Editing MSNBC (section)

===2015–2021===
[[File:MSNBC 2015-2021 logo.svg|thumb|MSNBC logo used from 2015 to 2021]]
[[Andrew Lack (executive)|Andrew Lack]] became the chairman of NBC News and MSNBC in 2015; he would impose a mandate on the network to reduce its emphasis on opinion programming, and place a larger focus on creating closer ties between it and the NBC News division.<ref>{{cite news |last=Koblin |first=John |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/business/media/msnbc-reshuffles-its-daytime-lineup-ahead-of-brian-williamss-debut.html |title=MSNBC Reshuffles Its Daytime Lineup Ahead of Brian Williams's Debut |work=The New York Times |date=July 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803014410/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/business/media/msnbc-reshuffles-its-daytime-lineup-ahead-of-brian-williamss-debut.html |archive-date=August 3, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |last2=Grynbaum |first2=Michael M. |date=May 15, 2024 |title=How MSNBC's Leftward Tilt Delivers Ratings, and Complications |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/business/media/nbc-msnbc-trump-biden.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525210336/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/business/media/nbc-msnbc-trump-biden.html |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=May 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2015, to help revive the struggling network, Griffin announced he was transitioning MSNBC from left-leaning, opinionated programming to hard news programming. Nearly all daytime opinionated news programs were replaced with more generic news programs. [[Ronan Farrow]], [[Joy Reid]], [[Krystal Ball]], [[Touré (journalist)|Touré]], [[Abby Huntsman]], [[Alex Wagner]], and [[Ed Schultz]] lost their shows. [[Al Sharpton]]'s ''[[PoliticsNation]]'' was relegated to the weekend. News programs presented by established NBC News personalities such as [[Telemundo]] anchor [[Jose Diaz-Balart]], ''[[Meet the Press]]'' anchor [[Chuck Todd]], ''NBC Nightly News'' Sunday anchor [[Kate Snow]], [[Thomas Roberts (television journalist)|Thomas Roberts]], and former ''NBC Nightly News'' anchor [[Brian Williams]] replaced the opinion shows.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reaney |first=Patricia |date=June 18, 2015 |title=Brian Williams dropped from NBC's 'Nightly News,' will join MSNBC |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-media-brianwilliams-idUSKBN0OY22Y20150618 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016215158/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/18/us-media-brianwilliams-idUSKBN0OY22Y20150618 |archive-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> The revamped on-air presentation debuted in late summer 2015 and included a new logo, news ticker, and graphics package.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ariens |first=Chris |date=August 15, 2015 |title=MSNBC Rolls Out New On-Air Look |work=[[TVNewser]] |url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/msnbc-rolls-out-new-on-air-look/269746 |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912072948/http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/msnbc-rolls-out-new-on-air-look/269746 |archive-date=September 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--Staff writer--> |date=September 17, 2015 |title=Kate Snow appointment to complete MSNBC transformation |work=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/sep/17/kate-snow-appointment-complete-msnbc-transfor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926213904/https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/sep/17/kate-snow-appointment-complete-msnbc-transfor/ |archive-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref>

''MSNBC Live'' had at least eight hours of programming each day, barring any breaking news that could extend its time.  Daytime news coverage was led primarily by Brian Williams, [[Stephanie Ruhle]], Jose Diaz-Balart, Andrea Mitchell, Craig Melvin, Thomas Roberts, and Kate Snow, in addition to "beat leaders" stationed throughout the newsroom. These included chief legal correspondent [[Ari Melber]], primary political reporter [[Steve Kornacki]], business and finance correspondent Olivia Sterns, and senior editor [[Cal Perry]]. Morning and primetime programming did not change and remained filled mostly by opinionated personalities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2015 |title=TV Schedule {{!}} MSNBC |url=https://www.msnbc.com/schedule |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015183413/http://www.msnbc.com/schedule |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=March 30, 2018 |publisher=MSNBC}}</ref>

In June 2016, MSNBC started to use the tagline "This is who we are".<ref name="this is who we are">{{cite web |title=This is how news is made. This is who we are. |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-web-only/watch/this-is-how-news-is-made-this-is-who-we-are-703329347729 |publisher=MSNBC |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610223751/https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-web-only/watch/this-is-how-news-is-made-this-is-who-we-are-703329347729 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |date=June 10, 2016}}</ref> Promotional campaigns including the slogan were aired in March 2017.<ref name="2017 slogan">{{cite news |last1=Katz |first1=A. J. |title=MSNBC Launches New Ads With 'This Is Who We Are' Tagline |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/msnbc-launches-new-ads-with-this-is-who-we-are-tagline/323145/ |access-date=September 27, 2022 |work=[[TVNewser]] |date=March 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311024536/https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/msnbc-launches-new-ads-with-this-is-who-we-are-tagline/323145/ |archive-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref>

In July 2016, the network debuted ''Dateline Extra'', which was an abridged version of ''[[Dateline NBC]]'' and another step towards aligning MSNBC and NBC News. The new program was hosted by ''MSNBC Live'' anchor [[Tamron Hall]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Freedman |first=Liz |date=June 29, 2015 |title=Dateline Extra with Tamron Hall on MSNBC weekends |publisher=MSNBC |url=https://www.msnbc.com/documentaries/dateline-extra-tamron-hall-msnbc-weekends |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331040330/http://www.msnbc.com/documentaries/dateline-extra-tamron-hall-msnbc-weekends |archive-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2016, MSNBC launched ''[[The 11th Hour with Brian Williams]]'' as a nightly wrap-up of the day's news and a preview of the following day's headlines. This was MSNBC's first new primetime program in nearly four years.

In January 2017, MSNBC debuted a program in the 6&nbsp;pm ET hour entitled ''[[For the Record with Greta]]'', hosted by former Fox News Channel anchor [[Greta Van Susteren]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2017 |title=GRETA VAN SUSTEREN JOINS MSNBC |url=http://info.msnbc.com/_news/2017/01/05/36576960-greta-van-susteren-joins-msnbc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121181152/http://info.msnbc.com/_news/2017/01/05/36576960-greta-van-susteren-joins-msnbc |archive-date=January 21, 2017 |access-date=January 20, 2017 |publisher=MSNBC }}</ref> The program aired for six months before being cancelled in late June 2017. The network promoted Ari Melber, the network's chief legal correspondent, to host ''[[The Beat with Ari Melber]]'' at 6&nbsp;pm.

In March 2017, MSNBC began to increase its use of the NBC News branding during daytime news programming, as part of an effort to emphasize MSNBC's relationship with the division.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=March 23, 2017 |title=MSNBC Programs Start Giving More Space to NBC News Logos |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/msnbc-nbc-news-logos-1202015277/ |access-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324013414/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/msnbc-nbc-news-logos-1202015277/ |archive-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> On May 8, 2017, MSNBC introduced a new late-afternoon program, ''[[Deadline: White House]]'', hosted by NBC political analyst and former White House communications director [[Nicolle Wallace]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=April 28, 2017 |title=Nicolle Wallace To Host New 4 PM Weekday Show On MSNBC |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/nicolle-wallace-host-weekday-show-msnbc-steve-kornacki-1202078989/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429205428/http://deadline.com/2017/04/nicolle-wallace-host-weekday-show-msnbc-steve-kornacki-1202078989/ |archive-date=April 29, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> That month, amid the [[first presidency of Donald Trump]], MSNBC became the highest rated American cable news network in primetime for the first time. MSNBC's increasing viewership was accompanied by declining numbers at Fox News Channel. MSNBC's May 15–19 programming topped the programming of both CNN and Fox News in total viewers and viewers 18–49.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/msnbc-fox-news-ratings-cable-news-cnn-1202440320/ | title=MSNBC Reaches No. 1 for First Time in Weekly Primetime Ratings, Fox News Drops to Third | last=Otterson | first=Joe | date=May 22, 2017 | work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | access-date=May 23, 2017 | archive-date=May 22, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522225601/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/msnbc-fox-news-ratings-cable-news-cnn-1202440320/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="led by rachel"/>

On April 16, 2018, MSNBC premiered a new early morning program, ''[[Morning Joe First Look]]'', to replace ''[[Way Too Early]]''. The same day, MSNBC also retired its on-air [[news ticker]], citing a desire to reduce distractions and "[put] our reporting more front and center".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/msnbc-removes-news-ticker-1202754729/ | title=MSNBC Says On-Screen News Ticker Will No Longer Scroll | last=Steinberg | first=Brian | date=April 16, 2018 | work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | access-date=April 18, 2018 | archive-date=April 17, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417232631/http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/msnbc-removes-news-ticker-1202754729/ | url-status=live }}</ref> As of September 2018, approximately 87 million households in the United States (90.7 percent of pay television subscribers) were receiving MSNBC.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

On March 2, 2020, Chris Matthews abruptly announced his resignation from ''Hardball'' and MSNBC effective immediately, amid controversy over remarks he made during coverage of the [[2020 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses|Nevada Democratic caucuses]] that compared [[Bernie Sanders]]' victory to the [[Battle of France|German invasion of France]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=March 2, 2020 |title=Chris Matthews to Retire From MSNBC |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chris-matthews-retire-msnbc-1282226 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114000509/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chris-matthews-retire-msnbc-1282226 |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en}}</ref> The hour was hosted by a rotation of anchors until July 20, when MSNBC premiered ''The ReidOut'' with [[Joy Reid]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryu |first=Jenna |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Joy Reid takes over Chris Matthews' MSNBC time slot to host nightly news show |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/07/09/joy-reid-to-host-msnbc-show-chris-matthews-time-slot/5404429002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114000449/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/07/09/joy-reid-to-host-msnbc-show-chris-matthews-time-slot/5404429002/ |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=July 9, 2020 |website=[[USA Today]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

On December 7, 2020, MSNBC announced that [[Rashida Jones (television executive)|Rashida Jones]] would succeed Griffin as president in 2021.<ref name="barr">{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=December 7, 2020 |title=Rashida Jones, replacing Phil Griffin at MSNBC, will be first Black woman to run a cable news network |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2020/12/07/msnbc-rashida-jones-phil-griffin/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114000447/https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2020/12/07/msnbc-rashida-jones-phil-griffin/ |archive-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> Jones stated goals to increase the network's investment into documentary-style programs, and to have viewers "clearly understand" the differences and value of its news-based and analysis-driven programming, as both were "critical to our future success", and "need to exist in a clear and compelling form on every single platform where news consumers go." As part of this remit, Jones named separate senior vice presidents for news programming and "perspective and analysis" programming.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=February 1, 2021 |title=New MSNBC president aims to distinguish between breaking news and analysis |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/msnbc-rashida-jones-documentary-1234684709/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201181128/https://deadline.com/2021/02/msnbc-rashida-jones-documentary-1234684709/ |archive-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>

In January 2021, MSNBC had its highest-rated week ever in the wake of the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]], exceeding the ratings of [[Fox News]] for the first time since 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Sinéad |date=January 12, 2021 |title=Fox News ratings fell below both CNN and MSNBC for the first time since 2000 in the wake of the attack on the US Capitol |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/capitol-siege-cnn-msnbc-higher-ratings-fox-1st-time-2000-2021-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112131020/https://www.businessinsider.com/capitol-siege-cnn-msnbc-higher-ratings-fox-1st-time-2000-2021-1?r=US&IR=T |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2021 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref>