Rachel Maddow’s recent outburst against MSNBC executives may have backfired, as her show is now facing a dramatic decline in ratings.
With millions of viewers leaving, questions are being raised about her future at the network.
A Major Drop in Viewership
Maddow’s show has taken a serious hit, with ratings plummeting by 22 percent.
Once pulling in 2.3 million viewers, her audience has now shrunk to 1.8 million since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
The numbers are even worse among the 25-54 demographic, a key group for advertisers.
She lost nearly a third of these viewers, marking a steep 29 percent decline.
The first two months of 2025 alone saw her audience shrink by 24 percent compared to the previous year, indicating that interest in her program is waning without Joe Biden in office.
Holding On to Her Time Slot
Despite the overall decline, Maddow’s show continues to dominate its time slot on most nights.
However, she lost viewership last Tuesday when President Trump delivered his address to Congress.
This suggests that while her program remains competitive, its grip on loyal audiences is weakening.
Feud with MSNBC Leadership
The ratings slump follows a heated confrontation between Maddow and MSNBC’s leadership regarding recent programming changes.
She publicly criticized the removal of Joy Reid and other diverse hosts, calling it “disturbing” that non-white voices were being sidelined in primetime.
Asian American host Katie Phang and Black journalist Jonathan Capehart also lost their primetime slots, though they remain with the network in lower-profile roles.
Maddow expressed strong disapproval, arguing that these decisions would ultimately harm MSNBC’s reputation and appeal.
The Cost of Maddow’s Massive Salary
While Maddow voiced concerns about diversity, critics pointed out that her own lucrative contract could be a factor in MSNBC’s financial decisions.
She currently earns $25 million per year to host just one show a week, a figure that dwarfs the salaries of many production staff members.
MSNBC recently announced layoffs affecting 125 producers—many from Maddow’s own team—though 110 will be rehired.
Some industry insiders believe Maddow’s hefty paycheck could have been redistributed to support more newsroom jobs and programming expansion.
A Questionable Strategy Moving Forward
Maddow’s contract included an agreement to cover the first 100 days of Trump’s new presidency before returning to her once-a-week schedule in April.
While her ratings remain solid compared to many competitors, there are whispers that network executives may be growing frustrated with her high cost and vocal criticism.
Meanwhile, MSNBC has lined up Symone Sanders and Alicia Menendez—both women of color—to fill some of the empty slots left by the recent reshuffling.
However, Maddow did not acknowledge this when accusing the network of racial bias, which raised some eyebrows among industry observers.
Calls for Maddow to Resign
Maddow’s stance has divided even her most loyal supporters.
Progressive voices on social media platforms like Bluesky have called on her to take action rather than just voice her frustrations.
Some have suggested that if she truly believes MSNBC is mishandling diversity, she should resign in protest.
One user bluntly stated, “If she’s so outraged, she should put her money where her mouth is and walk away.”
Others argued that the only way for liberal figures to challenge corporate media structures is to abandon mainstream networks altogether and invest in independent platforms.
What’s Next for Maddow?
As pressure mounts, it remains to be seen whether Maddow will maintain her role at MSNBC or take a different path.
While her influence in progressive media is undeniable, the combination of falling ratings, internal tensions, and public criticism may push her to rethink her future in television.