Reiding Between the Lines

On Monday evening, Joy Reid sat beneath the bright studio lights inside MSNBC’s Washington bureau, staring directly into the camera for one final time as host of “The ReidOut.” The weight of the moment was palpable—it was the end of the road for her at MSNBC. Clad in a purple “ReidOut”-branded jacket emblazoned with the MSNBC logo, she appeared every bit the anchor who had for years defined the progressive cable channel’s 7 p.m. hour, unafraid to address issues head-on. Now, Reid had to address the issue of her own departure directly with her loyal viewers.

As her final show came to a close, she was joined by Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, and Lawrence O’Donnell for a special segment celebrating her tenure, a notable display of solidarity from some of MSNBC’s biggest names. They reminisced; they laughed; they expressed disappointment her program was ending; and they reflected on the role Reid had played in shaping the network’s progressive voice. Then, as the final moments of “The ReidOut” approached, it was time for Reid to say goodbye.

“A special shout out to our amazing Reiders, our audience—I just love running into y’all in the airport, on these streets, and on social media. I could not love or appreciate you more. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for holding us down,” Reid said, before urging her fans to follow her on social media and—notably—Substack.