MSNBC confirms it’s hired Jen Psaki as analyst, host of streaming show

By Matt Collins Article may include affiliate links

Jen Psaki, former White House Press Secretary, will join MSNBC in the fall of 2022, the network announced May 24, 2022, following her scheduled departure and months of speculation that she would sign with the network.

Psaki, a veteran former senior government official and campaign adviser, will also host a new original program currently under development for streaming.

The program, set to debut in the first quarter of 2023, will bring together her unique perspective from behind the podium and her deep experience in the highest levels of government and presidential politics to MSNBC viewers. Psaki will also appear on NBC and during MSNBC’s primetime special election programming throughout the midterms and 2024 presidential election.

“Jen’s sharp wit and relatability combined with the mastery of the subjects she covers have made her a household name across the nation,” MSNBC President Rashida Jones said in a statement. “Her extensive experience in government and on the campaign trail and perspective as a White House and Washington insider is the type of analysis that sets MSNBC apart. She’s a familiar face and trusted authority to MSNBC viewers, and we look forward to her insight during this consequential election season.”

At MSNBC, Psaki will join former White House Communications Director Nicolle Wallace, who hosts the two-hour “Deadline: White House.” The roles of press secretary and communications director are traditionally held by two different people, though that practice fell out of favor during Donald Trump’s time in office.

Psaki reportedly held off on signing a deal with MSNBC until after she departed her government job, though it’s likely she and the network had a “handshake agreement” in place prior to that.

It is very common for former White House personnel from both parties to find their way into paid roles on cable and broadcast TV news, often serving as analysts or commentators.

Psaki most recently served as White House Press Secretary for the first 16 months of the Biden administration. She previously served as the White House Communications Director under former President Barack Obama and as the spokeswoman for the Department of State. She is an alum of John Kerry’s presidential campaign, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as well as President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns and was a key member of the Biden-Harris transition team.

“Fact-based and thoughtful conversations about the big questions on the minds of people across the country have never been more important, and I’m thrilled to join the incredible MSNBC team,” Psaki said in the statement. “My time in government, from the White House to the State Department, and years before that on national political campaigns will fuel the insight and perspective I bring to this next chapter. I can’t wait to create a space on streaming where we break down the facts, get to the bottom of what’s driving the issues and hopefully have some fun along the way.”

Continuing its commitment to impactful journalism and quality original programming, NBCU News Group Chairman Cesar Conde has led a strategy of making significant investments in the News Group’s streaming platforms, adding hundreds of new jobs and several new live hours of original programming across MSNBC on Peacock, NBC News NOW and TODAY All Day.

In April, MSNBC launched a new dedicated hub on Peacock, providing select premier programming, specials, and documentaries to Premium subscribers. The addition of Psaki adds to the network’s dynamic lineup of programs on streaming, including Symone hosted by seasoned political strategist Symone D. Sanders and The Katie Phang Show hosted by longtime MSNBC and NBC News legal analyst Katie Phang, which both debuted earlier this spring; Zerlina. Hosted by Zerlina Maxwell; The Mehdi Hasan Show hosted by Mehdi Hasan; and AYMAN hosted by Ayman Mohyeldin. MSNBC on Peacock also features the best of the network’s programming including episodes of Morning Joe, Deadline: White House, The Beat with Ari Melber, The ReidOut, All In with Chris Hayes, and MSNBC’s weekend perspective programming, all streaming on-demand the next day. Specials with top hosts including Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, Chris Hayes, Trymaine Lee, and others will premiere later this year.