MSNBC’s new primetime lineup has started off on shaky ground. Jen Psaki’s show, The Briefing with Jen Psaki, isn’t drawing the same audience that Rachel Maddow once did in the same time slot. Here’s what you need to know:
- Jen Psaki’s show lost nearly half of Rachel Maddow’s viewers.
- Psaki’s show averaged 971,000 viewers, compared to Maddow’s 1.89 million.
- The new lineup isn’t performing well overall, with only one show improving its time slot.
- Psaki’s salary is reportedly much lower than Maddow’s, who now hosts just once a week.
The Numbers Behind the Drop Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary, took over MSNBC’s 9 p.m. slot from Tuesday to Friday after Rachel Maddow cut her schedule. Maddow now only hosts her show on Mondays. While Maddow’s show averaged 1.89 million viewers this year, Psaki’s show pulled in just 971,000 viewers during the first month, according to Nielsen ratings. That’s a 47% drop.
Psaki’s ratings are even lower than those of Alex Wagner, who previously hosted the time slot. Wagner’s show averaged 1.3 million viewers between 2022 and early 2025.
The Timing Couldn’t Have Been Worse The launch of Psaki’s show in May didn’t help. The NBA playoffs were in full swing, drawing millions of viewers away from cable news. For example, one game alone—Game 6 of the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers series—drew 8.12 million viewers. It’s hard to compete with live sports, especially during the playoffs.
MSNBC’s Revamped Lineup Struggles The network made big changes to its primetime schedule this spring. In addition to Psaki’s new show, they introduced The Weeknight, hosted by Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez, to replace Joy Reid’s The ReidOut at 7 p.m.
So far, the results are mixed. Only one show, The Weekend with Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels, and Jackie Alemany, is doing better than its predecessor. It’s seen a 24% increase in total viewers and a 29% jump in its key demographic since its May 3 debut.
What’s Next for MSNBC? The network is hoping to find the right mix of shows to bring back viewers. Maddow’s reduced role has been a big change, but her once-a-week show remains highly profitable. She reportedly makes $25 million a year for hosting just one night a week, far more than what Psaki is earning.
For now, MSNBC is trying to fill the gap left by Maddow’s absence. With Psaki’s show struggling and only one new program performing well, the network has some work to do to regain its footing in primetime.