White House press secretary Jen Psaki is in talks to leave her current position in the administration of President Joe Biden and head to the cable news network MSNBC a source close to the matter has said.
There has been speculation for months that Psaki would leave the administration for a cable news position, which is not uncommon for former White House communications staffers, Axios reported.
And who would be better equipped to promote the administration’s talking points on national television than someone who has been in that position?
Psaki has been in close consultation with the White House counsel’s office about her departure, according to two sources familiar with the plans. She’s been treading carefully on the ethics and legal aspects of her plans.
No contracts have been signed. Government ethics rules have stipulations about how public employees can pursue private sector job opportunities while in office.
She’s also told some senior officials at the White House about her departure and her plans to join MSNBC, according to two sources.
Psaki has not yet formally told the White House press team about her departure, an administration source tells Axios.
MSNBC has been working with its compliance lawyers to make sure their conversations didn’t violate any government regulations, according to a source close to the matter.
The deal with MSNBC and Psaki is close to being final after the White House press secretary had spoken to CNN and other network, Axios reported.
The report said that Psaki will host a show for MSNBC and for its streaming platform Peacock.
“Psaki’s deal is similar to that of Symone Sanders, a former adviser and senior spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris,” it said.
“Sanders signed an exclusive deal with MSNBC in January to host a show on Peacock and to participate in live programming on MSNBC.
“Her new show, called Symone, will air at 4 p.m. ET on weekends on MSNBC and will stream on Mondays and Tuesdays on Peacock, per Deadline,” it said.
In February, Psaki denied the rumors that she was leaving the White House to join a cable news network.
“Can you confirm that you are looking for a job at CNN or MSNBC?” he said.
“I have more than enough on my plate here. So, you can’t get rid of quite yet. Sorry, Peter, for you on that. And so, I will see you all on Monday. Thank you, everyone,” she said.
The rumors started after MSNBC host Rachel Maddow announced that she was taking a hiatus from her prime time show on the left-leaning network.
So who will fill the void?
According to the New York Post, the network may be aiming to hire current White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who is reportedly considering an exit at the Biden White House.
The Post reported:
Psaki, who has plans to leave the White House this year, is being courted by several news networks, including CNN and MSNBC, according to the newsletter Puck.
A source told The Post that UTA super agent and co-president Jay Sures shopped the idea of Psaki as a potential cable news primetime host all over town, drumming up interest, before he signed her.
His timing couldn’t be better as TV networks are looking to shake up their lineups. And perhaps more urgently for CNN and MSNBC, both networks are in need of new blood for their primetime shows.
MSNBC lost its star anchor, Maddow, who has stepped away from her 9 p.m. ET show in order to pursue other projects.
And CNN is on the hunt for somebody to anchor its 9 p.m. show after Chris Cuomo was fired late last year after sexual misconduct allegations came to light, as well as revelations that he secretly aided the defense of his embattled older brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
