MSNBC President Rashida Jones has announced her resignation after a sharp decline in the network’s ratings following President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive victory in November. Jones’s departure marks the culmination of a tumultuous period for MSNBC, which has struggled to retain viewers as Trump prepares to return to the White House.
Ratings Plunge Post-Election
Under Jones’s leadership, MSNBC experienced a significant ratings decline, particularly after the 2024 election. Primetime viewership dropped by 22% in November compared to October, and by December, the network averaged only 660,000 viewers during primetime—a steep fall from the 1.3 million viewers it attracted in December 2023. These figures highlight a growing disconnect between MSNBC’s programming and its audience.
Struggling to Compete
MSNBC’s struggles have been exacerbated by its inability to compete with rival networks like Fox News, which has capitalized on its pro-Trump stance and seen consistent ratings growth. Meanwhile, MSNBC’s reliance on anti-Trump narratives has lost momentum in a political landscape increasingly favoring Trump’s policies and leadership.
Leadership Shakeup
Rebecca Kutler, a veteran of CNN, will serve as interim president following Jones’s exit. Kutler faces the immediate challenge of stabilizing the network’s dwindling viewership and addressing programming decisions that critics argue have alienated moderate and conservative viewers.
To mitigate the fallout, MSNBC plans to temporarily restore anchor Rachel Maddow to a five-night-a-week schedule during the early months of the Trump administration in an effort to revive interest. However, many question whether such moves will be enough to stem the ratings bleed.
Parent Company Restructuring
Compounding the network’s challenges, parent company Comcast has announced plans to spin off MSNBC, alongside other struggling networks, into a new entity called SpinCo. The restructuring aims to reposition MSNBC for growth, but critics argue it reflects a lack of confidence in the network’s ability to succeed under its current strategy.
A Legacy of Polarization
Jones’s tenure has been marked by a shift toward hyper-partisan programming, including the hiring of former Biden administration figures like Jen Psaki. While these moves were intended to solidify MSNBC’s progressive base, they appear to have alienated broader audiences, contributing to the network’s declining relevance.
Critics argue that Jones’s departure signals the failure of MSNBC’s strategy to double down on partisan politics. “The network has become a predictable echo chamber, and audiences are tuning out,” said media analyst Dan Stevens. “People are looking for news and analysis, not constant ideological spin.”
Looking Ahead
As MSNBC faces an uncertain future, it must grapple with the reality that its strategy of catering to a narrow, left-leaning audience is no longer sustainable in a shifting political and media environment. The leadership change offers an opportunity to recalibrate and appeal to a broader audience—but only if the network is willing to move beyond its polarizing approach.
For now, MSNBC’s decline serves as a cautionary tale for media outlets that prioritize ideology over journalistic credibility. Whether the network can recover from this crisis remains to be seen.