Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s new president, quickly called an emergency meeting with the staff of The ReidOut after news of the show’s cancellation leaked to the media. The cancellation came as a surprise to many, and an audio recording of the meeting was later shared.
Kutler, who took over as president earlier this month, summoned the The ReidOut team early Sunday morning, shortly after the news broke. Reports from Variety and The New York Times revealed that the 7 p.m. show would end this week.
The staff, upset and shocked, voiced their frustration during the nearly 30-minute virtual meeting. They expressed anger over learning of the cancellation through media reports instead of from MSNBC leadership. Many staffers asked for clarity on why the show was ending and what it meant for their jobs.
Kutler confirmed that the show was ending, and the entire staff would be laid off. She reassured them that they would receive severance through April and could apply for other positions within the network, but the offer did little to ease the tension in the room.
Despite Kutler mentioning over 100 new job openings at MSNBC, the reality of the cancellation hit hard for the team. The staff felt uncertain about their future with the network.
Kutler also addressed speculation regarding former President Donald Trump’s influence in the decision. After The ReidOut’s outspoken criticism of Trump, some wondered if that had played a role in the cancellation. When asked directly, Kutler denied any connection, saying, “No, it did not.”
The meeting left many staffers shaken, with one person calling it a “terrible, terrible way to learn about our fate.”
