Rachel Maddow Seriously Considers Leaving MSNBC

[JoeOtterbein]

Daily Beast

As her contract draws to a close, sources told The Daily Beast, the MSNBC icon has been weighing taking her brand elsewhere.

Lachlan Cartwright
Editor At Large
Maxwell Tani
Media Reporter
Updated Aug. 12, 2021 1:36PM ET / Published Aug. 12, 2021 1:12PM ET

Rachel Maddow has been MSNBC’s most high-profile on-air personality for more than a decade, long embodying the network’s liberal ethos and raking in an obsessive following for her nightly primetime broadcast.

But when MSNBC viewers tune in next year, she may not be there.

According to six people familiar with the situation, Maddow, 48, is seriously considering leaving the network when her contract ends early next year as negotiations drag on and the temptation to take her brand elsewhere or start her own lucrative media company has grown.

Insiders who spoke with The Daily Beast said while the star host has occasionally entertained other offers in the past, she has in recent months increasingly expressed an openness to exiting when her deal ends, citing a desire to spend more time with her family and the toll of hosting a nightly program since 2008.

snip

more at link

[helpisontheway]

1. I would miss her show but family first..nt

[lagomorph777]

3. Hopefully we can tune in somewhere else.

[Pantagruel]

2. She deserves

more money and a less demanding schedule. MSNBC should let her walk, lots of wannabes willing to emulate her approach.

[jimfields33]

7. Yep

She’s made MSNBC a ton of money. Now it’s her turn to go somewhere and do the same for herself.

[Duppers]

37. There's only one Rachel.

Give her:
a 4 day work week,
a big raise,
Or....a week off every 6wks.

These things would be worth it to keep her.

Imo, of course.

[Trueblue1968]

59. MY HONEST REACTON. Oh gees I am crying.

[PatSeg]

64. She is already their highest paid host

I can't imagine that money is her biggest issue. She does seem to be tired though. I think she might want a more fulfilling lifestyle.

[Totally Tunsie]

80. That would be ideal for Rachel,

but everyone moans and groans at every hour she's off now. I can hear the uproar if she were on vaca every 6 weeks!

[Volaris]

50. What they SHOULD DO is finally put her on Meet the Press.

2 hours on air a week, and get chucks worthless ass out of that chair.

[SimplyHadEnough]

58. Bingo!!!!!

[Jarqui]

62. Not a terrible idea

But they'd have to let her have the freedom to work on other things.

And her on MTP would have to be seasonal - maybe guest wannabe hosts ...

The problem is she is probably too progressive for that role.
They probably need a truly good journalist (which Chuck is not in my opinion) who is independent - less progressively slanted in order to attract guests from all parties.

They've never come close to replacing Tim Russert. Probably never will.

I'm very fond of Rachel. I will probably miss her more than any other host ever on MSNBC or anyone else working in the news today. Maybe they can create a program with her ....

[Scrivener7]

77. THISSSSSSSSSS!!!

[demmiblue]

83. Too bad the rec a post feature isn't live yet!

[wryter2000]

4. Um...

Does she have the money to start a media company? Seems like she'd need Murdoch level money. Even he lost millions before Fox started to make a profit.

[Tarheel_Dem]

91. I'm quite sure that Rachel could attract a slew of progressive minded investors, whatever she...

chooses to do. The Rachel brand is second to none.

[JoanofArgh]

5. This could be sincere , could be a negotiating tactic to get a better deal.

If she leaves , I wish they'd bring back Olbermann, but they won't.

[spooky3]

11. yes--it seems stupid for MSNBC to put her in that position, if they are. nt

[JoanofArgh]

12. Yeah, but it's common. The article mentions "negotiations are dragging on"

which leads me to believe they're not giving her what she wants, so this was leaked to the press.

[OMGWTF]

43. I recall when MSNBC tried to fire Lawrence O'Donnell. They heard our outrage and he stayed.

[UTUSN]

6. K& big R#5 for, *whoa*! - "whoa" seems to be my word of the day!1

[zuul]

14. Thank you for spelling "whoa" properly.

If I see "woah" one more time . . .

[UTUSN]

17. Hah! - was going ask how else it's spelled!

[PCIntern]

18. Lol. I know...

Where did that come from? Woah??? WTAF?? 😄😄😄🤮🤮🤮

[zuul]

20. Probably the same place "pwned" came from instead of "owned."

[UTUSN]

23. That's how I feel when I see "tow"-the-line, for "toe".

[DFW]

25. Probably a creation of the same people who invented "shoe-in" instead of "shoo-in."

All of a sudden a "sure thing" was spelled like a foot fetish.

[Unknown Beatle]

84. You got it right - all of a sudden.

People use "all of the sudden" constantly. Gets on my nerves.

[tblue37]

29. I used "whoa!" in another thread:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1018&pid=1544286

[OMGWTF]

44. LOL -- Like "Get a brian morans."

[Hassin Bin Sober]

55. Or Whoa Nipsey Russell instead of Roam if you want to ...

[UTUSN]

22. Addendum: More on-topic about Rachel::

Gotta say I watched her and Brian WILLIAMS, not everybody else, and only when things were POPPING, and for short sprints, not wall to wall. I listen more to the jerk wingnuts (in pieces) because it’s a Keep-friends-close/enemies-CLOSER thing. I don’t like to hear things I already know and agree with, rather want to analyze and tear apart the opposition. That said, MADDOW is frequently agonizing with her all-the-gory-DETAILS, going so far as to read chunks of legal transcripts. At my work we would have Legal training, and the lawyers LOVED to do presentations of Mock Trials, with our extraverts playing out the parts, and it was DEADLY BORING.

And my truth is, as soon as DRUMPF got DUMPED, I tuned out of almost all of the news yak shows. I get the stuff *here*. Yeah, it’s true that DRUMPF is good for RATINGS. There weren’t many shows for me anyway. All I look for now is Reliable Sources and STELTER had been catching flack, up to and including his wife.

[Treefrog]

92. I like Stelter. Really enjoyed his book about the morning shows.

Why is his wife giving him flak? I hadn’t heard that.

[UTUSN]

94. She's *catching* the flak - allegations of her being a "toxic workplace bully"

The recent flak *he's* getting is from wingnut media about his defending ("a shill" ) for Chris CUOMO and CNN.

OOooo, and the horrible name the wingnuts have given him is "hall monitor* ---------- it BURNS!1

*********QUOTE********

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9721855/Brian-Stelters-wife-Jamie-accused-toxic-bully-NY-television-station.html

Brian Stelter's news anchor wife is accused of being a 'diva high school bully' at New York TV station which her colleagues claim has a 'toxic environment' like a 'den of vipers'

.... NY1 insiders painted a damning portrait of (Jamie Shupak) Stelter, 37, in a bombshell New York Magazine report published this week about years of turmoil within the station. ....

Colleagues also said that after she became an anchor on Mornings on 1, she and co-anchor Annika Pergament would openly gossip about of their co-workers, sometimes while their mics were still on.

'It could be the way someone did their hair, what they're wearing, their reporting,' one former source told the New Yorker, with another saying, 'A lot of people don't like working with Jamie,' and a third former colleague reporting that 'people would avoid her.' ....

Ten current and former employees of the company reportedly told the magazine that Stelter and Pergament would talk disparagingly about Gooden, and she was often ostracized from the rest of the group - excluded from meetings and left out of roundtable discussions on set. ....

********UNQUOTE******
Jamie/left; PERGAMENT, 2nd from right:

[Treefrog]

95. I knew nothing at all about her. Interesting!

Thanks for the link!

[Raine]

8. Probably using the threat of leaving to renegotiate her

contract for higher paid, more off time etc.

[oasis]

9. She only gets thousands of days off as it is.

[Scrivener7]

39. I can't imagine putting together an hour long show day after day, year after year. The toll

must be remarkable.

It isn't like she doesn't earn her time off.

[OMGWTF]

46. I've heard her say many times she scrapped the prepared show because of breaking news

[Scrivener7]

48. Can you imagine? And then she must have to do a lot ex temp. The stress must be huge.

[NJCher]

73. Quality of life is way more important

I can't imagine putting together an hour long show day after day, year after year. The toll...

I would be heartbroken if she left but I would understand it. I think she is exceptional in how she rises above every story to put it into context each evening.

You don't get that time back and she really loves her partner and probably would find it fulfilling to spend more time with her and her beloved fishing.

Money? Maybe, but ehh... A person can only spend so much money.

And as far as starting her own company, the main reason I see her doing that is for more control over a finished product plus new types of projects that don't fit into her current situation with MSNBC.

[Scrivener7]

76. I do get a sense that journalism is a calling for her. She is often the one who

gives the in-depth report on the story everyone else is skirting around.

I hope she continues in one form or another.

[Bev54]

52. No she doesn't I got more holidays working in a bank

than she does now. I to 6 weeks off each year. Her recent holiday was the first 2 weeks off consecutively for years. She might take a day here or there and usually not more than a week at a time. Many other anchors work 4 days a week. I really would miss her, she is the one show I don't miss, record it if I am not home.

[robbob]

61. Thousands of days off???

Over what time period? Because if you are measuring over a year (a pretty standard way to measure how much vacation time you get), then you are suggesting for every day she works she gets 3 years of vacation. And that’s “a thousand”, as opposed to “thousands”.

Not sure where you’re coming from with that hyperbole. Rachel is awesome.

[oasis]

67. Thanks for your input. I'll readjust my clicker.

[robbob]

71. Still not sure why you felt the need to make that comment about Rachel,

but whatever. Have a great day…

[niyad]

68. There are only 365/366 days in a year.

[niyad]

69. There are only 365/366 days in a year.

[walkingman]

10. She is my favorite for sure

[BannonsLiver]

13. This place would have a meltdown if she left

Not even kidding. Complete. Meltdown. There are already people who panic when she goes on vacay.

[Celerity]

16. +1

[Celerity]

15. if she walks, odds increase that Rashida Jones will get the sack nt

[Midnight Writer]

19. I hope they keep her production staff intact. They are a First Class outfit.

[ancianita]

38. Agree! I've never seen a production team dig up what hers has. They're the best on cable news.

I'll miss her, but I still wish her well.

Two things, though.

First, she'll never find the viewership she's had with MSNBC.

Second, this sticks in my craw about her:

"I have never and still don't think of myself as an Obama supporter, either professionally or actually."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Maddow

[Sneederbunk]

21. She doesn't have many places to go to get the exposure she has.

Always good to hear from six unnamed people.

[underpants]

24. I agree. Why leave?

You have one time slot to fill and not all the other crap to deal with. Lots of time off and good pay $7M a year.

[niyad]

72. Lots of time off? Really?

[maxsolomon]

26. Jon Stewart Redux?

13 years of taking down the relentless onslaught of GQP bullshit 4-5 days a week has to be draining.

If Rachel chooses to walk away; she's done her part.

[chia]

30. Yep. You only get one life, I imagine she has enough money to live comfortably while she enjoys the

people and places and activities she loves. She can still write books, be a guest host, write a newsletter, all kinds of ways to share her insight without giving the rest of her best years to the corporation. Go Rachel!

[dsc]

85. Steward had to passions to pursue after The Daily Show

which likely played a part in his leaving.

[tinrobot]

27. One of the reasons she's successful is because she doesn't openly seek money/fame.

Because of that, she comes across as very authentic and modest. Most anchors can't fake that.

It is also why I think she is serious about this and not just bluffing. I could easily see her step back to be with family and go fishing. She doesn't seem to define herself by career and fame.

[Mr.Bill]

28. As much as I like her show,

times change and the world moves on. I wish her well in what ever she chooses to do.

She would be wonderful at PBS, but I'm sure she would make far less money there.

[burrowowl]

40. PBS or Pacifica

[Fiendish Thingy]

31. Unless this is a bargaining strategy, I bet she moves to a weekly show on HBO or Apple+

Just my gut feeling. John Oliver is on HBO and Jon Stewart is launching a new politics show on Apple+, IIRC.

It will be sad if she leaves MSNBC, and among all the good folks at MSNBC, I can’t think of anyone who could fulfill Rachel’s role of bringing in depth examination and explanation of important issues to the American people five nights a week. (As far style, substance and intellectual gravitas, Chris Hayes comes the closest, but I don’t think they’d give him Rachel’s slot)

[Auggie]

33. I agree -- a weekly on hour show.

[Paladin]

32. Where you go I'll follow, Rachel. Best wishes. (nt)

[left-of-center2012]

34. I'll won't miss her one iota

I stopped watching her long ago.
It was the eye rolling, dramatic facial expressions, sighs, etc.

Just give me the news and interviews ~ leave the rehearsed theatrics at home.

I guess she appeals to folks who like 'news entertainment'.
Not to folks who grew up with Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Walter Cronkite, etc.

Just give me the news. I'll do my own sighing and eye rolling.

[INdemo]

49. Her show is not just about news.

Fact Finding, research of stories, that would otherwise get buried by some right wing sympathizer.
Its the "you can run but you cant hide"
type research and facts presented by her. I don't remember Huntley, Brinkley digging into stories like Rachel has.

Did Huntley/Brinkley give all the news or facts about Vietnam? I don't think so

[electric_blue68]

51. Speak for yourself. Watched Huntley and Brinkley, Cronkite, etc, too

(and RIP Frank Reynolds).

Love Rachel, her intellect, and wit, and "drama".

[niyad]

79. Watched them as well. But Rachel does something those iconic commentators did not

do. She digs up all the connections, connects all the dots in ways nobody else I have seen on TV do. She is truly an academic, is Dr. Rachel Maddow.

Two such stories come to mind immediately. The first regarded the research on some vaccine decades ago that did up under the auspices of an obscure branch of the USDA. Brought the lengthy history of this full circle as she pointed out that this was the very agency being attacked at that time by the murdering traitor 45**, as he forced those people to move to Kansas or quit.

The other that immediately comes to mind is a story about the FBI and how it tracks enemy agents. It was very detailed, years of observation by the section that watches Russian agents. And who headed that group? Peter Strzock. Gee, wonder why orange traitor attacked him.

The backgrounds, the contexts, the connections, the implications, are all part of "the news", and are necessary for full understanding, which many actually prefer.

[USALiberal]

82. Lol, maybe jealous??? Nt

[Piasladic]

86. maybe it's because we're the same age

I get her jokes and eye rolls. I missed her when she went on vacation. I like how she gives context and has a thesis, and frankly, I think she's hot.

[tishaLA]

35. According to the internets, Joe and Mika BOTH

have higher salaries than Ms Maddow. And one or both of them is "off today" like 50% of the time. How can that even be? I know Mika Knows Her Worth™ but even she can't believe she's worth more per year than Rachel.

[JonAndKatePlusABird]

41. Plus Joe was broadcasting from home before COVID

It was a rare site to see them all together at 30 Rock, even in the couple of years leading up to COVID.

[Denvermosaic]

36. First heard of her when she was Keith Olbermann's frequest guest on Countdown back then.

[irisblue]

42. Get her on Meet The Press on Sunday. She is past qualified that show

[multigraincracker]

45. I love her but think

She’d be really happy if she took her PHD to a major university. I’d love to take a class from her.

[bucolic_frolic]

65. That would be a project

DUer stars going for a 3 credit credential and career leg up in the political realm.

Decades ago I had a flier from Dem operatives who were teaching something like managing a campaign. Didn't fit my life, and I would not have wanted the headaches. But for the right talent with matching temperament .... might help them damned 'libruls!

[multigraincracker]

70. My dad was a college prof and

said he’d do his job without pay. He loved it so much. He was a prof emeritus with an endowment chair in his name.

[Deep State Witch]

47. COVID is causing many people to re-evaluate

COVID is causing many people to re-evaluate our lives. I would think that after Susan's bout with COVID, Rachel is doing the same. I will follow her wherever she goes.

[niyad]

75. That was my thought as well. Susan's illness really shook her. Just now it occurs to me

to wonder how Susan is doing.

[yaesu]

53. "start her own lucrative media company"

she has the talent and biz sense to strike out on her own, if she does she will be amazing at whatever she creates.

[BoomaofBandM]

54. I am sure she will do well with whatever she decided.

I don't have cable and am not a fan of podcasts, but will YouTube her once in awhile. She is smart, professional and polite. I think she knows that cable is not the be all end all. Look how many of us have cut the cord. My kid and her 20 cousins are between the ages of 16 to 46. None have cable.

[FakeNoose]

57. Yes that's why Rachel would be awesome as Meet The Press moderator

Even the Faux Noise fans watch MTP (sometimes) because it's on regular broadcast NBC rather than cable. We're all sick of Chuck Todd who's in way over his head. He needs to go.

I can understand how Rachel is getting burned out. She's had a very tough schedule and the 4 years of Chump have been enough to burn out anyone.

Rachel could do Meet The Press and cut her schedule back to a few hours per week, plus news specials. I can't believe it's a question of salary because she's worth every penny they pay her. Besides Rachel herself being so great on the air, there's also her gold-star quality research staff who are second to none.

[jaxexpat]

56. Maybe she'll start a Tee Vee version of "Air America".

Al hasn't got a gig either and he's had some experience with television. They should meet and talk.

[wackadoo wabbit]

90. I'd subscribe to that /nt

[stillcool]

60. Don't know how the good ones...

last as long as they do. Especially Rachel, who doesn't just lip-sync, but does the research to find out the who/what/where/when/why stuff. Is there anyone else on any news show that does that? She's really good at taking a bunch of data and whittling it down to where she tells us a compact, complete story. Don't know what kind of talent that is, but she's one of a kind.

[bucolic_frolic]

63. It's time. Exit at or near the top.

I don't watch her all the time, or much of the time, but from what I saw she was better last winter than she's been this summer. The issues seem more ad libbed, at points flippant. She must be exhausted. She has given viewers her very best.

And she has competition now. Other stars at CNN, a rising crop at MSNBC.

Maybe she should rest until 2024 just in case TFG makes a comeback.

[rockfordfile]

66. there's a major election next year

[bucolic_frolic]

78. And one person won't tip the balance

and likely wouldn't want the responsibility, or the finger pointing. I'm thinking 2022 won't be about one candidate, White House occupant, or TV personality. If we do well it will be general liberalism asserting itself in media and populace after the insanity of TFG, MAGA World, insurrection, anti-vaxxers. If our side can't feel it after all we've been through, we'll have to look to 2024.

[gab13by13]

74. Put Mehdi Hasan in her time slot.

[oasis]

81. Mehdi would definitely lose viewers. I'd give Jen Psaki a tryout. nt

[Mike Nelson]

87. I recall...

... Lucille Ball told CBS she'd had enough and needed to retire... almost every year for over 20 years. The magic potion that worked was: More Money and Fewer Episodes.

[DonCoquixote]

88. where Maddow coudl go, hear me out

Why not HBO or SAhowtime.. let her speak the truth without being afraid of getting bleeped.. Maybe also VICE network

[Ilsa]

98. She's not afraid of being "bleeped" because I think she

refrains from using terminology that conveys personal attacks, etc. I've heard her shush guests or redirect them to keep her interviews classy and professional.

[wackadoo wabbit]

89. I wonder if part of it is because she's tired of being muzzled by corporate?

I still remember when the Fukushima nuclear reactors story broke. She was covering it every night, devoting most of her broadcast to it. Then one night, nothing. It was as if a switch had been flipped. It wasn't as if nothing regarding the disaster had happened that day; there was plenty of news about Fukushima. But she never covered the story again.

In the years that followed, she would very occasionally (less than once every couple of years) bring it up in passing, but only if it pertained to some other story she was covering. So it wasn't as if she'd forgotten about it.

I'm sure that the fact that the Fukushima reactors were made by GE, the parent company of MSNBC, had nothing to do with this.

I've sometimes wondered what other stories also aren't being covered.

[Qutzupalotl]

93. Her new contract will stipulate that the handoff to Lawrence

last no more than 30 seconds and include no references to himself.

[Rhiannon12866]

96. Regarding Rachel, this was on CNN today: This is why Rachel Maddow might leave MSNBC

The Daily Beast's Lachlan Cartwright says Rachel Maddow is thinking about leaving MSNBC and is "deadly serious" about it. Talks with NBCUniversal have "become very heated," he says, though she may ultimately renew her contract.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/this-is-why-rachel-maddow-might-leave-msnbc/vi-AANlDn1?ocid=winp1taskbar

[JoeOtterbein]

97. I saw that too.

I hope she stays.

[Rhiannon12866]

99. Oh, so do I! She really is just the best

She's not just the highest rated news show - with good reason - but she's able to explain even the most complicated issue so that anyone can understand it. And even those we disagree with are willing to go on her show since she's always fair and accurate. She's the reason so many tune into MSNBC (though they do have a stellar lineup) and she'd be sorely missed. They'd be wise to give her anything she wants...

[JoeOtterbein]

100. Yep. I'm thinking they will settle with her.

What I like about Rachel and her crew is that they know how to investigate a story.

[Rhiannon12866]

101. She must have an incredible staff! And she never hesitates to give the credit

And I agree with you, they can't afford to lose Rachel, she not only has the top rated show, but she has good relationships with all her fellow hosts - Chris Hayes, Ali Velshi and especially Lawrence O'Donnell.