Jen Psaki struggles with 47% drop in viewership on MSNBC

In May 2025, Jen Psaki launched her show 'The Briefing with Jen Psaki' in MSNBC's 9 p.m. slot. This show came as part of a significant overhaul of the network's programming, replacing prior hosts Rachel Maddow and Alex Wagner. Psaki's debut drew an average of 971,000 viewers but suffered a substantial loss of 47% of the audience that Maddow and Wagner averaged in the same timeframe. Additionally, the program faced a notable drop of 52% in the crucial 25-54 age demographic. Throughout the month, other new shows introduced by MSNBC also reported declines in viewership. 'The Weeknight,' launched on May 5, averaged 776,000 viewers—a decrease of 12% compared to earlier programming, while 'The Weekend: Primetime' experienced an 11% drop among total viewers. MSNBC's May ratings overall reflected a 24% decline in primetime viewership and a dip behind CNN in the key demographic, marking its second-worst performance in history for both total day and primetime ratings. These disappointing figures have sparked concern about the effectiveness of the network's revamp and its ability to retain audiences in a highly competitive news landscape. Notably, the only new program to see an improvement in viewership is 'The Weekend' with Jonathan Capehart, which reported a 24% increase in total viewers since its launch. Despite this minor success, MSNBC has reiterated its commitment to reinvigorating its lineup amid ongoing challenges. As Comcast prepares to spin off NBCUniversal's cable assets, including MSNBC, into a new company called Versant, the network's viewer loss raises questions about potential impacts on its revenue and market positioning. The combination of these factors contributes to a complex picture for Jen Psaki's show and other new offerings at MSNBC as they navigate a tumultuous ratings environment.