MSNBC Ups Rachel Maddow to Five Nights, Sends Alex Wagner Into Field for Trump’s First 100 Days

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Regardless of her aim to devote more time to movies, literature, documentaries, and podcasts, Rachel Maddow finds herself ensnared in MSNBC’s prime-time schedule.

Rachel Maddow, who reduced her anchoring schedule following spring 2022, now confined to Monday nights, will increase her appearances to five nights a week at the same hour. This adjustment is part of MSNBC’s strategy to boost viewership during their coverage of the initial 100 days of the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Alex Wagner, who currently anchors from Tuesday through Friday evenings, will take on a new role: journeying across the U.S. and overseas in an effort to engage with both policy makers related to Trump’s administration and individuals impacted by his policies during his early days in office.

During an interview, Wagner expressed that the aim is to provide MSNBC viewers with a comprehensive, all-around perspective of the country’s events, a viewpoint that may not be readily available in the studio setting. Both Wagner and Maddow are anticipated to resume their usual roles after April 30th.

MSNBC’s evening schedule is being rearranged due to a drop in viewership since the 2024 election. For the period between the election and the end of 2024, there was a 65% decrease in MSNBC’s primetime audience aged 25-54, as per Nielsen data. Some worry that the network, known for progressive opinion shows, is experiencing viewer exhaustion following Donald Trump’s second term win. The meeting between MSNBC morning hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski and President-elect Trump has fueled speculation about dissent from MSNBC’s liberal audience.

During the same period, CNN’s viewership decreased significantly, while Fox News Channel grabbed approximately 71% of the cable news audience in December.

MSNBC has experienced a decline in ratings during the last four presidential elections (in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016). However, executives are optimistic that audience trends have started to change for the better over the past few weeks. They are also buoyed by increased digital engagement with their content on platforms like YouTube.

Over the past few months, there has been a significant amount of fatigue, with this election cycle being especially draining. Despite this, I am optimistic that we are on the verge of some momentous decisions. I firmly believe that the American people desire and require these decisive actions to be taken.

In contrast to typical cable news practices of interviewing die-hard Trump supporters who propagate debunked claims about current events or policy, Wagner aims to interact with people in a substantive manner. She believes it’s essential to comprehend these perspectives in order to respond effectively from the left and ultimately prevail in the debate. This is her objective.

She’ll leverage her previous knowledge gained from working with MSNBC during the latest election period and from contributing to “The Circus,” a Showtime documentary series that offered viewers a firsthand insight into the process of winning and losing elections.

For several years, the scheduling of a cable news network’s prime time has generally stayed consistent, except in cases where anchors or networks decide to part ways. However, under the leadership of Rashida Jones as MSNBC’s president, the network has begun to experiment with fresh ideas. Jen Psaki, who hosts a Sunday program, also contributes on Monday evenings at 8 PM, leaving Chris Hayes with a similar schedule to Wagner’s – only airing from Tuesday to Friday. Additionally, MSNBC has been trying out programs that feature unique content on the Peacock streaming platform and the weekend MSNBC schedule.

Some innovative concepts have resulted in Maddow appearing more frequently during prime time hours than some had initially anticipated. Additionally, she heads up an unprecedented program internally referred to as “The Avengers,” which MSNBC employs on particularly newsworthy nights. Essentially, Maddow hosts extended sessions at a podium with a rotating cast of MSNBC personnel including Joy Reid, Nicolle Wallace, Ari Melber, and Stephanie Ruhle.

Maddow assured EbMaster towards the end of last year that I’d be available whenever needed, regarding my additional appearances on MSNBC beyond my usual Monday commitments.

During Donald Trump’s initial weeks in the White House, other hosts are set to introduce fresh components into the political landscape. Jen Psaki is planning to start a new podcast titled “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki,” where she will discuss the path forward for the Democratic Party following a challenging election period. Meanwhile, Chris Hayes is preparing to launch a recurring segment called “Here is What is True,” which aims to analyze false information stemming from Washington and its impact on political conversations.

Wagner’s reports might appear throughout MSNBC’s programming, including specials, digital platforms, and live events. As her assignment progresses, Wagner comments, “We’re building the plane as we fly it.” Despite this, she anticipates returning at 9 p.m., when her assignment concludes. “You can’t be in the field constantly,” she adds.

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2025-01-13 19:47