Jen Psaki’s new show seems to be making a rather shaky start.
The former White House spokesperson’s show, “Briefing,” debuted on MSNBC’s prime time slot, airing each weeknight at 9 PM. It took over from the “Rachel Maddow Show,” which only airs on Mondays now.
Initially, Psaki attracted a solid viewership of 1.2 million on Tuesday, with about 139,000 in the key demographic of 25 to 54-year-olds.
However, things took a turn the following day, as viewership dropped to around 1 million, according to Fox News.
For comparison, Sean Hannity’s program on Fox garnered 2.64 million viewers Tuesday night, with 312,000 in that same demographic. Meanwhile, Kaitlan Collins’ CNN show netted a total of 468,000 viewers, including just 75,000 in the 25-54 age range.
Pursuing opportunities after leaving the White House in 2022, Psaki started hosting “Inside with Jen Psaki” in March 2023.
Rachel Maddow, who previously held that 9 PM slot during Trump’s early presidency, stepped back to make room for Psaki. Interestingly, Maddow predicted that Psaki would excel in this role due to her extensive experience in Washington.
She noted, “What she has, I don’t have, is that she’s going to do better with Jen Psaki because she understands the environment and knows how to connect with people,” in a Tuesday interview.
While Maddow might seem to have set a high bar, Psaki’s numbers fell significantly on Wednesday, losing quite a bit of ground. In fact, her viewership was reportedly lower than reruns of familiar shows, including “Friends” and “Seinfeld.”
Psaki is known for her criticisms of Trump and continues to voice concerns about his administration. She conveyed her perspective on the importance of nurturing a new generation of Democratic leaders, highlighting figures like progressive Democrats Greg Casar and Maxwell Frost.
