BREAKING: MSNBC Names Rachel Maddow Replacement

[JoeOtterbein]

Mediaite

By Aidan McLaughlinJun 27th, 2022, 12:57 pm

MSNBC has found the host that will replace Rachel Maddow at 9 p.m.: Alex Wagner.

“I am absolutely thrilled and honored and generally upside down with excitement to come back home to @MSNBC to host the 9PM hour, beginning August 16th,” Wagner said on Twitter. “LET’S DO THIS.”

The New York Times broke the news on Monday morning. In an interview with the Times, MSNBC president Rashida Jones pointed to Wagner’s experience covering politics as her strong suit.

“This is not a show where our hair is on fire and we’re yelling past each other, and we’re creating these manufactured moments of tension,” Jones told the Times. “I really want the takeaway from this show to be a better understanding of what’s happening in the world.”

snip

more at link

[leftieNanner]

1. Interesting

I'm somewhat sorry that it's not Ali Velshi, but I think Alex did a very good job when she filled in. We shall see.

Looking forward to Rachel tonight!

[emulatorloo]

2. Wagner is pretty damn good.

[UTUSN]

28. Have heard the name, couldn't place her, here's a pic. If she went to The Atlantic should be OK

[flamingdem]

3. She used to be a host and she's quite good

as far as I remember. It was during the Obama era.

[PatSeg]

42. Yes, it was a show in the afternoon

She was a good host and I remember enjoying her show.

[a kennedy]

4. 👏🏻 I think it's a great pick.....always liked her, and missed her when she left......

So happy she’ll be back and in prime time.

[Effete Snob]

5. Yeah, but you need 60 votes in the Senate to confirm

[JoeOtterbein]

6. LOL!

Good one!

[Marcuse]

45. Would the GQP leave the seat open so that Comcast could rehire Tucker and Megyn? Nah!

[Effete Snob]

49. lol

Megyn.. now there's someone I'd happily forgotten.

[OnDoutside]

7. Hmmm.... That's some very big shoes to fill. We'll see how it works out.

[milestogo]

8. I had to look her up.

I don't know who she is.

[SoCalDavidS]

9. So Is Rachel Gone From Monday Starting Then? nt

[badhair77]

12. I don't know but she's starting Aug 16th, a Tuesday.

Rachel said she’d be here for the midterm coverage.

[True Blue American]

26. I heard Rachel say

She would be on on Mondays. Alex is good.

[dsharp88]

78. Rachel is contracted for only 30 shows and she's using them up FAST

Between the Jan 6 hearings and Dobbs coverage, I’m afraid she’ll soon be gone until the November midterms.

[SoCalDavidS]

85. Tonight She Said That She's Continuing To Do Monday Shows And Any Major Events

Like the Roe decision, or the 1/6 Hearings.

[badhair77]

10. I wondered about Alex.

She’s been missing for awhile but she did a good job earlier. I wish they’d use Ali Velshi more.

[Stinky The Clown]

11. Great pick. Glad to see her back at MSNBC.

As to Ali Velshi, he needs a slot. How about 6 PM in place of WhatzIzName.

[rubbersole]

13. Wasn't she on "The Circus" on Showtime?

Smart lady.

[2naSalit]

38. I think so.

[PunkinPi]

67. Yes. nt

[Novara]

14. Looking forward to this. I'm glad another woman will be in Rachel's slot

But this:

“This is not a show where our hair is on fire and we’re yelling past each other, and we’re creating these manufactured moments of tension,” Jones told the Times.

Oh, you mean like all the hours from daytime until the 9 pm slot????

[tishaLA]

34. On which shows are people yelling at each other?

Maybe Ari when he has crazy Peter Navarro on, but other than that the network avoids those kinds of histrionics.

[2naSalit]

40. Chris Hayes...

Is over enthusiastic enough to be called shouting and he does interrupt a lot.

[mitch96]

70. " he does interrupt a lot." I really hate that about MSM quite rude...

Actually I dislike it from anyone. Just b/c you can't hold a thought does not mean you have to interrupt to blurt it out.....jeeze... Many times people don't even know they do it until you call them out on it...
I was wondering about Alex Wagner. I remember a while ago she said she was kicking back a bit to raise the kids. Glad she's back. I hope she loosens up a bit.
A little stiff when subbing for Rachel...
m

[Hortensis]

15. She's 45 now, may be able to project the same sort of gravitas. Hope so.

I'd be irritated with myself when I turned on Rachel and was disappointed to find a guest host presenting the program she and her team put together, but so it is.

Best wishes and go get 'em, Alex.

Link to tweet

[Effete Snob]

22. It's always important to consider age in hiring decisions

[Hortensis]

30. I didn't mean to overstate age as a qualification, but the more experience,

et cetera. Just as we sort of assume/hope/expect that someone with university degrees is more knowledgeable and even wise than without, the same for me with the school of life.

[rubbersole]

46. It might make you a nattering naybob of negativity...

[Mike Nelson]

16. Hmm...

... I hoped for Velshi, but I like Alex Wagner. I surely will watch her... now, if only Velshi had the Brian Williams "11th Hour" slot, I'd be a more regular viewer!

[Grasswire2]

35. I no longer watch opinion news.

Especially 11th Hour.

Brian brought us something particularly civilized and enlightening. That's gone. Replaced by a smirk and shoulders.

[USALiberal]

66. Ahhh, ok

[katmondoo]

47. Yes, I would like that. Velshi would be perfect for the 11th hour.

[ruet]

17. Didn't She Go "Both-Sider" Like Krystal Ball? -NT-

[hedda_foil]

21. Nope. Every time I've seen her she's been more outspoken than before.

[highplainsdem]

18. I've always liked Alex Wagner.

[Jilly_in_VA]

19. Meh.

Not my cuppa AT ALL. Not likely to be watching.

[boston bean]

20. The depth isn't there. I am not excited.

[relayerbob]

23. Seems like an OK choice

Haven't seen a lot of her, but what I recall, she seemed OK. Hard shoes to fill.

[greenman3610]

24. Good choice

Solid, smart, not dogmatic- people will like her

[YoshidaYui]

25. Ok

What happened to Rachel???

[True Blue American]

37. She moved on to other projects.

[YoshidaYui]

56. more important than what she was doing?

Last edited Mon Jun 27, 2022, 03:09 PM - Edit history (1)

i mean if she needed a break, i can understand that but to give up your spot for personal projects? idk.

[Volaris]

59. Her wife had a very serious bout of covid, and it re-arranged her priorities.

To me, a better work-life balance is understandable.

Me, personally (and I very much I don't speak for nearly anyone else here), I'd love to see Keith back. Never happening, and yes, he can be prissy and bombastic, but when he wanted his pound of flesh from the GOP idiots, he damnwell went and took it, and we might be could use a little bit of that for what's in store.

[YoshidaYui]

60. oh i see....

Yes that's important enough, but I hope she doesn't fade from view , like Keith kinda did for a while. That would be a shame.

[Ilsa]

65. I also wonder how much TFG exhausted her. RM would typically

have shows packed with research, then have to discard the plan for priority breaking news (except for the tax returns).

I know I'm exhausted from that presidency.

[YoshidaYui]

72. fuck!

I wish someone would throw leg irons on TRUMP after he is packed away in an orange jump suit.

[True Blue American]

71. Rachel said she was going to do other projects

I think she was getting tired of the daily grind. Honestly I only watched her runs early in the morning. But her mate was seriously ill with Covid so there may have been other reasons.

[Cracklin Charlie]

27. Excellent!

Good choice by MSNBC.
Good luck, Alex…just bring the truth!

[bucolic_frolic]

29. Awesome choice

[Catherine Vincent]

31. What the heck?

Is Maddow leaving MSNBC?

[Pinback]

32. Great choice.

She’s super smart and will do a great job, I expect.

[yorkster]

33. OK. Now find Ali Velshi a prime slot. n/t

[halfulglas]

36. Yeah. I really like Alex but I also love Ali Velshi.

I think he deserves a nighttime slot. He's one of the hardest workers on MSNBC.

[Pathwalker]

50. +a million. And Thank you!

n/t

[yorkster]

57. U R welcome... n/t

[Deuce]

79. I wonder if he has turned down daily/nightly shows...

[yorkster]

80. Good question. Did wonder that myself.

At some point he was doing book tours and was teaching as well. He's a real asset, so I hope he's going to stay with MSNBC. He's supposedly back for his weekend stint on Sat. and Sun. mornings this coming weekend.

[Deuce]

81. If i recall correctly, he was only doing a weekly show at Al Jazeera before he moved to MSNBC...

[yorkster]

82. Faintly remember that.

Used to watch him on Al Jazeera America and I think CNN before that.

[True Blue American]

86. Ali left CNN

Because he wanted to do Investigative Journalism. Al Gore allowed him to do that. Then of course he sold to Al Jazeera. Ali had a highly rated show on CNN.

I think MSNBC spread him too thin. He was filling in for everyone. He is on vacation.

MSNBC is now putting on too many one track hosts. That can not last.

Ari had Dylan Ratigan on. That is one man I would listen to any time.He was Ari’s mentor.

[Captain Zero]

39. good

nt

[liberalla]

41. I always liked her back when I had cable and watched a lot of msnbc. This should be

very good and I congratulate her!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

43. Alex Wagner is a good choice

I am so glad that it was not Hasan. I turn the TV off when he is on

[yorkster]

55. Alex Wagner, not Witt. n/t

[ancianita]

44. Not a fan. I'd prefer Jonathan Capehart. More personality, humor, energy, and appropriate gravitas.

[Evolve Dammit]

73. I like him too. Wish they'd replace Mitchell or Toad with Ali or Jonathan.

[ancianita]

75. Absolutely. But Mitchell's not in youth demographic time slots. I'd prefer Ali or Jon in primetime.

Glad I'm not alone here.

[ancianita]

76. oh, one other thing -- I'd prefer Wagner to replace Mitchell in her daytime slot

Then at least she'd get some exposure during the hearings, and WH pressers

[True Blue American]

87. Nice, no match for Alex.

[LongtimeAZDem]

48. Pundit shows are what the movie "Network" warned us about

[renate]

51. This is who I was hoping for!!!

Yay!!!

(I would have been just as pleased to hear it was Ali Velshi because I love him too, but I'm guessing that he likes the variety of doing every time slot and traveling everywhere.)

I'm so happy it's Alex!

[sky_masterson]

52. Jen Psaki would be better, But I like Alex

She will do a fine job

[leftyladyfrommo]

63. Have we heard anything about Jen's new job? nt

[gab13by13]

53. Mehdi Hasan would be better, but I like Alex.

[area51]

68. Haven't seen Alex but I do like Mehdi. n/t

[Demsrule86]

54. I don't watch cable news anymore...so I don't give a damn. I like Keith...would have watched him

But I have no interest in watching Wagner.I am not encouraged by this quote either. If there was ever a time for 'hairs on fire' reporting and pundits, It is now...will not watch. Occasionally I watch O'Donnell but that is it. Pablum for the masses/ kind of like making the loss of Roe acceptable...blah blah. frog boiling news...you know you put the frog in lukewarm water... and slowly boil it. The frog doesn't even realize what is happening.


“This is not a show where our hair is on fire and we’re yelling past each other, and we’re creating these manufactured moments of tension,” Jones told the Times. “I really want the takeaway from this show to be a better understanding of what’s happening in the world.”

[zanana1]

58. I'll miss my hero.

She is the teacher and we are her classroom.

[IronLionZion]

61. Replacement Theory!

She's stealing her job!

[FakeNoose]

62. Well OK, I'm willing to give her a chance

Alex Wagner has some mighty big shoes to fill. I presume Rachel has a say in who comes in to take her slot Tuesday-Friday. Therefore Alex Wagner must have received the blessing from Rachel.

This summer and fall will continue to have riveting news stories that affect all of us. MSNBC is my Go-To news channel for all but the local Pittsburgh news. Please don't fail me, MSNBC!

[Deminpenn]

64. Really liked her when she filled in for Maddow

Glad MSNBC gave her the Tu-Fri slot.

[Vinca]

69. I like her, but I still think Rachel is making a mistake to step aside.

Viewer-wise, that is. But, I guess she's made a mountain of money over the years and just wants the time to do other things.

[NellieStarbuck]

74. Excellent choice! If we can't keep Rachel,

Alex Wagner is a worthy replacement. When she sat in for Rachel recently, I was reminded of just how good she is. Broad knowledge base, quick on her feet, sharp analyst, dynamic personality.

[JoeOtterbein]

84. +1 nt

[NJCher]

77. eh....

Alex Wagner is just another host; there's nothing special about her like there is with Rachel and Ali, and to a certain extent Medhi.

Rachel has a broad-ranging intellect which allows her to "set the stage" with a creative angle to get the show off the ground right in the first five minutes.

Alex is no doubt smart and she's quite attractive but that's just not enough when you're walking into that time slot.

[Bucky]

83. She's okay

I've seen her on the TeeVee a couple of times and she asks good questions.

I hope she keeps enough of Maddow's staff so we still get those deep dives that makes Rachel's show so enlightening

[Emile]

88. I wonder who will replace her on Showtime The Circus.