Joy Reid is departing from MSNBC, as announced by the network’s new president in a memo to staff on Monday. This marks the end of her prime-time show, “The ReidOut,” which she hosted as a progressive political analyst and news anchor.
“The ReidOut” has been a prominent part of MSNBC’s evening programming since its debut in 2020. The hour-long show aired weeknights at 7 p.m. ET, where Reid conducted interviews with politicians and newsmakers, covering a broad range of political topics and examining the intersections of race, culture, and social justice.
Reports about the cancellation of “The ReidOut” surfaced over the weekend, sparking backlash from supporters who praised the show for amplifying voices from historically marginalized communities in the media. MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler later confirmed Reid’s departure in a memo to staff on Monday afternoon.
Joy Reid is departing from MSNBC, and the network’s president, Rebecca Kutler, expressed gratitude for her many contributions over the years in a memo to staff.
In the coming weeks, various rotating anchors will fill in for Reid’s hour. Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez, who currently host “The Weekend” on MSNBC, will transition to weekdays at 7 p.m. to lead a new ensemble news program, according to the staff memo.
Before the memo from Rebecca Kutler, Joy Reid took to social media to thank those who had sent messages of support over the weekend. In a post on BlueSky and Instagram just after midnight, Reid expressed her appreciation, saying she was “so very proud” of the “The ReidOut” team. She also expressed her gratitude for the kind and encouraging words she had received.
On Sunday night, Reid participated in a streamed call on YouTube with Win With Black Women, where she shared that Monday would be her last show. During the call, Reid revealed that she had experienced a range of emotions upon learning the news, including anger and disappointment, but ultimately felt a sense of gratitude.
On the call with Win With Black Women, Joy Reid emphasized the value of her show, highlighting the wide range of important topics her team addressed daily. She pointed to subjects like Black Lives Matter and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, expressing no regret for speaking out on these issues, including the right to protest the bombing of children in Gaza.
Reid has earned numerous accolades throughout her career. Most recently, she received two NAACP Image Awards over the weekend, including one for “The ReidOut” as an outstanding news series and another for her literary work, her biography Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America.
The cancellation of The ReidOut is part of a broader programming shift at MSNBC. In the memo shared with staff, Rebecca Kutler outlined several upcoming changes to the network’s schedule, most of which are set to begin in late April. These changes include moving Jen Psaki’s show to the 9 p.m. primetime slot on Tuesdays through Fridays and ending Alex Wagner’s current nighttime program. Wagner will remain with MSNBC as a senior political analyst. Additionally, Rachel Maddow’s show will return to Mondays at 9 p.m., following the first 100 days of the Trump administration.
As part of its ongoing efforts to streamline operations, MSNBC is consolidating its broadcast locations in New York and Washington, D.C., while shutting down its Miami operations. This change will affect shows such as José Díaz-Balart Reports and The Katie Phang Show. Díaz-Balart will continue his role with NBC News as the anchor of Weekend Nightly News, while Phang will remain with MSNBC in her new role as a legal correspondent.
In a memo to staff, Rebecca Kutler emphasized the importance of adapting to the evolving media landscape to better serve audiences while positioning the network for future success. She acknowledged the frustration of staff members who first learned about these changes over the weekend, expressing regret that she was unable to communicate the updates directly sooner.
Rebecca Kutler, who joined MSNBC in 2022 after a tenure at CNN, officially became the network’s president on February 12. Her appointment follows her brief period as interim president after Rashida Jones announced she would be stepping down last month.
This leadership and programming shift is occurring alongside a significant corporate change. MSNBC will sever its corporate ties with NBC News once a planned spinoff is finalized later this year.
In another notable development, NBC veteran Lester Holt shared that he would step down as the anchor of Nightly News by early summer to take on an expanded role with Dateline programming.
