MSNBC Cancels The Katie Phang Show and The ReidOut in Major Lineup Overhaul

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MSNBC has made significant changes to its lineup, canceling The Katie Phang Show and The ReidOut, among other shows, as part of a larger restructuring effort under new president Rebecca Kutler. The Katie Phang Show, which aired on Saturday afternoons, was known for its in-depth legal analysis and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly those from the AAPI community. Katie Phang, the host of the show, expressed her shock and disappointment in a statement, describing the news as a personal blow and reflecting on the show's accomplishments during its over two-year run.

The cancellation of The Katie Phang Show is part of a broader overhaul of MSNBC's daytime, primetime, and weekend schedules, which will see other notable hosts, including Joy Reid of The ReidOut, affected by the changes. Although Phang will remain with the network as a legal correspondent, her eponymous show will air its final episode in April. The network's new lineup will include Jen Psaki anchoring the 9 p.m. hour Tuesday through Friday, and Rachel Maddow reverting to hosting the 9 p.m. slot once a week. The changes are aimed at maintaining a jump in viewership and positioning the network for the future.

The cancellation of The ReidOut has also been met with reaction from other hosts, with Rachel Maddow blasting the network's decision, saying it feels "indefensible" to cancel the shows of non-white hosts. The network's ratings have rebounded after a turbulent post-election drop, beating out CNN as left-wing viewers flock to its combative coverage of the second Trump administration. The changes to the lineup are part of a larger effort to consolidate production operations and add big names to woo audiences, with the network announcing over 100 new jobs in the coming weeks.

Here are the key points of the lineup overhaul: * The Katie Phang Show and The ReidOut have been canceled * Jen Psaki will anchor the 9 p.m. hour Tuesday through Friday * Rachel Maddow will revert to hosting the 9 p.m. slot once a week * Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez will take over the 7 p.m. slot Tuesday through Friday * The network will introduce a new trio of co-hosts to anchor a 7 a.m. and a new 6 p.m. edition of The Weekend on Saturdays and Sundays * Jonathan Capehart will co-anchor the morning edition of The Weekend * Ayman Mohyeldin will anchor the evening edition of The Weekend * Ali Velshi will expand his show by an additional hour * Ana Cabrera will expand her show by an hour * Chris Jansing will anchor a new show from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. * Katy Tur will add an hour to her show, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The changes to the lineup are significant, with a focus on diversity and representation, as well as a commitment to in-depth analysis and coverage of current events. The network's decision to cancel The Katie Phang Show and The ReidOut has been met with reaction from hosts and viewers, but the changes are aimed at positioning the network for the future and maintaining its commitment to quality journalism.