MSNBC Cancels Joy Reid’s Show, Announces Major Programming Overhaul

NEW YORK, NY — Joy Reid‘s evening news program, “The ReidOut,” will air its final episode this week as part of significant programming changes announced by MSNBC‘s new president, Rebecca Kutler. The decision reflects a broader strategy to reshape the network’s offerings amid declining viewership.

As of February 2025, “The ReidOut,” which has been a fixture at the 7 p.m. slot since 2020, will be replaced by a new show featuring co-hosts Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, and Symone Sanders-Townsend. The change marks Reid’s end as host of a mainstream cable program, with her show averaging only 973,000 total viewers in February 2025, down from 1.3 million during the same month in 2024.

Sources have revealed that Kutler intends to make further adjustments to MSNBC’s weekday lineup. Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary, is expected to receive additional airtime, while Alex Wagner will remain at the network as a correspondent but will not return to her 9 p.m. hosting role.

A spokesperson for MSNBC declined to comment regarding the programming changes. In her meeting with network employees, Kutler acknowledged, “Our jobs are hard on a normal day, and these are not normal times,” highlighting the challenges ahead for the network.

Alicia Menendez will make history as the first Latina woman to host a primetime cable news program on MSNBC when the new show begins airing. This revamped program will take the 7 p.m. slot on Mondays and feature a two-hour format, while running for one hour Tuesday through Friday.

These programming decisions are part of Kutler’s mission to re-establish MSNBC’s credentials in a cable landscape undergoing significant changes, particularly with Donald Trump’s return to the White House affecting viewer sentiment. Kutler, who has a history with CNN, aims to strengthen MSNBC’s identity by enhancing its reporting, with plans for a new Washington bureau and hiring for key positions within the network.

Additionally, Kutler is in discussions to bring on Eugene Daniels of Politico and Melissa Murray, a law professor specializing in reproductive rights, as part of an initiative to diversify talent.

In a time of increasing competition, with viewers shifting to platforms like Fox News and CNN, MSNBC has been losing ground. Kagan, a market-research firm, predicts the network could see a 10.5 percent reduction in subscribers by the end of 2025. The erosion has exacerbated since Trump’s election, which witnessed a significant drop in primetime audiences.

Reid, who has been associated with MSNBC since 2011, is known for her outspoken criticism of Trump. She hosted “AM Joy” before taking over the 7 p.m. hour. Her tenure has also been marred by controversies, including adverse scrutiny of past social media posts.

As the network adapts under Kutler’s leadership, more developments are anticipated in the coming months that may further reorganize its lineup.