Psaki’s Prime-Time Debut Turns into Prime-Time Disaster as Viewers Flee in Droves
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is facing a humiliating reality check as her new MSNBC show, The Briefing, suffers a massive ratings collapse—dropping over 50% of key demographic viewers after just one day on air.
Psaki recently stepped into the coveted 9 p.m. ET slot Tuesday through Friday, replacing The Rachel Maddow Show, which now airs only on Mondays. But instead of inheriting Maddow’s devoted viewership, Psaki has alienated the audience almost immediately.
According to Fox News, the debut of The Briefing on Tuesday pulled in 1.2 million viewers, including 139,000 in the crucial 25-54 demographic. By Wednesday, however, the numbers nosedived—just over 1 million total viewers and only 65,000 in the demo, a staggering 53% loss in one day.
Psaki Now Trails Reruns and Children’s Cartoons
In a brutal twist, Psaki’s Wednesday numbers were beaten by reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, Bob’s Burgers, and even Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol and TLC’s infamous My Strange Addiction.
Among viewers aged 18-49, The Briefing collapsed by 67%, cratering from 113,000 on Tuesday to just 37,000 on Wednesday—raising serious questions about how long the show can survive.
Why Are Viewers Tuning Out?
Some point to Psaki’s habitual spin and denial of President Biden’s cognitive decline as a turnoff for even center-left viewers. In a recent interview with Semafor’s Ben Smith, Psaki insisted she never saw signs of Biden’s decline until his disastrous 2024 debate—an assertion many saw as disingenuous at best.
Others cite Psaki’s poor political instincts. Just hours after she mocked President Trump’s trade diplomacy, he announced a breakthrough agreement with the United Kingdom, undercutting her credibility in real-time.
A Failing Formula?
MSNBC’s gamble on Psaki was always seen as a continuation of the network’s deep ties to the Democratic establishment. But the plummeting numbers suggest that viewers aren’t interested in DNC talking points rebranded as journalism—not when they can stream sitcom reruns or watch reality TV instead.
At this rate, Psaki may need more than a “circle back”—she may need a total reset.