MSNBC continues to struggle as ratings plummet and internal conflicts emerge. The liberal network recently announced a major restructuring effort, firing several prominent hosts. The changes come as the cable news outlet recorded its lowest-rated January in history.

New MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler has been ruthlessly cleaning house. Among those fired were Joy Reid, Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, and Ayman Mohyeldin. The network insists these changes are strategic programming decisions.

But not everyone at MSNBC is staying quiet about the shake-up.

In a stunning moment of internal conflict, Rachel Maddow – MSNBC’s $25 million star – publicly turned against her own network. The liberal icon delivered a blistering critique of MSNBC’s decision to fire Joy Reid and other non-white hosts, calling the move “indefensible.”

MSNBC’s Star Turns on Network

“I do not want to lose her as a colleague here at MSNBC, and personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door. It is not my call and I understand that. But that’s what I think,” Maddow said on her show.

The criticism didn’t stop there. Maddow went even further, directly attacking MSNBC’s leadership for what she perceived as a pattern of removing minority hosts.

“I will tell you, it is also unnerving to see that on a network where we’ve got two – count them – two nonwhite hosts in primetime, both of our nonwhite hosts in primetime are losing their shows, as is Katie Phang on the weekend,” Maddow continued. “And that feels worse than bad, no matter who replaces them. That feels indefensible. And I do not defend it.”

Maddow also criticized how MSNBC was handling staff layoffs, noting that dozens of producers and staffers were being forced to reapply for their jobs – something she called “unprecedented” in the network’s history.

“It’s not the right way to treat people,” Maddow said. “And it’s inefficient and it’s unnecessary, and it kind of drops the bottom out of whether or not people feel like this is a good place to work.”

Progressive Network Faces Diversity Backlash

The irony wasn’t lost on conservatives. A network that has long lectured Americans about diversity and inclusion is now facing accusations of racial insensitivity from its own star. We’ve been saying this for years – the left’s diversity rhetoric rarely matches their actions when nobody’s looking.

Reid’s final broadcast on Monday featured emotional farewells from fellow MSNBC hosts, including Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, and Nicole Wallace. Reid used her final airtime to warn viewers about “fascism” under President Donald Trump.

“Fascism isn’t just coming, it’s already here,” Reid claimed during her final broadcast. “You don’t always win every battle but the whole thing is about resisting.”

President Trump didn’t let the moment pass without comment. He blasted the network as “losers” on Truth Social, calling MSNBC head Brian Roberts a “Lowlife Chairman” while branding Reid a “mentally obnoxious racist.” Can you imagine the media meltdown if a conservative host had made the kind of inflammatory statements Reid regularly made?

The network’s handling of Reid’s departure has created significant internal tension. During a Sunday meeting with staff, Kutler reportedly faced angry employees demanding answers about why the show was cancelled and what it meant for their futures at MSNBC.

In honor of Joy Reid's show getting scrapped, here is the exact moment when she and Rachel Maddow realized that Trump was winning the election. pic.twitter.com/wPlzeTVPSp

— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) February 23, 2025

Liberal Media’s Ratings Collapse

Behind the drama lies a stark reality: MSNBC is hemorrhaging viewers. Indeed, the network recorded its lowest-rated January in history in the crucial 25-54 demographic, which advertisers value most.

During primetime hours (8-11 p.m. ET), MSNBC barely managed an audience of 734,000 viewers, while CNN secured just 522,000. These dismal numbers came during a busy news cycle featuring coverage of Trump’s inauguration and cabinet appointments.

The network has lost nearly half of its 25-54 audience since this time last year. In primetime, MSNBC’s numbers are down 41 percent from 2024. Why are viewers abandoning ship? Perhaps Americans are tired of being talked down to by coastal elites who are completely disconnected from their everyday concerns.

Even bringing back Maddow five nights a week – a move intended to boost ratings during Trump’s first 100 days – hasn’t stopped the bleeding. Maddow herself reportedly took a significant pay cut when signing her new contract.

Rachel Maddow, who just took a $5 million pay cut due to poor ratings, continues to unsuccessfully try and drive a wedge between Trump and Musk.

She also wrongly says shutting down the government would’ve been bad for America. If anything, most people probably wouldn’t have even… pic.twitter.com/CTdfWffVHc

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 26, 2024

The Bigger Picture

The shake-up at MSNBC is part of a broader restructuring. In November, Comcast announced that MSNBC would be spun off into a new company apart from NBC News. This corporate reshuffling comes as traditional media outlets struggle to maintain relevance in a changing media landscape.

MSNBC’s desperate attempts to stem rating losses show how Americans are increasingly rejecting progressive messaging. Despite bringing back their biggest star five nights a week, viewers continue to tune out.

As liberal media outlets fight among themselves, the real story is how everyday Americans are voting with their remote controls. The progressive echo chamber that dominated cable news for years is collapsing under its own weight.

For conservatives who have long pointed out the double standards of liberal media, MSNBC’s current crisis serves as a powerful validation. When even Rachel Maddow can’t defend her network’s actions, perhaps it’s time for MSNBC to reconsider the divisive programming that has alienated so many American viewers.

Key Takeaways:

• MSNBC’s $25 million star Rachel Maddow publicly criticized her own network for firing minority hosts like Joy Reid.
• President Trump blasted Joy Reid as a “mentally obnoxious racist” while the network struggles with its lowest ratings in history.
• The liberal network’s audience has collapsed by nearly 50% as Americans increasingly reject progressive messaging.
• Even desperate measures like bringing Maddow back five nights a week haven’t stopped viewers from tuning out.

Sources: Daily Mail, Yahoo News