MSNBC’s Jen Psaki trails struggling CNN in key demo

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It has been a blended bag for MSNBC’s Jen Psaki, two months into her new gig.

Psaki, the press secretary for former President Joe Biden — who has insisted she by no means witnessed indicators of decline whereas she labored for him — noticed an elevated function as a part of MSNBC’s overhaul when programming adjustments had been introduced earlier this yr.

Psaki took over MSNBC’s coveted 9 p.m. ET timeslot on Tuesday by way of Fridays in Could as "The Rachel Maddow Present" returned to solely airing on Mondays. Maddow had briefly returned to airing 5 nights per week throughout President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in workplace.

"The Briefing with Jen Psaki" averaged 1.1 million complete viewers from its Could 6 debut by way of July 3, dropping 44% of the 1.8 million that Maddow – and some January reveals hosted by Alex Wagner – pulled in at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday by way of Fridays all through 2025.

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"The Briefing with Jen Psaki" averaged 1.1 million complete viewers from its Could 6 debut by way of July 3. (William B. Plowman/NBC by way of Getty Photos)

Psaki wasn’t anticipated to compete with Maddow, who's MSNBC’s largest star by a large margin, from a rankings standpoint off the bat. Nevertheless, "Alex Wagner Tonight," which aired within the 9 p.m. ET timeslot on Tuesday by way of Fridays all through 2024, additionally topped Psaki.

"Alex Wagner Tonight" averaged 1.2 million complete viewers from Could 6 by way of July 3 final yr, which is 17% greater than Psaki’s 2025 viewership.

Psaki additionally shed "Alex Wagner Tonight" viewers among the many advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54, as "The Briefing" has averaged solely 90,000 viewers from the essential group.

Final yr, "Alex Wagner Tonight" averaged 123,000 demo viewers from Could 6 by way of July 3. However MSNBC aired three primetime specials throughout that point and Maddow’s presence on the panel reveals considerably boosted "Alex Wagner Tonight" rankings amongst each complete viewers and the demo.

Via two months, Psaki has drawn lower than half the viewers of Fox News Channel ’s 9 p.m. ET providing, "Hannity," which has averaged 2.9 million viewers since Could 6. Psaki has managed to thump timeslot competitors on ratings-challenged CNN amongst complete viewers, as "The Supply with Kaitlan Collins" has averaged a dismal 543,000 viewers since "The Briefing" debuted on MSNBC.

Nevertheless, the previous Biden press secretary is trailing CNN in the important thing demo.

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Jen Psaki wrapped up her tenure as press secretary and joined MSNBC in Could 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos)

"The Supply with Kaitlan Collins" outdrew MSNBC’s "The Briefing" by managing 108,000 demo viewers on Tuesdays by way of Fridays since Psaki moved to 9 p.m. ET.

Fox Information’ " Hannity " averaged 344,000 demo viewers throughout the identical time interval.

Psaki additionally trails cable information rivals amongst youthful viewers aged 18-49, averaging 62,000 in comparison with 219,000 for "Hannity" and 70,000 for CNN’s "The Supply."

MSNBC insiders level to "The Briefing" being the community’s No. 3 most-watched day by day program regardless of solely being on-air for 2 months as an indication that Psaki will discover success at 9 p.m. ET.

"The Briefing" has constructed on the viewers of its lead-in, "All in with Chris Hayes," which "Alex Wagner Tonight" did not do in 2024. This has occurred as MSNBC has misplaced viewers total.

Psaki improved in her second month within the timeslot, as "The Briefing" averaged 973,000 complete viewers in Could in comparison with a smidge over a million in June for an 8% uptick and gained 17% within the demo. Regardless of the loss to CNN, "The Briefing" is MSNBC’s No. 2 program within the demo, whereas Wagner’s present was the community’s eighth greatest within the essential class throughout the identical time interval final yr.

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Jen Psaki took over MSNBC’s coveted 9 p.m. ET timeslot on Tuesday by way of Fridays in Could. (AP Photograph/Carolyn Kaster)

Psaki served as Biden's first press secretary from January 2021 till Could 2022, and her protection of the White House made her widespread with MSNBC progressives earlier than she landed on the community. CNN additionally had discussions about bringing her on board.

The launch of "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" coincided with a information cycle that wasn’t notably flattering for former Biden officers, as anticipation for the ebook "Unique Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cowl-Up, and His Disastrous Option to Run Once more," put questions on Biden’s fitness for office on the forefront.

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It stays to be seen if Psaki can fill the footwear of Maddow, however the latter actually harm MSNBC by deciding "The Rachel Maddow Present" would solely air on Mondays.

Rankings knowledge courtesy of Nielsen Media Analysis.

Brian Flood is a media editor/reporter for FOX Information Digital. Story ideas might be despatched to brian.flood@fox.com and on Twitter: @briansflood.