MSNBC’s Morning Joe’s Struggles Deepen As Backlash Craters Ratings [WATCH]

MSNBC’s Morning Joe, once a cornerstone of the network’s programming, is experiencing a significant decline in viewership, marking one of the toughest challenges in its long-running history.

According to Nielsen data released on Tuesday, the morning talk show, hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, recorded just 680,000 total viewers—a 12% drop from Monday’s broadcast.

In the critical 25-54 demographic, the program drew only 86,000 viewers, reflecting another 12% decline.

Celebrate Trump’s Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

These numbers represent a steep 38% decrease in total audience and a 37% drop in the key demographic compared to the show’s 2024 averages. Tuesday’s broadcast also marked the third-lowest-rated episode of the year, according to The Independent.

The timing of the ratings slump coincides with significant changes at Morning Joe’s parent company, Comcast. On Wednesday, Comcast announced plans to spin off much of NBCUniversal’s cable lineup, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a standalone company.

This move is part of a larger strategy to adapt to the ongoing cord-cutting trend reshaping the media industry.

Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, is set to lead the new entity as CEO. Lazarus highlighted the strategic benefits of the decision, stating, “As a standalone company with these outstanding assets, we will be better positioned to serve our audiences and drive shareholder returns in this incredibly dynamic media environment across news, sports, and entertainment.”

The program’s declining performance follows a wave of criticism directed at Scarborough and Brzezinski after revelations that the pair met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago following his election victory.

Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski reveal they traveled to Mar-a-Lago to “meet personally” with President-elect Trump in order to “restart communications” and set a “new approach” to their coverage of his administration. pic.twitter.com/zNKOpgTz9N

— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) November 18, 2024

While the hosts defended the meeting as journalistic in nature, many viewers saw it as overly cozy, alienating core segments of the audience that had come to view Morning Joe as a stronghold of liberal commentary.

Megyn Kelly obliterates Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for their hypocrisy:
Megyn Kelly: “I searched for a way to respond appropriately, I called on my 10 years as a litigator, in my addition to my now 20 as a journalist, and I think I found the perfect phrase:
Go fuck… pic.twitter.com/HMpCuNgRBb

— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) November 18, 2024

Rosie O’Donnell slams MSNBC Morning Joe hosts for meeting Trump; vows to boycott the show.

“So Mika and Joe went down to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring. It’s the last time I ever watch Morning Joe.” pic.twitter.com/xSdVYc5B4Q

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 19, 2024

The controversy triggered an immediate drop in viewership.

During its 6 a.m. hour, the program averaged 839,000 total viewers, including 113,000 in the key demographic.

By the 7 a.m. block, those numbers fell to 694,000 total viewers, with a sharp 38% decline in the 25-54 demographic.

Nielsen’s “live plus same day” ratings also revealed an unusual trend: a substantial portion of viewers opted to watch the contentious 6 a.m. segment via DVR.

Approximately 413,000 viewers recorded the segment to watch later, nearly matching the 426,000 who tuned in live.

However, subsequent hours saw far fewer DVR viewers, indicating a decline in interest as the program progressed.

Morning Joe, which debuted in 2007 as a replacement for Imus in the Morning, was initially praised for its unique blend of political analysis and insider access.

The show featured Scarborough’s conservative viewpoints alongside Brzezinski’s progressive perspectives, creating a dynamic that resonated with a diverse audience.

Over time, Scarborough adopted a more centrist stance, particularly during the Trump presidency, and the personal relationship between the co-hosts—culminating in their 2018 marriage—further fueled public intrigue.

However, the program’s extended four-hour format and high-profile billing have not shielded it from viewer fatigue or competition from alternative news sources.

Despite other cable news programs experiencing post-election spikes, Morning Joe continues to struggle to regain its footing.

With the show’s ratings hitting new lows and corporate restructuring underway at MSNBC, the challenges facing Morning Joe are mounting.

Whether the program can adapt to shifting viewer preferences and regain its audience remains to be seen.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.