The Fall of a Firebrand: Joy Reid Booted From MSNBC Primetime in Stunning Shakeup
Joy Reid, once one of MSNBC’s most recognizable and unapologetically progressive voices, is about to say goodbye to her flagship evening news show “The ReidOut” — and the decision has sent tremors through the world of political media.
Behind the scenes, a dramatic and sweeping reorganization is unfolding under the leadership of MSNBC’s new president Rebecca Kutler, and Reid’s removal is just the first casualty of what insiders are calling a network-wide purge. Gone is the era of familiar faces dominating primetime — and the network’s loyal progressive base is stunned.
According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Reid will host her final broadcast this week, marking the end of her nearly decade-long run as a weekend and then primetime mainstay. Her replacement? A rotating trio of co-hosts from the network’s upstart morning program “The Weekend” — Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez — who are set to helm the coveted 7 p.m. ET slot beginning next week.
A Quiet Exit, a Loud Message
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Reid, a bold, sometimes polarizing voice known for her sharp commentary and fearless engagement with political controversy, has long served as a lightning rod for the left and a target for the right. Her rise from hosting “AM Joy” on weekend mornings to commanding a primetime hour in the Trump era made her one of the few Black women to ever hold such a position in cable news.
But now, without even a formal network statement, she’s being shown the door — and the silence is deafening.
“This is more than a programming change,” said one senior producer familiar with the shift. “This is a calculated message. Kutler is cleaning house — and Reid’s outburst-driven style doesn’t fit the new MSNBC.”
The Woman Behind the Shakeup
Rebecca Kutler, the new president of MSNBC, has wasted no time making her mark. Officially installed in February 2025 after serving as interim president, Kutler has launched a whirlwind restructuring effort, tearing down the network’s existing schedule and rethinking its entire strategy.
Her moves have been swift and severe. In just weeks, she’s sidelined Joy Reid, reassigned Alex Wagner, and elevated former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki into serious contention for a permanent primetime role.
And that’s just the beginning.
Kutler, who spent two decades at CNN before being poached by former MSNBC president Rashida Jones in 2022, is facing the daunting challenge of navigating the network through its post-Comcast spinoff era. MSNBC, now owned by a new entity known as SpinCo, is looking to reassert its identity amid increasing competition and political volatility.
But if viewers were hoping for stability, Kutler has offered the opposite: disruption.
A “Weekend” Takeover
One of the most controversial aspects of Reid’s ousting is her replacement: co-hosts from a weekend program few expected to ascend to primetime. “The Weekend,” a two-hour show that airs Saturday and Sunday mornings, has indeed seen ratings improve — a reported 35% increase in total viewership — but handing over a weeknight hour to weekend talent is, at best, a gamble. At worst, it’s seen by critics as a rushed and risky overhaul.
Still, sources say Kutler is betting big on fresh faces and diverse viewpoints — but not necessarily the ones audiences have grown accustomed to.
“Symone Sanders-Townsend brings White House experience. Michael Steele has conservative credentials. Alicia Menendez is a rising voice,” one network executive noted. “It’s a strategic blend of ideologies — and a clear pivot toward ‘balanced’ representation.”
Balanced… or bland? Viewers will decide.
Psaki in, Wagner Out
Meanwhile, Alex Wagner — who had taken over much of Rachel Maddow’s schedule in recent years — is being reassigned. Though officially still with the network, she’s been removed from her primetime post and redirected to “special assignments.” No date has been announced for her return to the nightly news cycle.
In her place? Jen Psaki, the former Biden press secretary who launched “Inside with Jen Psaki” in 2023 to rave reviews. Psaki’s show is currently the network’s top weekend performer — and insiders say she’s being groomed for a weeknight takeover, possibly the prestigious 9 p.m. ET slot when Maddow continues her scaled-back once-a-week schedule.
Psaki’s growing presence, Kutler’s strategic bet, and Reid’s removal form a chilling pattern: MSNBC is moving into a new chapter, and not everyone is invited.
Joy’s Final Bow — Or First Strike?
Reid has not commented publicly on her abrupt departure, but longtime staffers report internal turmoil and rising tension behind the scenes in recent weeks. One producer said Reid was “blindsided” by the decision, despite signs pointing to internal dissatisfaction with her ratings and content style.
“She built this platform. And they just took it away,” the source said. “She may not go quietly.”
Indeed, Reid’s loyal followers have already begun mobilizing on social media, calling the move a betrayal and warning that MSNBC risks alienating the progressive base that fueled its ratings during the Trump presidency. Hashtags like #JusticeForJoy and #BringBackReid have begun trending on X (formerly Twitter).
And as MSNBC tries to navigate the return of Donald Trump to the White House — a political powder keg — the loss of one of its most fiery critics could prove costly.
Kutler’s Bigger Vision
In February, Kutler addressed network leaders with a chillingly honest assessment of her role: “These are not normal times,” she warned, “and our jobs are hard even on a normal day.”
She’s reportedly already lining up more recruits to reshape MSNBC’s next chapter, including Politico’s Eugene Daniels and NYU law professor Melissa Murray — both respected voices in political and legal analysis.
Kutler’s pitch is simple: Reinvent or be left behind.
But critics argue that in her effort to reposition the network, she’s discarding the very people — and voices — who made MSNBC matter.
What Happens Next?
For Reid, the road ahead is uncertain. Will she find a new home on another network? Launch an independent platform, as many media figures now do? Or will she fire back at MSNBC and expose the deeper conflicts behind her exit?
One thing is clear: her departure is no quiet fade into the background. It’s a thunderclap — one that exposes a network in flux, a media landscape in crisis, and a political conversation increasingly shaped by boardroom decisions.
The Verdict?
Joy Reid is out. Jen Psaki is rising. “The Weekend” is stepping up. And MSNBC is no longer playing it safe.
In an era where news is war and ratings are weapons, the battlefield has just been redrawn — and no one, not even a primetime star, is untouchable.
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