Former Biden Mouthpiece Gets Major MSNBC Promotion at Expense of Rachel Maddow
Jen Psaki, a seasoned Democratic strategist, has landed a major promotion at MSNBC, taking on a prime-time slot that effectively crowns her as the network’s new flagship personality.
As announced on Wednesday, the 46-year-old Psaki will now host the 9:00 p.m. Eastern time segment from Tuesday through Friday, a substantial step up from her previous Sunday-only program, according to USA Today.
This shift appears to come at the cost of Rachel Maddow, one of MSNBC’s most iconic figures, who is reducing her presence to a once-a-week appearance on Mondays.
Psaki, formerly President Joe Biden’s White House press secretary, also held several key positions under former President Barack Obama, reinforcing her deep roots within Democratic administrations.
Her upcoming show, titled “The Briefing,” signifies her move from a weekend presenter to the primary face of MSNBC’s prime-time schedule — an unmistakable boost in prominence.
The Hill reports that the program will continue to be produced from Washington, D.C.
MSNBC shared that the show will “pull from Psaki’s decades-long experiences on campaign buses, in the Oval Office, at the State Department, and in the briefing room to dissect the most important stories of the day.”
Psaki’s elevation at MSNBC is particularly notable given her consistent pro-Democratic and anti-Trump commentary, aligning closely with frequent critiques aimed at the network.
Her tendency to be sharply critical of Republicans is expected to persist as she steps further into the spotlight at a network already widely viewed as having a strong liberal bias.
Choosing Psaki to succeed Maddow — who for 17 years has been one of MSNBC’s most recognizable brands — suggests a significant strategic pivot within the network.
Maddow’s once-powerful brand appears to have diminished enough that MSNBC is now comfortable cutting back her weekly airtime.
However, this development does not indicate any ideological shift at MSNBC, considering that both Psaki and Maddow maintain a firm progressive perspective.
Indeed, Psaki’s leadership could very well intensify MSNBC’s anti-Trump commentary, given her track record of pointed critiques against both the former and current Republican president.
Psaki’s swift climb within MSNBC mirrors the network’s longstanding trend of bringing on former Democratic insiders — a practice that continues to fuel accusations that MSNBC acts as a partisan outlet for the left.
Despite ongoing skepticism, Psaki insists she intends to cover Trump with — as USA Today puts it — “a fresh approach.”
“If you’re projecting that your show is only about insider views, that’s completely missing the moment,” Psaki emphasized.
“Insiders don’t have all the answers, so I wanted to change the name immediately.”