Jen Psaki moves to primetime on MSNBC after Joy Reid gets the axe, Internet says 'network is dead'

WASHINGTON, DC: MSNBC is making sweeping changes to its lineup, promoting former White House press secretary Jen Psaki to a primetime slot while cutting multiple hosts in a major programming shakeup.

Jen Psaki is set to take over the 9 pm time slot from Alex Wagner on Tuesdays through Fridays starting in late April, the network announced Monday. Wagner will remain at MSNBC as a senior political analyst, reported The New York Post.

Jen Psaki moves to primetime as network drops multiple hosts

MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler praised Jen Psaki’s impact on the network in a memo on Monday, "Since joining MSNBC, Psaki has become a crucial and trusted voice for the network."

"We now have one of the most engaged audiences in all of television and are seeing rapid growth across digital, audio, and more. In the years ahead, we must continue to show up for our audiences in this critical moment while simultaneously best positioning ourselves for the future," she added.

Rachel Maddow, who had been anchoring the time slot five nights a week after Donald Trump’s inauguration, will scale back to hosting only on Mondays. Once that transition happens, Psaki’s show, 'Inside With Jen Psaki', will adopt its new schedule.

The shakeup, spearheaded by MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kutler, also includes the cancellation of weekend shows hosted by Ayman Mohyeldin, Jonathan Capehart, Katie Phang, and Jose Diaz-Balart.

The move comes on the heels of Joy Reid’s departure, with 'The ReidOut' being replaced by 'The Weekend', co-hosted by Michael Steele, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and Alicia Menendez.

Network realigns as MSNBC prepares for split from NBC News

Rebecca Kutler, who took over leadership last month, is reshaping MSNBC as its parent company, Comcast, prepares to separate the network from NBC News in a major restructuring.

As part of the revamp, MSNBC will expand its Washington bureau and bolster both domestic and international reporting teams. Meanwhile, Katy Tur, Ana Cabrera, and Chris Jansing will see their daytime programs shifted or extended, while Ali Velshi’s weekend morning show will expand to three hours.

Kutler confirmed Joy Reid’s departure in a statement, writing, “Joy Reid is leaving the network and we thank her for her countless contributions over the years,” as per People.

Not everyone is happy with the changes. Some insiders expressed frustration, particularly over the cancellation of shows hosted by Wagner and Reid. “She’s canceling two hosts that made history,” an MSNBC source told The Post, referring to Wagner as the first Asian American primetime host and Reid as the first Black woman in that role.

Despite pushback, Kutler remains focused on the transition. “This is going to be a really exciting time but also a challenging time,” she told network leaders. and added, “Our jobs are hard on a normal day, and these are not normal times.”

MSNBC promotes Jen Psaki amid network shakeup, sparking mixed reactions

MSNBC’s recent decision to promote former White House press secretary Jen Psaki has ignited a wave of reactions across social media. While many viewers praised her for her political expertise and communication skills, others expressed frustration over changes in the network’s lineup.

One supporter wrote, "Jen Psaki was the best White House Press Secretary in modern times. MSNBC should give her any hour she wants."

Another wrote the same sentiment, saying, "Oh good. Jen is the best! " Others looked forward to her expanded role, with one user commenting, "Jen Psaki will dominate Sundays. Her knowledge and experience, coupled with her ability to communicate complicated issues, are remarkable. I can't wait for March 19!"

However, not all viewers were pleased with MSNBC’s shakeup. Some criticized the decision to cancel 'The ReidOut', which was hosted by Joy Reid. One frustrated user wrote, "Joy Reid’s show should not have gotten canceled. Now there is no show with a SOLO Black weekday host on MSNBC. CNN has two. I hope MSNBC experiences backlash. And Karine was a great press secretary; just as good as Psaki." Another added, "The network is dead. No one is watching."

Some viewers also questioned Psaki’s placement among MSNBC’s top hosts.

"@MSNBC you’re making major major bad decisions. We don’t want Jen Psaki. We want Joy Reid." a user stated.

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