White House press secretary Jen Psaki is reportedly in talks with MSNBC to join the network after she leaves her job in the administration sometime around May.
That’s according to Axios, which cited two sources familiar with the plans to say Psaki “has been in close consultation with the White House counsel’s office about her departure” to ensure compliance with legal and ethical requirements.
While nothing has been signed, the deal is “nearly final,” Axios reported and will entail Psaki having her own show on NBCUniversal’s streaming platform, Peacock, and contributing to live programming on MSNBC’s cable network. Psaki will not be replacing Rachel Maddow in the 9 p.m. time slot, as some have speculated.
It appears MSNBC was the highest bidder for Psaki’s services, as she reportedly had conversations with CNN as well, and other networks had expressed interest in signing her, the website noted.
“Psaki’s deal is similar to that of Symone Sanders, a former adviser and senior spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris,” Axios reported, explaining that Sanders “signed an exclusive deal with MSNBC in January to host a show on Peacock and to participate in live programming on MSNBC.”
MSNBC and CNN remain popular landing spots for Democratic administration officials, while Fox News hired former Trump White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany last year.
There was plenty of commentary about the White House to cable media pipeline in response to the story… here’s a quick sampling from Twitter:
Do they really need to sign papers? Isn’t the Biden White House and MSNBC the same entity anyway? https://t.co/ezjfkg67IO
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) April 1, 2022
For past months, WH spokeswoman has been briefing news organizations that were vying to hire her. https://t.co/TWnw3JIwfH
— Byron York (@ByronYork) April 1, 2022
Love how press secretaries – who often lie and propagandize for a living life on behalf of their administrations – always manage to be welcomed into the same media industry that is supposed to be holding them accountable. https://t.co/DOGAJi3P47
— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) April 1, 2022
Wait is this an April Fools Joke? I mean I think she would be a great addition, but it is April 1st?
— Tracy Vicente (@tracevicente) April 1, 2022
@JackPosobiec had already provided the scoop earlier on March 29th:https://t.co/sRwvF4WKHE
— _mzishi_ (@_mzishi_) April 1, 2022
The White House to media pipeline is alive and well, it seems.
— Roger Sullivan (@RogerSullivanNO) April 1, 2022
So now there’s a White House to @MSNBC pipeline in the making? Follows Kayleigh McEnany’s path to @FoxNews.
— howardrgold (@howardrgold1) April 1, 2022
Hats off to MSNBC if this happens. They’ve proven that you can never have too many smart women.
By all rights, she should replace Chuck Doorstop Todd.
— John Starbuck (@JCStarbuck3) April 1, 2022
Oh media goddess, please guide the minds of @MSNBC and @NBCNews to replace all Chuck Todd assignments with @PressSec
— Rachel Spaulding (@cyclegirl23) April 1, 2022
She would be a great replacement for Maddow. Better than any other name I’ve heard.
— Voting Rights Panda (@oldmancoyote22) April 1, 2022
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