The landscape of cable news is shifting, and Joy Reid finds herself at the center of it.

After MSNBC decided to pull the plug on The ReidOut due to declining ratings, questions remain about how Reid will handle her abrupt exit—especially whether she’ll agree to do a final show.

MSNBC Moves to Revamp Programming

The decision to cancel The ReidOut came from MSNBC’s newly appointed president, Rebecca Kutler, who is leading a broader shake-up at the network.

Despite Reid’s prominent role as one of MSNBC’s most recognizable progressive voices, the network’s struggle with ratings made the show a casualty of its restructuring.

Following the announcement, Reid’s staff was called into a tense Sunday meeting, where emotions ran high.

Kutler made it clear that the network hoped Reid would do a farewell episode, but sources suggest she may decline, hinting at behind-the-scenes friction.

“We are waiting to hear from Joy and her team on how she’d like to handle this,” Kutler told staff.

Frustration Among Staff Over Handling of Cancellation

The cancellation blindsided Reid’s team, many of whom reportedly first heard the news through media reports rather than from MSNBC leadership.

Staffers expressed frustration and concern about their futures at the network.

While Kutler assured them that the decision wasn’t politically motivated—specifically denying that Donald Trump played a role—she emphasized that it was driven by data and a strategic push to rebuild MSNBC’s ratings.

She also revealed that all The ReidOut employees would receive severance and remain on payroll until April, but that didn’t do much to ease the disappointment among the team.

MSNBC’s Ratings Freefall

The cancellation comes amid MSNBC’s ongoing struggle to retain viewers.

The network just posted its worst January ratings in history for the key 25-54 demographic—an age group crucial for advertisers.

MSNBC’s primetime audience between 8-11 p.m. ET barely reached 734,000 viewers, while CNN lagged behind at 522,000.

Even high-profile figures like Rachel Maddow returning to a daily show couldn’t stop the network’s decline.

MSNBC’s daytime ratings sank to just 45,000 in the key demographic, while primetime fell to 63,000.

In total, the network has lost nearly half of its audience in the 25-54 bracket since last year, continuing a downward trend of 65% since the last election.

What’s Next for Joy Reid and MSNBC?

MSNBC is preparing to fill The ReidOut’s 7 p.m. slot with a panel show featuring Symone Sanders Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele, signaling a shift in strategy.

However, whether this change will help reverse MSNBC’s ratings slump remains to be seen.

As for Reid, her next move is unclear.

Her silence on social media has fueled speculation about what’s next—whether she will negotiate a new role within the network, move to another platform, or take time off.

For now, all eyes are on whether she’ll agree to say goodbye on air, or walk away without a final sign-off.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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