MSNBC is undergoing a major overhaul of its programming, leading to significant changes in both the network’s staff and shows. According to The Guardian, most of the production team for The Rachel Maddow Show will be let go as part of this restructuring effort.
Maddow, who had previously scaled back her hosting duties to just Mondays, is now hosting five nights a week for the first 100 days of the Trump administration. This programming shift comes as part of larger changes at MSNBC, including the departure of Joy Reid, whose final episode of The ReidOut aired recently. In addition, Alex Wagner’s Alex Wagner Tonight has been canceled, although Wagner will remain at the network in a different role. The network has also closed its Miami operations, resulting in the cancellation of both José Díaz-Balart Reports and The Katie Phang Show.
A significant number of Maddow’s production crew will be let go because many of them worked on both The Rachel Maddow Show and Alex Wagner Tonight, given that Maddow scaled back to just one night per week, and Wagner took over the remaining weekdays. When Maddow returns to her usual Monday-only schedule on April 21, former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki will take over the weekday evening slot.
MSNBC has stated that the layoffs do not represent widespread cuts across the network, but Maddow expressed strong concerns about the impact of the changes on her colleagues. In a rare moment of on-air criticism, she expressed disappointment about Reid’s departure and the loss of talented producers. Maddow argued that the manner in which these staff members were treated—being asked to reapply for jobs instead of receiving fair notice—was unfair and unprecedented.
Her comments reflect a growing frustration with the network’s approach to staff cuts, especially when it comes to experienced producers who have contributed greatly to MSNBC’s success. While Maddow acknowledged that these decisions were beyond her control, her remarks suggest that she views the treatment of her team as both wrong and avoidable.