Of the handful of major cable news channels, there is no question that the highest number of lunatics per capita reside at the left-wing MSNBC. From hiring overt racists to some of the most outrageous political conspiracy theorists on TV, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find more over-the-top broadcasting and irrational hatred of President Donald Trump. But apparently, the executives at the network have had enough of the latter.
MSNBC executives are reportedly tweaking the programming of Rachel Maddow and other prominent hosts who have relied too heavily on anti-Trump commentary since the inauguration—a familiar and comfortable angle, but one that’s failing to bring back weary liberal viewers. While the chyrons continue to highlight every move Trump makes, staffers say they’re working with little clarity about the future of their shows, to include, well, a lot less overt Trump hate.
According to insiders, Rachel Maddow is feeling burned out herself and plans to step back from her nightly hour-long program after Trump’s first 100 days. Instead, she’s expected to increase her appearances on the late-night circuit, including familiar stops like “Late Night with Stephen Colbert” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — two more bastions of left-wing Trump hate that have likely fueled late-night flight to Fox News’ “Gutfeld!”
Former Biden admin paid spokes-fibber Jen Psaki is set to take on a more prominent role in the revamped lineup, serving as the “guinea pig” tasked with stabilizing MSNBC’s slipping ratings in Maddow’s absence. Complicating her challenge are new directives from MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler, a protégé of former CNN chief Jeff Zucker. Kutler is widely seen as the force behind Joy Reid’s exit, following frustration among Comcast executives over some of the overtly anti-white racist rants on-air. After Reid declined to step aside despite a pay cut, Kutler ultimately made the call to remove her and “DOGE’d” the team—forcing most staffers to either reapply for their jobs or move on.
A handful of names still carry weight with MSNBC leadership—Rachel Maddow, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, and Nicolle Wallace—but that circle has noticeably narrowed, insiders say. While Maddow remains “ratings Viagra” for the network, as one insider put it, Kutler is urging her to deliver more “hopeful news” in her coverage.
Additional directives include bringing on guests with differing viewpoints, mirroring CNN’s roundtables featuring conservatives like Scott Jennings, which have frequently gone viral. Kutler has also emphasized that breaking news banners should avoid framing every Trump development as a five-alarm emergency.