MSNBC Shakes Up Primetime Lineup: Jen Psaki Takes Over, Joy Reid Exits

In a significant programming overhaul, MSNBC announced this week that former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will assume a new primetime role at the network, taking over the 9 p.m. Eastern slot Tuesday through Friday. This move comes as part of a broader shakeup under the leadership of MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kutler, and follows the planned departure of longtime anchor Joy Reid.

The transition, which is set to begin in late April, will shift Psaki into a high-profile position that was previously occupied by Alex Wagner. Wagner, who has hosted the 9 p.m. show since 2022, will remain at MSNBC as a senior political analyst. The reshuffle aims to streamline the network’s primetime offerings and revitalize its programming amid ongoing viewership challenges.

The network also confirmed it will discontinue several weekend programs, including those hosted by Ayman Mohyeldin, Jonathan Capehart, Katie Phang, and José Díaz-Balart. The cancellations mark a major realignment of MSNBC’s weekend coverage and coincide with the network’s decision to close down some of its regional operations, including its studio in South Florida.

Joy Reid, who has anchored The ReidOut since 2020, will officially step away from the network this week. Her departure had been the subject of speculation in recent days before being confirmed over the weekend. Reid addressed her exit during a Sunday night appearance on the “Win With Black Women” podcast, describing a rollercoaster of emotions since learning about the change.

“I’ve been through every emotion—from anger and rage to disappointment and guilt,” Reid said. “I felt like I let my team down. Losing the show means more than just me—it affects everyone who helped build it.”

Reid’s show will be replaced by a rotating trio of hosts from MSNBC’s The Weekend program: Michael Steele, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and Alicia Menendez. The three are expected to bring a new tone and direction to the network’s evening opinion programming, which has traditionally leaned progressive.

Meanwhile, Rachel Maddow—MSNBC’s highest-paid host—will continue anchoring only on Monday nights, a schedule she adopted after reducing her presence in 2022. Psaki’s move into the Tuesday through Friday slot fills the remaining gap in what was once Maddow’s full-week schedule, signaling MSNBC’s commitment to maintaining a strong progressive voice in primetime.

Weekend anchors Capehart and Mohyeldin will not leave the network entirely. Capehart will now host the morning edition of The Weekend, while Mohyeldin will lead the evening version. Phang and Díaz-Balart, whose shows originated from MSNBC’s Miami studio, have been informed of their program’s cancellation as part of the network’s drawdown of its South Florida-based operations. However, both will remain affiliated with the NBC family. Phang will take on a legal correspondent role, while Díaz-Balart will continue anchoring NBC Nightly News on weekends and remain a key figure at Telemundo.

As part of the broader revamp, several weekday anchors will see changes to their time slots. Katy Tur, Ana Cabrera, and Chris Jansing will either move to new hours or see their shows expanded. Additionally, Ali Velshi’s weekend morning show at 10 a.m. will be extended by an hour, running three hours instead of two.

Network president Rebecca Kutler, who recently took over from former president Rashida Jones, addressed MSNBC leadership in a closed-door meeting before the public announcement. In her remarks, she acknowledged both the opportunities and difficulties that come with the restructuring.

“This is going to be a really exciting time but also a challenging time,” Kutler said. “We have to be honest about the reality we’re facing as a network and as part of a shifting media landscape. Our work was never easy—and these days, it’s more demanding than ever.”

The network’s overhaul comes amid ratings struggles that have persisted since President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024. Like its competitor CNN, MSNBC has seen a noticeable drop in viewership, particularly among younger and independent audiences. In contrast, conservative-leaning Fox News has remained the most-watched cable news network, continuing to grow its audience even after several of its high-profile personalities left to join Trump’s administration.

In a separate development, NBC also announced that NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt will step down from his weekday role this summer. Holt, 65, has led the broadcast since 2015 and will shift to focus on Dateline, where he has served as principal anchor for over a decade. Holt is expected to remain at NBC in a full-time capacity and will continue contributing to the network’s long-form journalism projects.

The changes signal a new chapter for MSNBC as it prepares for a future independent of NBC News, following Comcast’s plans to spin off the network along with its other cable media properties. With Psaki stepping into a critical primetime role, and the network’s leadership aiming to recalibrate its identity and audience, MSNBC is betting on reinvention to navigate an increasingly competitive media environment.