Jen Psaki’s Primetime Exit: A Reflection of American Frustration with Mainstream Media

Thom R – May 31, 2025

In a striking development in the media landscape, Jen Psaki, former White House Press Secretary and MSNBC’s rising star, has lost her primetime show, The Briefing with Jen Psaki, after a mere three weeks on air. Launched on May 6, 2025, the show, which aired Tuesday through Friday at 9 p.m. ET, was abruptly canceled following a steep decline in viewership and growing public disillusionment with mainstream media. The cancellation underscores a broader sentiment among Americans: a deep-seated fatigue with perceived lies, propaganda, and a lack of transparency in news coverage. This article explores the reasons behind Psaki’s exit and what it reveals about the American public’s demand for authentic journalism.

The Rapid Fall of The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Jen Psaki, known for her polished communication skills during her tenure as White House Press Secretary under President Joe Biden, was positioned as a fresh voice for MSNBC’s primetime lineup. The network hoped her insider perspective and political acumen would draw viewers seeking informed commentary. However, The Briefing with Jen Psaki struggled from the outset. According to Nielsen ratings, the show’s debut attracted 1.5 million total viewers but plummeted 53% in the key 25-54 demographic by its second episode, averaging just 973,000 viewers overall—a 46% drop from Rachel Maddow’s viewership in the same slot earlier in 2025. By May 29, 2025, MSNBC’s primetime viewership had fallen 41% compared to May 2024, signaling a broader crisis for the network.

The cancellation was confirmed by sources like an X post from @GuntherEagleman on May 29, 2025, which bluntly stated, “Jen Psaki no longer has a primetime show on MSNBC. She gone.” While X posts are not definitive, they reflect a growing public narrative that Psaki’s show failed to resonate. MSNBC has not announced a replacement for the 9 p.m. slot, though Rachel Maddow continues to anchor Mondays, maintaining a foothold in the network’s primetime lineup.

American Fatigue with Mainstream Media

The cancellation of Psaki’s show is not an isolated event but a symptom of a deeper issue: Americans are increasingly rejecting mainstream media outlets like MSNBC, CNN, and others perceived as peddling partisan narratives over objective reporting. Polls and public sentiment highlight a profound distrust in media institutions. A 2023 Monmouth University poll found that only 42% of Americans believe the government system is sound, with trust in media outlets at historic lows. This skepticism has only intensified by 2025, as evidenced by declining viewership across cable news networks.

Americans are tired of what many perceive as lies and propaganda—narratives that prioritize political agendas over facts. Social media platforms amplify this frustration, with users frequently calling out mainstream media for selective reporting, bias, and a lack of transparency. For instance, social media posts have criticized outlets like MSNBC for framing news to align with Democratic talking points, a charge that Psaki’s background as a Biden administration insider likely exacerbated. Her transition from press secretary to primetime host raised questions about journalistic impartiality, as viewers questioned whether she could deliver unbiased analysis after years of advocating for a specific administration.

Psaki’s Failure to Deliver True Journalism

Jen Psaki’s The Briefing was marketed as a platform for sharp political analysis, leveraging her experience navigating high-stakes White House briefings. However, critics argue that her show failed to embody true journalism—defined by objectivity, accountability, and a commitment to uncovering truth regardless of political affiliation. Instead, Psaki’s commentary was perceived by many as an extension of her prior role, delivering polished but predictable takes that aligned with MSNBC’s left-leaning audience.

The show’s content, while not detailed extensively in available sources, reportedly focused on political developments, including the Trump administration’s policies and the 2024 election aftermath. Yet, viewers found little to distinguish Psaki’s program from the network’s existing lineup, which includes hosts like Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell. Her inability to offer fresh perspectives or challenge the network’s narrative likely contributed to the viewership collapse.

True journalism requires holding power to account, asking tough questions, and presenting facts without spin. Psaki’s background as a political operative, while valuable for insight, may have hindered her ability to project impartiality. For example, her tenure as press secretary was marked by moments of deflecting tough questions with phrases like “we’ll circle back,” which critics on social media and elsewhere mocked as evasive. This perception carried over to her show, where viewers expected candid reporting but instead encountered what many saw as rehearsed talking points.

Why the American People Have Had Enough

The cancellation of The Briefing with Jen Psaki reflects a broader rejection of mainstream media’s approach. Americans are increasingly turning to alternative sources—social media, independent journalists, and platforms BWRORG for information they perceive as less filtered. The rapid decline in MSNBC’s viewership, down 41% year-over-year, mirrors similar trends at CNN (down 40% in primetime) and other legacy outlets. This shift is driven by several factors:

• Perceived Bias: Many Americans, particularly conservatives and independents, view networks like MSNBC as mouthpieces for the Democratic Party. Psaki’s direct transition from Biden’s administration to MSNBC reinforced this perception, alienating viewers who sought unbiased reporting.
• Propaganda Fatigue: The public is weary of narratives that seem designed to manipulate rather than inform. American’s frequently highlight frustration with “mainstream media lies,” accusing outlets of distorting facts to fit political agendas. Psaki’s show, embedded in this ecosystem, struggled to break through this skepticism.
• Demand for Transparency: Americans want journalists who admit biases, correct errors, and engage with diverse perspectives. Psaki’s show, tied to MSNBC’s established brand, failed to meet this demand, appearing to many as an extension of partisan talking points rather than a platform for open dialogue.
• Economic and Social Context: The economic pressures of 2025, including high tariffs and inflation from U.S.-China trade tensions, have heightened public frustration. Americans grappling with rising costs and economic uncertainty are less tolerant of media they perceive as disconnected from their realities.

The health effects of this media distrust are notable. Constant exposure to polarized, propagandistic content can increase stress, anxiety, and social division, as seen in studies from the Trump era (e.g., a 2022 PLOS One study noting sleep loss and emotional strain from political discourse). Psaki’s show, by failing to bridge divides or offer transparent reporting, may have contributed to this cycle of frustration.

The Bigger Picture: A Call for Authentic Journalism

The cancellation of The Briefing with Jen Psaki is a wake-up call for mainstream media. The American public’s rejection of Psaki’s show signals a broader demand for journalism that prioritizes truth over ideology. Networks like MSNBC face a choice: adapt to a public craving authenticity or continue losing relevance. The success of alternative platforms, where voices like those on BlackwaterReports.org, underscore this shift. For instance, BWRORG frequently share unfiltered perspectives, fact-checking media in real-time and demanding accountability—a role traditional outlets like MSNBC have struggled to fulfill.

Psaki’s exit also highlights the risks of appointing political insiders as journalists. While her experience offered valuable insight, it came with baggage that undermined her credibility with a skeptical audience. True journalism requires not just expertise but a commitment to transparency, humility, and engaging with all sides—an area where Psaki’s show fell short.

Jen Psaki’s loss of her primetime MSNBC show reflects more than a ratings failure; it’s a symptom of Americans’ growing exhaustion with mainstream media’s perceived lies and propaganda. The Briefing with Jen Psaki failed to deliver the transparent, authentic journalism the public demands, appearing instead as an extension of partisan narratives. The show’s cancellation, after a 53% demographic drop and a 41% network-wide viewership decline, underscores a broader rejection of media that prioritizes spin over substance. As Americans turn to platforms like X for unfiltered discourse, the message is clear: the public has had enough. Mainstream media must embrace true journalism—rooted in facts, accountability, and openness—to regain trust in an era of division and skepticism.