Ratings Released Over Network Shows
MSNBC’s primetime woes hit a new low last week, with three marquee programs recording their worst viewership numbers ever.
Despite a packed news cycle that included headline-grabbing stories like the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, major developments in Trump’s Cabinet picks, President Biden’s controversial pardon of his son Hunter, and the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the network couldn’t muster a significant audience.
Let’s break it down. Alex Wagner Tonight, which fills Rachel Maddow’s coveted 9 p.m. slot Tuesday through Friday, managed an average of only 595,000 total viewers during the week of December 2.
That marks its lowest-rated week since the show debuted in 2022. On paper, stepping into Maddow’s shoes seemed like a golden opportunity, but these numbers suggest the audience isn’t sticking around past her Monday night appearances.
Meanwhile, Inside with Jen Psaki—a show born out of Psaki’s high-profile transition from White House press secretary to cable news host—didn’t fare much better. The program hit an all-time low of just 651,000 total viewers. For a figure as recognizable and tied to the Biden administration as Psaki, those numbers represent a major stumble.
The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, while holding steady in total viewership, tanked in the key advertiser-friendly demographic of adults aged 25-54, attracting just 61,000 viewers. That’s the smallest demo audience the show has pulled in since its 2010 debut. For a program positioned as one of MSNBC’s flagship offerings, these numbers are a flashing red light.
Adding to the drama, Comcast recently announced plans to spin off NBCUniversal’s cable assets, including MSNBC, into a separate entity. This shake-up could mean significant changes to the network’s resources, branding, and editorial approach, leaving MSNBC in a precarious position.
And just to stir the pot further, Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski sparked backlash last month when they admitted to meeting face-to-face with Donald Trump.
The revelation landed awkwardly after years of branding him as a “fascist” and a danger to democracy—fueling accusations of hypocrisy from both fans and critics.