MSNBC is undergoing significant programming changes under its new leadership, 

and one of the biggest announcements is the cancellation of The ReidOut, hosted by longtime anchor Joy Reid. 

The decision is part of a broader restructuring effort led by MSNBC’s new president,

Rebecca Kutler, who recently stepped into the role following Rashida Jones’ departure in January.

Joy Reid’s Departure from MSNBC

Reid, who has been a familiar face on MSNBC for over a decade, will be leaving the network entirely following the cancellation of her primetime show. 

She first joined the network as the host of The Reid Report and later gained prominence with AM Joy. 

In 2020, The ReidOut debuted in the 7 p.m. EST time slot, making Reid one of the most influential voices in cable news.

In an internal memo to staff, Kutler expressed her appreciation for Reid’s contributions to the network. “We are incredibly grateful for Joy’s work and the impact she has had on our audience,” she wrote. Reid also addressed the news on social media, thanking her supporters. “I am so very proud of what our team accomplished at The ReidOut,” she posted on Bluesky.

New Anchors Taking Over the 7 P.M. Slot

With The ReidOut coming to an end, MSNBC has announced a new lineup for the 7 p.m. hour. Instead of a single replacement, the time slot will be filled by a rotating trio of anchors—Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez.

All three hosts are already part of MSNBC’s The Weekend, a show that airs on Saturdays and Sundays. Sanders-Townsend, a former senior adviser and spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris, brings a strong political background to the role. Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, offers a conservative perspective, while Menendez, a seasoned journalist, has established herself as a respected voice in political commentary.

Broader Changes Under New Leadership

Joy Reid’s departure is just one of many changes coming to MSNBC. The network is restructuring its programming in both morning and evening hours. One of the biggest shifts came earlier this year when Rachel Maddow returned to hosting The Rachel Maddow Show five nights a week for the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidential term.

Previously, Maddow had scaled back her appearances to just one night a week, with Alex Wagner Tonight filling the rest of the slot. Initially, MSNBC had planned for Wagner to return to the 9 p.m. time slot after Maddow’s 100-day run, but those plans have since changed. Instead, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will take over, moving from her weekend show Inside with Jen Psaki to a more prominent weekday role. Wagner, meanwhile, will stay with the network as a correspondent.

MSNBC’s Ratings Challenges and Industry-Wide Declines

The changes at MSNBC come amid a challenging period for the network. Ratings have been on the decline, with viewership dropping 44% between the November 2024 presidential election and February 2025, according to Nielsen data. The decline is part of a broader trend affecting major cable news networks, including CNN and Fox News, as audiences shift away from traditional television toward digital platforms.

MSNBC is not the only network facing upheaval. CNN has also seen a number of high-profile exits in recent months, with longtime anchors such as Alisyn Camerota, Chris Wallace, and Jim Acosta all departing. Over at CBS and NBC, major anchors have also left their roles, including CBS Evening News’ Norah O’Donnell, Today show’s Hoda Kotb, and NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt, who recently announced plans to step down by early summer.

What’s Next for MSNBC?

Under Rebecca Kutler’s leadership, MSNBC is moving toward a fresh lineup and a revamped news strategy. In a recent address to network executives, Kutler emphasized that the coming year would involve “building a new news organization” and adapting to the evolving media landscape. She acknowledged that the transition would be challenging but expressed optimism about the network’s future.

As part of the ongoing restructuring, MSNBC is also reshaping its weekend programming. Jonathan Capehart is set to join The Weekend as a morning host, while Ayman Mohyeldin will take over the evening edition.

Joy Reid’s Future

While Reid has not announced her next career move, her departure marks the end of an era at MSNBC. Given her long history in political journalism and her influence in progressive media, it’s likely that she will continue her work in news and analysis, whether through another network, a digital platform, or independent media ventures.

For MSNBC, the network’s success will now depend on how well its new hosts connect with viewers and whether the programming changes can reverse the recent ratings slump. One thing is certain—cable news is undergoing a major transformation, and MSNBC is at the forefront of that shift.

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