MSNBC is undergoing a major restructuring that will result in the loss of the majority of Rachel Maddow’s production team, marking a significant shift at the network. This comes on the heels of the abrupt cancellation of Joy Reid’s show, The ReidOut, a decision that has sparked frustration among staff.
Despite these changes, affected employees will have the opportunity to apply for new roles within the company.
Reports indicate that MSNBC has informed most of the employees working on Maddow’s and Reid’s prime-time shows that they are being let go as part of a broader programming overhaul.
Maddow, the network’s highest-rated anchor, will retain her executive producer, Cory Gnazzo, along with a few senior producers. However, the rest of her team, along with producers from other canceled programs hosted by Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, Ayman Mohyeldin, and José Díaz-Balart, have been given the choice to accept severance packages or reapply for other positions.
Maddow has openly voiced her displeasure over Reid’s firing, making her frustration clear during her show.
“In all of the jobs I have had in all of the years I have been alive, there is no colleague for whom I have had more affection and more respect than Joy Reid,” Maddow said. “I love everything about her. I have so much more to learn from her. I do not want to lose her as a colleague here at MSNBC, and personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door.”
Maddow further criticized the network’s decision, stating that it was not her call to make but emphasizing that she strongly disagreed with it.
Beyond her support for Reid, Maddow also called out the network for its handling of diversity in its lineup. She pointed out that two other hosts of color—Alex Wagner, who is half Burmese, and Katie Phang, an Asian American—also lost their shows in the shakeup.
“At a network where we’ve got two—count them, two—non-white hosts in prime time, both of our non-white hosts in prime time are losing their shows, as is Katie Phang on the weekend,” Maddow stated.
“That feels worse than bad, no matter who replaces them,” she continued. “That feels indefensible, and I do not defend it.”
These changes reflect a broader strategic shift at MSNBC, though network executives have not provided extensive details on the reasons behind the programming overhaul. The network has faced ongoing challenges in maintaining its audience and competing with other major cable news channels.
The restructuring and cancellations have left many employees and viewers wondering what the future of MSNBC’s programming will look like. While those impacted have been encouraged to reapply for new roles, the broader shakeup suggests a major transformation is underway, leaving uncertainty about the network’s direction and leadership priorities.