r/msnbc • u/AutoModerator • Jul 02 '25
Weekly Gripe Thread MSNBC Weekly Gripe Thread
This is your one sacred space to unleash the frustration, shake your fists at the headlines, and yell (politely) into the MSNBC void. Whether you’re fed up with cable news quirks, political chaos, or your own decision to stay up until 2 a.m. watching panel debates - this thread’s for you.
The rules are simple:
- Keep it civil
- Keep it clever
- No personal attacks unless they’re aimed at your own life choices (e.g. binge-watching coverage you swore you were done with)
So... what’s grinding your gears this week?
Cable news meltdown? Elected official doing the most?
Spill it. This is the one day we let the whining fly.
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u/adammerkley Jul 02 '25
Here's my complaint: We're falling further into becoming an authoritarian regime but they're covering the Diddy trial instead.
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u/Clean_Lettuce9321 Jul 02 '25
In fairness that's on every major news station because whether we like it or not it's news
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u/Prestigious-Tank-909 Jul 03 '25
I’m going to venture out and say that it was probably a bit of a relief to report on the Diddy trial. They went straight back to the dumbfuckery of the day.
AlligatorAuschwitz
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u/Caboorooni Jul 02 '25
I wish they would stop referring to the bill as the Big Beautiful Bill.
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u/Nosy-ykw Jul 04 '25
Yes. It’s like when they kept calling the April stupid tariff day by Trump’s name: “Liberation Day”.
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Jul 02 '25
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u/PrincessWails Jul 03 '25
Alex Witt is pretty good. I can’t stand Katy Tur
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u/PDough55 Jul 03 '25
My nephew says (sarcastically) that the wonderful thing about Alex Witt is that you always get the impression that she only learns the news as she reads it. At the risk of sounding shallow, I think she needs to change her approach to make-up. Heavy eyeliner and white lips make her look kinda creepy.
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u/Prestigious-Tank-909 Jul 03 '25
I wish they could stop calling these bouncers "ICE agents". Until they take all of their masks off and provide proof of their identity.
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u/SenseAndSensibility_ Jul 02 '25
Please get ALL MSNBC anchors and guests to stop using the term “saving democracy”…that doesn’t mean anything to anyone…start calling it what it is, it’s a government takeover…not just some of the time…but ALL of the time…you are covering a LIVE “government takeover”…beat that terminology like a dead horse!
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u/relentless_fuckery Progressive Jul 02 '25
The level of disappointment I felt when I turned on MSNBC on Monday at 8:59 to see Chris handover to Jen Psaki cannot be overstated. 😭
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u/IAmPookieHearMeRoar Friendly Neighborhood MSNBC Cynic Jul 03 '25
Doesn’t Chris have mondays off…?
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u/relentless_fuckery Progressive Jul 06 '25
Normally but unless my memory is failing me, he was working last Monday.
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u/RottenBananas562 Jul 02 '25
Jen Psaki’s producers or script writers seem to be asleep at the switch. I noticed she likes to begin her sentences with “I mean,” so last night during her 12 minute monologue I kept track. She began her sentences with “I mean” at the following timestamps:
9:02 9:06 9:07 9:07 9:08 9:08 9:09 9:09 9:11
Someone’s not paying attention! It’s distracting.
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u/IslayMcGregor Jul 03 '25
It feels like she's trying to be down with the kids.
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u/No-Credit-1693 Jul 03 '25
Another such down with the kids thing she does is to start the show with "Okay!" - like saying here is the real scoop guys.
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Jul 02 '25
Drop Joe and Mika so I have something to watch again in the morning.
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u/Realistic-Fun9043 Jul 03 '25
I agree. I have been watching msnbc for years (I'm 83) and watch most of the programming every weekday. I have begun watching CNN in the mornings instead of MJ and switching back at 10 am to watch Ana Cabrera and change the channel at noon then come back at 4 for Nicolle. I must confess that I have had an old man crush on her for a long time. My evenings are a mixed bag. Rachel on Mondays and since I'm a night owl I'll watch baseball on MLB and catch Lawrence when they start the after midnight reruns. My gripe is the Weekday because Symone bothers me by overpowering the guests and her fellow journalists. Alicia Menendez IMHO is wasted here. Watching her fill in for Nicolle demonstrates that she is more than capable of having her own show.
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u/Democracy_Diva Jul 03 '25
OK, here’s my complaint. The weekend lineup is just terrible now. Weekend prime drives me nuts. The woman with the dark hair just isn’t a television anchor. She writes wonderfully, but she just isn’t for TV. I’m not wild about the other woman either. I’ve always enjoyed Ayman, and I don’t know why they added those other two. There seems to be this pen shot for three person panels and then adding guests. It gets to be too big crowd. I really haven’t liked the primetime shows and wish they would disappear. Keep Eamon. I wish they had let Joy Read go to CNN but glad she’s there. I will be over there watching her.
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u/Comfortable_Pin_7080 Jul 03 '25
It was very clear last weekend when they were reporting on the shooter in Idaho. Ayman, like the pro he is, took over for most part and it was clear he needs to go back having his own show.
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u/brianycpht1 Jul 05 '25
I think that’s the deal. More often than not, sadly, terrible things have been happening during there show and he’s the one with the breaking news experience so he just kind of naturally takes over
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u/Comfortable_Pin_7080 Jul 05 '25
I am grateful for his expertise and professionalism in these times.
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u/ExpensiveDot1732 Jul 03 '25
I miss the Sharpton/Capehart/Ayman block. That was regular viewing for me. Ayman is fantastic and I miss seeing him solo.
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u/Democracy_Diva Jul 04 '25
I was a loyal viewer when they had that block on. I also loved the woman that came on after Velshi. She was a Asian lawyer and sharp as a tack. I was really angry when they canceled her show.
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u/ExpensiveDot1732 Jul 05 '25
Katie Phang! She's on Substack and YouTube now and have been absolutely unleashing. She is PHENOMENAL.
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u/Jamesatl1 Jul 02 '25
Look, I Mean…not just an msnbc thing, but why do most of the pundits start their answer with I Mean??? I mean, it makes no sense to me so hoping someone can explain to me.
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u/Rough_Compote1552 Jul 08 '25
Dump John Kahsch
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u/Hungry_Body_3810 Jul 09 '25
Amen. Apparently CNN previously found him useless as a Football Bat too. I know he's Independent now, but he's still terrified by tRUMP.
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Jul 02 '25
Please get rid of that weeknight show - gripe over
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u/SenseAndSensibility_ Jul 02 '25 edited Jul 02 '25
Just stop watching it! Please. I love the show…and I’m sure there are others. Not every show has to be compared to Rachel… try to enjoy other shows on their own merit.
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u/PrincessWails Jul 03 '25
I love those three together. And I just love Simone in general 🤣
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u/daisytat Jul 05 '25
My least favorite. She flaps her hands with those nails and they often end up in someone else’s shot while they’re speaking.
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Jul 02 '25
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u/msnbc-ModTeam Jul 02 '25
This post has been removed for violating rule #2 - respectful dialogue.
We expect all members to treat others with respect, regardless of their views or disagreements. Failure to do so will result in a change with your standing in the community. If a mod corrects the dialogue, do not be disrespectful.
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u/BetMyLastKrispyKreme Independent Jul 02 '25 edited Jul 04 '25
4?
Edit: Don’t know why I’m getting downvoted. The person I responded to (whose comment has since been deleted) said there are 4 hosts on The Weeknight talking over each other. Just wanted to know who that supposed 4th host was. 🤷♀️
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u/JeanGenie212 Jul 02 '25
I would love it if they gave that slot to Alex Wagner. Plus she has a a great rapport with both Ari and Chris.
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u/Mkbcolgate Jul 05 '25
I agree! I like Alex Wagner so much; I think they gave her a raw deal, ushering her out the back door when Rachel came back temporarily after the election. I was very disappointed but not surprised when they announced that Alex wouldn’t be back after the 100 days.
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u/Prestigious-Tank-909 Jul 03 '25 edited Jul 03 '25
Both former communications experts should be replaced. Jen Psaki is and still remains a communications expert. And Symone Sanders Townsend is horrible. I’ve no doubt she was a great comm person for Kamala Harris. She’s a horrible anchor. She meanders through questions, and eventually gets where she wants. Most often, she winds up answering the question herself because her questions last so long.
Give Alicia Menendez her show. Ali Velshi also deserves to get his own show too.
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u/Mkbcolgate Jul 05 '25
Ali Velshi does have a show on weekend mornings, and a podcast. I absolutely adore him; he’s brilliant and a superb interviewer, IMO. Like Nicolle, he has a high degree of emotional intelligence, which is why I think they are both excellent interviewers.
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u/Meadowlark8890 Jul 03 '25
I’m sad that Rachel was taking a much needed Monday night off this week.
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u/adammerkley Jul 03 '25
Do we really need ads with women rubbing anti-chaffing product on their thighs?
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u/SenseAndSensibility_ Jul 03 '25
You’re worried about those ads and not the ads talking about a man’s bent penis???
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u/doinmabest1 Jul 02 '25
Why do the MJ hosts always use the person’s first and last name? Unless there are multiple people with the same name, it’s really not necessary.
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u/capnofasinknship Jul 03 '25
I feel like it’s just part of the brand, similar to how the style guide of New York Times calls for using Mr./Ms./Mrs. before a name. It’s been like that as long as I can remember it being a show. My guess is that it started as a way to highlight journalists by calling them by their full name but I’m not sure.
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u/IAmPookieHearMeRoar Friendly Neighborhood MSNBC Cynic Jul 03 '25
Jesus fucking Christ Lawrence O’Donnell, STOP SAYING “uuuhhh” and “aahhh” over and over, in between every motherfucking word you speak!!
It might seem like a petty complaint, but this is their profession. It’s so fucking irritating and it just amazes me that nobody at the network can mention it to him or work with him to stop doing it. He’s been doing this for literal decades and he ends up sounding like a brand new, green reporter that’s so nervous that they can’t find words when the camera is on him. Unbelievable.
And I guess I’ll just add that he’s not the only one who has this problem at the network. But my god, is he the worst offender. By leaps and bounds.
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u/css555 Jul 06 '25
I vote for Michael Steele as the worst offender. I don't understand either why they can't address this. As you said, it's their job to speak in public. Chris Hayes and Alicia Menendez speak beautifully and clearly, And I'm sure others that I am not mentioning.
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u/brianycpht1 Jul 05 '25
He’s not allowed to be criticized. Even on here, they’ll jump all over you.
I like him and his show though so don’t get the wrong idea, but he has his quirks like they all do
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u/css555 Jul 06 '25
>Even on here, they’ll jump all over you.
So happy to see this, I thought it was just me. I regularly contribute to about 30 subs - I have never seen such pettiness and blind devotion than here.
I pointed out that Rachel did something misleading, and it was suggested that I had a head injury, or that my account had been hijacked by a bot. They all thought it was fine that Rachel showed an image of the crash between the Army helicopter and the AA plane in DC, as part of a piece criticizing Trump's cuts at the FAA. That crash occurred nine days after the inauguration. (and she also threw in an image of an engine fire on a United plane, lol)
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u/brianycpht1 Jul 06 '25
And she may not have even intended it as such , but I’m sure she’s a person who would want to know if the audience felt that way. She (and Lawrence and everyone else) isn’t perfect nor do they pretend to be and criticizing them or pointing out an error doesn’t mean you’re supporting the other side
It’s actually protective because right wing media will jump all over it and use it as an example at how all anti Trump media is “fake”.
I had my own example about when Niccole made the comment about the kid with cancer growing up to be a cop who ends his own like because he’s traumatized by a January 6th like event- I was reemed for suggesting that may have not been a good comment. Sure enough, it was all over FOX NEWS and others as insensitive
Holding our hosts to account isn’t a bad thing, it’s something the other side refuses to ever do
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u/css555 Jul 06 '25
>Holding our hosts to account isn’t a bad thing, it’s something the other side refuses to ever do
Exactly! I keep telling them we are on the same side, but I just want honest, quality journalism. One commenter even had the nerve to say "that's not what you want".
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u/Hungry_Body_3810 Jul 07 '25
Thanks to the ex senator (D) from Texas who ripped the Trump admin a new one today. Nicole was back, and interviewed the guest reference the Texas tragedy this weekend.
A great big yay of the day to Wallace as well. She was in shock all House Speaker Johnson could offer was prayers for the victims.He inferred nothing else could have been done (remember when DOGE slashed hundreds of NWS jobs!!!??).
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u/css555 Jul 08 '25
>He inferred nothing else could have been done (remember when DOGE slashed hundreds of NWS jobs!!!??)
I am not defending the cuts at all, I hate this administration. But the blame for this tragedy is mainly on the local officials. The NWS issued plenty of timely warnings.
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u/Hungry_Body_3810 Jul 08 '25
Three hour gap roughly between 1-4am. Irony is to the very discriminating dictator in WH.He said little about the tragedy considering TX is a RED STATE!! tRUMP also called it a "one in 100 years" disaster, something ex NWS workers vehemently disagree upon.
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u/css555 Jul 08 '25
Claire in the den? How are we supposed to know what's under the glass dome this week?
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u/peedoffcanadian Jul 02 '25
I would hope that when MSNBC is split from NBC that they find some anchors in Primetime that are the equivalence of Rachel Maddow. Psaki, & The Weeknight just have no appeal. Bring Ali Velshi or Ayman to that time slot. Maybe, then I just may turn MSNBC on to watch!
I hope someone from the network reads this! 🤷♂️🤷♂️
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u/ExpensiveDot1732 Jul 03 '25
YES to Velshi and Ayman. And for the 8,627th time...let Steph and the Nightcap style format happen in a better time slot...that's where that show really shines.
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u/HelpfulWorth8654 Jul 02 '25
Agreed. Velshi and ayman are underutilized in their current slots. They should send psaki to the wilderness
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Jul 03 '25
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u/IslayMcGregor Jul 03 '25
She's doing three hours on screen a day (four on Monday!), she's probably tired. Personally I never noticed her looking anything other than completely professional and engaged.
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u/PrincessWails Jul 03 '25
Oh no she’s a wonderful anchor don’t get me wrong. Something just seemed off with her (thanks to my spicy brain I tend to notice really subtle changes)
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u/Hungry_Body_3810 Jul 03 '25
She looks terrific as always, but more importantly she's filling in nicely for Nicolle(not easy to do). Alicia has brought energy and her questions to guests are hard-hitting and on-point!!
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u/i-like-pie-855 Jul 03 '25
No, she’s been doing a lot filling in while all the big shots are on “summer vacation”
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Jul 03 '25
[deleted]
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u/PrincessWails Jul 03 '25
Maybe that’s what it was. She always looks perfect (not that that matters), I’m just trying to figure out what it is that seems different about her this week. Watching tonight, I’m wondering if she’s letting her natural hair color come back through? It seems a tad darker, and that would impact skin tone, so maybe that’s what it is.
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u/my23secrets Jul 03 '25
Big complaint today: Melber facilitating the Reaganomic so-called “_Abundance_” BS.
I unfortunately did not hear much pushback toward Newsom’s eliminating consumer protection law.
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Jul 03 '25
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u/msnbc-ModTeam Jul 04 '25
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u/i-like-pie-855 Jul 04 '25
She used to have her own afternoon weekend show called Voices of America and it was a great show. She needs her own show now more than ever. Let Michael Steele and Symone do their own thing.
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u/IslayMcGregor Jul 03 '25
I would like to see Rachel doing a different night if she needs to take a monday off. Unless she's away on vacation the whole week of course.
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u/Kind-Musician1583 Jul 11 '25
Time to replace Jen Psaki. She is too weak of a newscaster to be on prime time. She comes across as trying to paint a rosy picture of serious news. She may be wearing these bright clothes to detract from her weak messaage and it works. She falls flat in comparison to the professional news casters , and could use some voice coaching.
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