Major changes were announced Monday at MSNBC, sending progressives into a tailspin. As part of an effort to boost viewership under the new Trump administration and consolidate operations, the network said Joy Reid was out, Jen Psaki would get a promotion into a primetime slot, and Alex Wagner will not return to her previous primetime spot but will stay on as a political analyst. As MSNBC closes its broadcasting center in Miami, "José Díaz-Balart Reports" and "The Katie Phang Show" will both end production, though the hosts will remain with the network in other roles.
The changes have not gone over well on the left, with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow accusing the network of racism for letting Reid go.
NO JOY: MSNBC's Rachel Maddow in the wake of Joy Reid's show being cancelled: "I think it is a bad mistake…"
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 25, 2025
She then accuses MSNBC bosses of being racist:
It’s "unnerving" to see the network's decision to cancel shows hosted by nonwhite anchors: "That feels indefensible." pic.twitter.com/qBXhsYwmkX
She's not the only one to make that argument. Keith Olberman was also outraged, but was quickly reminded that Reid is being replaced by "The Weekend" hosts Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele and Symone Sanders-Townsend.
Joy Reid was replaced by two African-American anchors and a Latina anchor. But sure, everything is racist. Crying wolf to protect very rich, powerful minorities among the elites hurts the real cause of fighting racism. https://t.co/JCCGqL2JaI
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) February 24, 2025