Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, is reportedly thinking of leaving her position and joining a mainstream news network as a host this year.
Sources familiar with Psaki’s deliberations told Puck News that representatives from CNN and MSNBC have been seeking to recruit her for a prime-time spot as on-air talent for much of February. Psaki has been approached by CNN interim co-president Amy Entelis and CNN+ programming lead Rebecca Kutler, as well as NBC News chairman Cesar Conde and MSNBC president Rashida Jones, who apparently saw star potential in her performance at the press room lectern. Psaki was also apparently discussed by ABC News and CBS News, according to sources.
MSNBC in specifically is rushing to find a suitable and equally popular replacement for host Rachel Maddow, who has helped the network achieve huge rating success but will be leaving in the spring. According to Puck, the company appears to be considering Psaki as a candidate.
The White House press secretary position, which tests one’s ability to fire off quick responses and retorts to reporters’ questions across a range of political subjects, has been viewed as a springboard to talking-head gigs with even more visibility as the presidential office develops an increasingly celebrity-like culture.
For example, Kayleigh McEnany, the third White House press secretary in the Trump administration, is currently a co-host of the Fox News Channel show Outnumbered as well as a regular contributor on other programs.
While Psaki is widely despised by conservatives for her habit of blaming the Biden administration for policy failures and avoiding hard questions with detours like “we’ll circle back,” she is admired by many progressives for her calm demeanor, which they say is a welcome change from her Trump-era predecessors.
Since President Biden took office, Psaki has had some memorable and viral exchanges with reporters, including Fox News’ Peter Doocy, who has placed the press secretary on the hot seat on issues including the border crisis, inflation, the flu, and now the Russia-Ukraine scenario.