Rachel Maddow is returning to her anchor chair five nights a week for the first 100 days of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Maddow’s show, MSNBC’s highest-rated program, has only aired once a week since 2022, and her temporary return will see Alex Wagner, who currently anchors the timeslot Tuesday through Friday, deployed on special assignment to cover the impact of the president-elect’s policies.
Maddow’s weeknight return comes as cable news networks have seen a downturn in viewership, including in prime time. The decision to shuffle the network’s prime time schedule was made by MSNBC President Rashida Jones, who stated that Wagner has been itching to get out in the country and cover the impact of Trump’s policies on the ground.
Maddow will lead the network’s live special inauguration coverage on January 20, and her weeknight return will be featured across MSNBC’s shows and platforms. After the 100-day window, both Maddow and Wagner will return to their previous schedules.
MSNBC is banking on Maddow’s star power to help boost its viewership, which has seen a decline since the November election. Maddow stated that harnessing her star power five nights a week may not prove to be a panacea for all the network’s difficulties, but executives believe it will help buoy the progressive network’s viewership.