NBC News’ Willie Geist is in talks to keep his hosting gig at MSNBC — a potentially rare deal that comes as parent Comcast spins off the left-leaning network before the end of the year.
Geist, who anchor’s NBC’s “Sunday Today Show,” is in negotiations to remain co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” — even as as most journalists that appear on both NBC and MSNBC have been moved to one network or the other, a source with knowledge told The Post.
MSNBC declined to comment.
According to Politico, Geist’s talent is coveted by both MSNBC and NBC, to the point that neither network wants to lose him in the spinoff. The outlet noted that the journalist has been featured more prominently on the Peacock Network of late, filling in for Kelly Clarkson on the red carpet for SNL’s 50th, for example.
Geist has also been a fixture on “Morning Joe” for years, appearing alongside Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.
The move comes at a turbulent time for the network, which is in the throes of a major upheaval, following Comcast’s announcement in November that it would spin off MSNBC and a handful of its cable channels but retain NBC News, Bravo and streaming service Peacock, among others. Roughly 100 staffers were let go, including some of the network’s talent amid the massive overhaul.
Newly-minted news president Rebecca Kutler and other network brass have been scrambling to quell the anxious staff, who were shell-shocked to learn of massive layoffs before they were officially announced.
MSNBC brass accidentally printed out details about the left-leaning network’s impending jobs bloodbath — and the top-secret document was found by a stunned staffer who leaked the details to co-workers, The Post revealed in March, publishing a copy of the document.
In February, Kutler canceled Joy Reid’s liberal primetime show, which came as a shock to staffers, including Rachel Maddow, who called out her bosses on air over the decision.
Kutler also axed weekend shows hosted by Ayman Mohyeldin, Jonathan Capehart, Katie Phang and Jose Diaz-Balart.
The news boss also elevated Jen Psaki, the former press secretary for President Joe Biden, who will grab the 9 p.m.-hour Tuesdays through Fridays, removing host Alex Wagner beginning in late April.
Politico said that Kutler is hoping to bring on more progressive voices that would balance out some of the left-leaning commentary, as well as tone down the “house on fire” rhetoric as it pertains to covering the Trump White House.
A source close to the situation confirmed that but noted that the network would not alienate its core, liberal audience.
Meanwhile, MSNBC has lost the custody battle of a a few of its stars to NBC, including election expert Steve Kornacki and veteran political journalist Andrea Mitchell.
Credit: Source link
