s White House correspondent, and Melissa Murray, a law professor at NYU, for key roles.
During a recent leadership meeting, Kutler acknowledged the challenges ahead. “This is going to be a really exciting but also a challenging time. Our jobs are tough under normal circumstances, and these are not normal times,” she stated.
Rebecca Kutler’s Vision for MSNBC
Kutler officially took over as MSNBC’s president on February 12 after being hired in 2022 by former network chief Rashida Jones. With over two decades of experience at CNN, she now faces the task of guiding MSNBC through a corporate transition following its spinoff from Comcast.
Mark Lazarus, CEO of SpinCo, the company that now owns MSNBC, expressed confidence in Kutler’s leadership. “Rebecca has the strategic vision and leadership skills to position MSNBC for growth during this period of industry change,” he said when announcing her appointment.
As MSNBC reshapes its primetime schedule, viewers can expect a fresh approach while the network continues its progressive news coverage.
