Steve Kornacki, MSNBC’s widely recognized data analyst known for his energetic breakdowns of polling and election results, will depart the left-leaning cable channel after signing a new agreement with NBC that will see him take on expanded roles across the network’s news and sports divisions.
Kornacki, who rose to national prominence during the tense, drawn-out coverage of the 2020 presidential election, will be scaling back his presence on MSNBC as the network undergoes significant restructuring ahead of Comcast’s planned spinoff of its cable assets.
Under the new agreement, Kornacki’s official title becomes contributor and chief data analyst for both NBC News and NBC Sports, an NBC spokesperson confirmed to Deadline.
The news was initially reported by the Los Angeles Times.
MSNBC announced on Tuesday that award-winning NBC News correspondent Antonia Hylton will be joining MSNBC full-time as a correspondent and co-host of “The Weekend: Primetime.”
Since joining MSNBC in 2012, Kornacki has become a fixture during election cycles, particularly praised for his high-energy analysis of polling trends and voting patterns.
His detailed breakdowns on air, often delivered with rolled-up sleeves and an infectious enthusiasm, made him a popular figure with viewers, earning him accolades including being named one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” in 2020.
This shift in Kornacki’s role occurs amid significant upheaval at MSNBC, which is preparing for life as an independent news channel following Comcast’s announcement earlier this year to spin off its cable properties into a separate entity.
Earlier this year, MSNBC initiated a significant restructuring that led to widespread layoffs and program cancellations — most notably the axing of “The ReidOut,” which was hosted by Joy Reid.
Reid’s departure was accompanied by the termination of most staff members associated with her program.
Similarly, MSNBC management canceled “Alex Wagner Tonight” and reassigned host Alex Wagner to the role of senior political correspondent.
These decisions were part of a broader effort to revamp the network’s primetime lineup — which will now be helmed by marquee stars Rachel Maddow, who hosts a once-a-week show on Monday nights, and former Biden spokesperson Jen Psaki.
The reshuffle also affected other programs and personnel.
Shows hosted by Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, Ayman Mohyeldin, and José Díaz-Balart were canceled, leading to layoffs of their respective production teams. Phang will remain with the network as a legal correspondent.
Affected employees were given the option to apply for new roles within MSNBC or accept severance packages.
In January, Rashida Jones resigned as president of MSNBC amid the network’s preparations for its spinoff from Comcast.
Rebecca Kutler, formerly a senior vice president at MSNBC, was appointed as her successor in February.
The spinoff is part of Comcast’s broader strategy aimed at streamlining its business operations and focusing more aggressively on its broadband internet services, as traditional cable TV subscribers continue to decline.
As MSNBC moves toward independence, the network has been investing heavily in its own reporting capabilities, recently announcing plans to hire over 100 journalists to bolster its original news coverage.
MSNBC consistently ranked second in ratings behind rival Fox News, but well ahead of CNN in many time slots. Nonetheless, it has seen its ratings slide in recent months.
Fox News shares common ownership with The Post.
Following the 2024 presidential election, MSNBC experienced a significant ratings decline, with primetime viewership dropping by 57% between Election Day and Dec. 31, averaging 660,000 viewers compared to 1.3 million in December 2023.
This trend continued into early 2025, as “The Rachel Maddow Show” saw a 22% decrease in total viewership and a 29% decline among adults aged 25-54 since President Trump’s victory.
The Post has sought comment from MSNBC.
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