MSNBC bloodbath hits Rachel Maddow staffers in major overhaul that has claimed Joy Reid, Alex Wagner shows: report

MSNBC has reportedly informed a majority of staffers who work on Rachel Maddow’s prime time opinion show that they are being let go as part of the network’s restructuring that resulted in the cancellation of Joy Reid’s program as well as those of other hosts.The Comcast-owned, left-leaning channel told Maddow staffers they have the option of reapplying for new roles at the network or accepting a severance payout, according to the news site Guardian.Maddow, MSNBC’s most prominent anchor and top-rated host, will retain her executive producer, Cory Gnazzo, along with several senior producers, the Guardian reported.However, the rest of her team, along with producers from other recently canceled shows — including those hosted by Alex Wagner, Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, Ayman Mohyeldin and José Díaz-Balart — will need to find new jobs either within the network or at a different company, according to the report.A network insider reached by The Post denied that the move constituted layoffs.

The network insists that the shakeup was a reallocation of resources to support the network’s evolving priorities, according to the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.The network source told The Post that that affected employees will have the first opportunity to apply for the newly available positions before any roles are opened to external candidates.Despite these reassurances, the manner in which the changes are being implemented — requiring employees to reapply for jobs they already held — has raised concerns, the Guardian reported.

Historically, MSNBC has found ways to redistribute staff without cutting positions outright when canceling programs.This approach marks a notable departure from previous practices and comes at a challenging time for the cable news industry at large.The restructuring coincides with broader financial pressures at MSNBC, which is being spun off from parent company NBCUniversal.

The network is searching for cost-saving measu...