Rachel Maddow Gets Candid About Jen Psaki Taking Over Her MSNBC Slot
Rachel Maddow is opening up about stepping away from MSNBC and handing her prime time slot to Jen Psaki.
Maddow previously announced she would return to hosting The Rachel Maddow Show for five nights a week for Donald Trump’s first 100 days back in office. As of Monday night (May 5), she is back to hosting Mondays only, as former Joe Biden spokesperson Psaki took over the 9 pm ET slot starting last night (May 6).
Speaking to People following the end of her 100-day stint, Maddow admitted she never envisioned returning to nightly shows, which she scaled back in 2022 as she focused on other projects.
“I had definitely stepped back and considered that to be permanent,” she told the outlet, admitting her return to five nights a week was “not on my bingo card in terms of things that I was considering.”
However, after MSNBC called her and asked if she’d come back full-time for the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, Maddow said, “I felt like it was a really good faith, big-hearted ask, like, ‘This would be good for our audience, this would be good for the network. I know it’s a big ask. Would you consider it?’ I was just sort of moved by feeling needed a little bit in that way.”
Now that Trump’s first 100 days have passed, Maddow is ready to hand control over to The Briefing with Jen Psaki, which will air Tuesdays to Fridays at 9 pm ET. Maddow said she is “so happy for the MSNBC audience” to see more variety on screen.
MSNBC YouTube
“The thing [Psaki] has which I do not have, which is going to make 9 o’clock better with Jen Psaki than it is with Rachel Maddow, is that she both knows people and knows how to talk to people,” Maddow explained.
She added, “I really am a weird little hermit who works great with my staff, but I don’t know anybody in Washington. I don’t know anybody in the news, and it’s on purpose — I am not great at interacting with people. I’m not a great interviewer and I’m not great at cultivating sources. It’s not my thing. I’m a reader, not a talker.”
Maddow is sure Psaki will be able to secure the top interviews given her impressive list of contacts, noting, “I don’t know anybody else who really can do that the way that she does.”
She also said Psaki isn’t at risk of letting the bright lights of television turn her into a “monster,” saying, “She’s not been susceptible to that wizardry. She’s a good person.”
As for what’s next for Maddow, she said she’d like to enjoy her free time but knows she will likely just end up working more.
“When I made the transition the last time, I had this big list of all this stuff I want to do, and it was finally clean the basement and learn how to detail [my wife] Susan’s car… finally learn to double haul, which is a hard way of fish-casting that I can’t do,” she shared. “I didn’t do any of that.”
“All I did was make podcasts and write books and make documentaries and set up this new company, Surprise Inside, through which I’m doing books and movies and TV shows and podcasts,” she continued. “I didn’t get any time off at all. I instead just started working on a different schedule that didn’t need me to produce a TV show every day.”
And even though she’s stepping back to one night a week, Maddow said she has no plans to leave MSNBC any time soon.
“I’ll be there every Monday night on MSNBC and whenever the bat phone rings, whenever they need me to come in and do special coverage, I’ll do it,” she stated. “I’m not going anywhere. They’re going to have to drag me out of here. You’re going to see the fingernail lines down the floorboards.”
The Rachel Maddow Show, Mondays, 9/8c, MSNBC
The Briefing with Jen Psaki, Tuesdays-Fridays, 9/8c, MSNBC
Conversation62 Comments
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G
You will be missed! One of my favorite voices in a dark and scary time!
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Stupid
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P
Rachael Maddie is and will always be the best news commentator of all time. Jen Psaki is good but will never replace Rachael in my opinion. Rachael’s method of investigating and doing research of a report beforehand stands out as a plus in what she does and is evidenced in why she is a tall tower in the world of news.
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G
I can always count on Rachael for truth backed with facts and her opinions are backed by facts. She hears truth and tells truth.
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O
Rachael, all has been said. I too will miss you at late night. I work the night shift, as soon as I arrive I turn on MSNBC to hear you. Glad to hear you are not leaving the station. Will stay tuned for Mondays. The BEST to YOU!.
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What is happening at MSNBC? Why Is Joy, Katie, Alex Wagner removed from the lineup. Rachel you understand estimate your people skills. Do you hear how people thank you for having them on your show? I remember the first couple of years when you asked people to please come on your “show.” You are a scholar, historian and have a unique perspective weaving the past to the present. And you have the passion for democratic values!!!
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G
Where is Joy?? I miss her a lot!
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C
They are all missing because no one watches them. They have lost ALL credibility due to never telling the truth, and as a result the ratings for MSDNC are crapola."Newscasters" (HA!) who don't draw viewers get fired, simple as that.
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O
I never thought I’d say, thank god for mondays. Rachel is already missed. #maddowmondays #missingmaddiow
Rachel Maddow was/is inspiring light in the quote un quote legacy media landscape and parallels the indy journalists coming through to the surface.
Rachel thank you for your service and “I can’t wait till Monday” is now a thing.
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R
I truly enjoy Maddow but I think Jen will be a very strong presence on MSNBC. May the FORCE be with you all.
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R
Rachel will be missed as she is an amazing commentator. Best wishes for all future endeavors. Many Blessings !
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B
All the good people are gone, the only one left is Lawrence O’Donnell
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G
I totally agree!!! Sure wish there was a place to go to hear Joy Reid, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell.....and then hire back Alex Wagner who was really treated badly at MSNBC twice. Hey and hire Tiffaney Cross and Don Lemon. That would be worth watching. Informative, well researched and still a bit entertaining. And Rachel, you are one of the best interviewers I've ever had the privilege of watching. I have even switched over to see you in the middle of an NBA game.
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B
Agree! Also let's not forget Keith. I watch MSNBC from 8PM to 11PM. LOVE Chris, Rachel and Lawrence. But wouldn't it be dynamic with Keith Olbermann in the mix!!!!
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O
It's all about ratings and no one wanted to listen to crazy Dems screach about bs anymore.
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G
I like both Maddow and Psaki equally. I'm glad that they're on MSNBC.
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O
I love Rachel and I only watched MSNBC for her and Donald.
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C
I am a fan! I must say that none of the other hosts have the gravitas Rachael has. Just no one quite like her. I will miss her.
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spoken like a true MAGAt, that is, ignorant as the day is long. yeah, let's keep paying that beach megan kelly millions to be a bigot but not someone that actually has a brain like rachel
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A voice speaking truth over the nonsense.
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Rachael , gracious as always to colleagues; a class act. Please don’t become so mired in intellectual pursuits that you become a vaguely remembered savant. Don’t lose your edge that has made you admired and followed. Keep it lively and true as always. We don’t want to lose to being just a deep thinking bore!
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Thank you so much. I laugh out loud at some of things you say, which makes you so special. I will miss you but look forward to Monday night.
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P
I'm definetly going to miss her. She knew how to deliver news which made you pay attention. Have fun in your new endeavors. Going to miss you but I'll be tuned in on Mondays
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O
Why! Voice of reason being silenced. Such a huge loss, your segment was something I looked forward to daily.
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G
Thank god. Maddow is toxic and has often exaggerated the truth. Her extreme bias is of putting. Unfortunately, Paski also won’t be very objective. It’s just a shame. Nobody wants constant commentary that doesn’t atleast give credit when due and criticize constructively. They just stoke fear and feed false narratives.
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Nonsense, Dakota can’t handle the truth. Crawl back over to Fux or Oan.
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I thoroughly enjoyed watching you nightly during those 100 days. You are the best!!
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I will miss you. MSNBC won’t be the same without you.
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It's the opposite, people like you have no interest in the truth, you prefer to hear what you like to believe.
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Rachel, we - your fans - will take you any way we can get you lol! Enjoyed First 100 Days but that had to be a grueling schedule.. looking forward to Mondays
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So many gullible and brainwashed followers only listening to one sided propaganda.
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This horrible woman is venom spitter. What good she does to the world? For making millions she spreads lies and fool gullible people. This country would be better without her.
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the Jen Psaki show is boring...bring Rachel back!
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K
Rachel Maddow, to whom I award the 2025 prize for Best Talker who's Not a Talker. We will sorely miss your nightly not-talking!!
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No Rachel no watching msnbc
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I’m certain you have her best interests at heart.
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O
You mean like when she said Trump gave musk a 4 million dollar contract when it was actually Joe Biden that did it
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G
It was almost worth living through the first 100 chaotic, demented days of this tumultuous regime just because I knew I could turn to Rachel Maddow 5 nights a week to get clarity, context, and hope. Rachel is incomparable. I’m in withdrawal since she backed off and uninspired by anyone else at msnbc. We so need her voice right now. I hope she doesn’t retreat too far or too long!
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MADCOW leaves and faux phony fraud PSAKI moves in ………UGH , I never watched Rachel and will not tune in Jen !
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It's all about business.. her audience is nearly zero
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She's so full of it anyway! Good riddance!
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I want Alex Wagner back again!!!!!!!!!
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O
I never thought Rachael had enough of a back bone. She always seemed to tip toe around issues she should have been more boisterous about like Joy
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What happened to Alex?
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Hmmm,Fox News fired Tucker Carlson for continuing to report lie after lie even after he was warned and Murdock was sued by Dominion , for millions, for allowing his journalists, Hannity,Ingram, for repeated lies about the voting machines being tampered with causing Trump to lose.Fox news,Newsmax,all tell you what you want to hear,lies,and propaganda, not the truth. Maybe try changing the channel to get honest reporting, not lie after lie!!!
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Who cares about Megan Kelly?
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Me too! I don't have to watch them that way!
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Mad Cow Decease... She is a Mental Health Disaster. She Infects Democrats with TDS. Complete ANTI-TRUMP LIES. She is a Blight Upon the FREE WORLD!!!!
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O
Why wasn't Rachel Maddow on MSNBC Monday June 30, 2025
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I so appreciate all your amazing reporting and think you should do whatever is calling to you right now.
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You are deeply appreciated. Thankyou.
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S
Aww nooo… Yes, Jen is wonderful BUT— Rachel, there’s NOBODY, like you❣️❤️🫶🏻
My Mom & I have enjoyed you for MANY- years. Ok, I KNOW, u will STILL, be there on Mon.’s BUT, to not see you as frequently, will not be as- satisfying. Almost, sad.
However, I understand also, you WILL, continue to highlight special events & special reporting on MSNBC. WHICH, we WILL— look forward in viewing.
We WILL, miss seeing your constant reports, nightly though.
Love ya always, lady😉👍🫶🏻❣️👏
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B
I miss her daily talk show. She holds no barred. Her opinion matters. All the best to you!!!
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G
I never watched msnbc until your program. Please come back!
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I love Rachel and Jen!
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R
Good riddance I wish she was leaving Monday night too, her condescending pontification was too much. It drove me from MSNBC. Plus her need to validate herself by constantly mentioning her wife, Susan, their cabin and fishing TMI… team coverage with Maddow is impossible to watch, as their ratings dwindle one would hope MSNBC would get the discount and dump Maddie.
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J
I love both Rachael and Jen, I Sam glad I have some idea what Rachael has been doing with her time. No grass will grow under either of these women’s feet. Jen was a breath of fresh air when she had her many talks with the press and she didn’t have to tell lies like Trumps blondes do.
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O
I love Rachel. I prefer to watch Rachel as she is professional and has that very honest quality. Rachel's opinions are always right on. I like Jen too. As a matter of fact those ladies are very similar. I never realized that before.
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G
You must leave for a younger set and how news effects political sentiments of the current milieu.
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B
I am ready for Jen and Rachel time has come to move on. Jen can and will hold her own. She is da best for this post.
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O
I like Jen,loved her as press secretary also..
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I loved her!! But ,there comes a time when " one just has to pass the torch"..
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