Joy Reid, a prominent voice on the progressive news network MSNBC, is leaving the channel.
Reid, who renewed her contract with the Comcast-owned network last year, is expected to host her final show this week, according to two sources familiar with the situation who requested anonymity.
An MSNBC spokesperson chose not to comment on Reid’s departure.
At 56, Reid sometimes raised concerns among Comcast executives due to her pointed critiques of President Trump and his supporters. Her departure is likely to be viewed as part of a broader trend of news organizations reducing their roster of journalists and commentators who are seen as critical of the Trump administration.
CNN effectively pushed out daytime anchor Jim Acosta, who was known for his critical approach to Trump, by moving him to a midnight slot. Rather than accept this change, he opted to resign.
Reid started her journey at MSNBC as a daytime host in 2014 and later took over the 7 p.m. Eastern time slot with The ReidOut in 2020. Her exit represents the first major shift under the new MSNBC President, Rebecca Kutler.
Kutler is managing MSNBC’s transition into a newly established spinoff company that encompasses Comcast’s cable networks. She took on this role after Rashida Jones left last month.
Reid’s time slot will now be hosted by three individuals—Michael Steele, Symone Sanders Townsend, and Alicia Menendez. This trio has previously co-hosted The Weekend, an MSNBC show that debuted in January 2024.
Before taking on the role of MSNBC’s president, Kutler was instrumental in launching The Weekend while she served as the network’s executive vice president. She also plans to enhance the on-air presence of former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki, whose show currently airs on Sundays and Mondays.
Psaki might take over the 9 p.m. Eastern time slot on nights when MSNBC’s leading anchor, Rachel Maddow, is off the air. Alex Wagner, who had been filling in during those times, is being taken off the schedule but will remain with MSNBC as a correspondent.
Maddow has recently returned to her nightly broadcasts to discuss the early months of Trump’s second term, concentrating on the first 100 days of the new administration.
However, with Reid’s exit, MSNBC could encounter pushback from her dedicated viewers and the network’s progressive audience.
Leave a Reply