The TV news-and-commentary landscape is undergoing
changes in the new era of Trump, some related to his ascendance and some not.
For example, some interpreted MSNBC's cancellation of “The ReidOut” over the weekend -- resulting in
host Joy Reid leaving the network -- as the beginning of an effort by MSNBC to tone down the loudest of its left-leaning rhetoric on the network.
Joy Reid is only the beginning, insist the
gleeful hosts at the ideological competition, Fox News, who are nothing if not gloaters.
Not surprisingly, the interpretation they are presenting to their followers this week is that the
powers that be at MSNBC, CNN and even ABC News, CBS News and NBC News (of which MSNBC is a part) have finally seen the light.
They are taking a hard look at their leftist anchors and
commentators, the Fox’ers say, to see where they can moderate their content in the Trump era.
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On the other hand, Joy Reid's cancellation might have little or nothing to do with the
prevailing political headwinds.
“The ReidOut” just might have been sucking wind where it mattered most -- namely, how many people watched it. That is usually the coin of the realm
when it comes to canceling TV shows.
Some might say that most -- if not all -- of the MSNBC lineup is sucking wind. Nevertheless, there is no sign yet that any other of MSNBC' left-leaning
hosts are headed to the chopping block, although the network is making other changes.
Among other things, Biden's former press secretary, Jen Psaki, has been awarded the highest-profile
prime-time slot -- 9-10 p.m. Eastern. She will move into the hour in April, Tuesday through Friday nights.
The slot has been occupied since Trump's election by Rachel Maddow, who agreed to
appear five nights a week for Trump's first 100 days.
When Maddow goes back to her Monday-only schedule in April, Psaki will move in -- replacing Alex Wagner, who will remain at MSNBC in
another role.
Behind the scenes, the MSNBC moves are the work of the network's new president, Rebecca Kutler, who is evidently intent on doing something about the network's malaise.
The former president, Rashida Jones, quit in January just days before Trump's inauguration. Jones said she will “pursue other opportunities.”
That tired phrase instantly makes
one think the person pursuing these alleged opportunities did not exactly choose to leave.
So, what's the problem? In good times or bad, one thing seems to always stay the same in the
competitive arena of left vs. right political talk on TV (and also radio).
The righties always seem to win, whether or not their guy is president. Fox News has long been ahead of its two
left-leaning competitors MSNBC and CNN.
Now, following Trump's victory in November, Fox is way up and MSNBC and CNN are down, Fox News' total audience increased 40% in January over January
2024. MSNBC's audience fell 33% and CNN's 14%, reports Wayne Friedman.
Some might look at these ratings and conclude naively that MSNBC and CNN can benefit by somehow moving rightward -- to sail with the wind, rather than against it.
But after positioning
themselves in opposition to Trump in particular and conservatism in general for so many years, the only way to change would be to scrap everything and start over.
But it would take years to
make that evolution. Besides, Fox got there first. When it comes to cable news and commentary, Fox rules the right.
It is obviously easier said than done, but what the other two channels need
are better air talent and better shows.