MSNBC has canceled The ReidOut, the 7 p.m. program hosted by longtime liberal anchor Joy Reid, as part of a significant shake-up under the network’s new president, Rebecca Kutler.
According to a report from The New York Times, Reid’s show will be replaced by a panel discussion program featuring co-hosts Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, and Symone Sanders Townsend.
Reid, 56, has been a fixture at MSNBC for nearly a decade, first gaining prominence as the host of AM Joy, a weekend talk show that ran from 2016 until 2020.
She was then promoted to the prime-time weekday slot, where The ReidOut became a mainstay of the network’s lineup for the past five years. However, her time in the spotlight is coming to an end, with the final episode of her show scheduled to air this week.
This decision marks the first major programming overhaul at MSNBC since Kutler took the helm earlier this month. The network has struggled with declining ratings and increasing competition from Fox News, and Kutler appears to be taking aggressive steps to revamp the lineup in an effort to regain viewers.
Reid has been one of the most vocal critics of President Donald Trump in the mainstream media, frequently using her platform to attack Trump and his supporters.
In recent months, she has made a series of controversial remarks, including a Thanksgiving rant in which she told Trump supporters to “make your own dinner” and to “suffer the consequences of your votes.”
Despite her strong stance on political issues, Reid’s influence on MSNBC has waned significantly in recent years. In December, Nielsen Media Research reported that MSNBC had lost over half its prime-time viewership since the 2020 election, with The ReidOut experiencing a substantial decline in ratings.
MSNBC saw a staggering 53% drop in its prime-time audience after the November 5 election, a decline that network executives have been eager to address.
As part of MSNBC’s restructuring efforts, the network reportedly offered several of its high-profile anchors—including Reid and Stephanie Ruhle—significant pay cuts if they wanted to remain in their roles. While some anchors have opted to stay on despite the financial reductions, Reid’s show ultimately did not survive the shake-up.
Kutler, a former senior executive at CNN, has made it clear that MSNBC faces unique challenges in the evolving media landscape. The network is preparing for major changes, including an upcoming spin-off into a publicly traded company along with other NBCUniversal cable networks. Additionally, MSNBC must navigate its relationship with a Trump White House, should the president win reelection in November.
“Our jobs are hard on a normal day, and these are not normal times,” Kutler told MSNBC employees during her first official address after being appointed president. Her comments suggest that further changes could be coming as MSNBC attempts to reposition itself in a shifting media environment.
Reid has not yet publicly commented on the cancellation of her show, and it remains unclear whether she will remain with the network in another capacity.
However, her departure from prime-time represents a significant change for MSNBC, signaling a shift in strategy as it seeks to recover from its ratings decline.
With The ReidOut ending, MSNBC is taking a new approach with its 7 p.m. time slot, opting for a panel format that may offer a broader range of perspectives.
Whether this new programming choice will succeed in boosting ratings remains to be seen, but it is clear that MSNBC is making bold moves under its new leadership.