An Actual Psaki Show? CNN, MSNBC Jockeying to Poach White House Press Secretary

According to Puck News’s Dylan ByersA real Psaki show could become a reality on Wednesday as CNN and MSNBC jockey to hire the White House press secretary (and no longer as a commentator) as full-time hosts.

Byers — formerly of NBCNews.com and the CNN Media team — wrote that, “earlier this month,” Psaki had respective lunch meetings with “CNN interim co-president Amy Entelis and CNN+ programming lead Rebecca Kutler” and then “NBC News Chairman Cesar Conde and MSNBC President Rashida Jones.”

For CNN, they’re hoping to nab “a marquee star” In the midst of chaos in the company. As for MSNBC, they’re aiming to find someone to fill the void that’ll be left by Rachel Maddow.

It is important to note that “the industry needs her more” Even though “Psaki wants to be on TV” Byers stated that Byers would be leaving the White House when she retires this year. “Psaki has achieved veritable celebrity status for her daily press briefings,” gushing that she’s “restored sanity and professionalism to the office and earned her the adoration of the mainstream media, as well as a fervent following online.”

Byers gave syrupy praise for Psaki, trumpeting how NBC’s “Saturday Night Live doesn’t know how to make fun of her” She is so full of life “the combination of West Wing bona fides and telegenic charm that allowed George Stephanopolous to pave the road from the White House comms shop to the broadcast booth some two-and-a-half decades ago, and Nicolle Wallace more recently.”

Byers omitted Dana Perino, Fox News’s affable and highly-respected reporter.

Byers, speaking of Republican press secretarys, claimed “many of whom credit her with restoring dignity to a lectern that had been ravaged and abused by Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders and Kayleigh McEnany. Her daily briefing is now appointment viewing. Fans are eagerly awaiting her sharp responses to journalists.[.]”

He added that both networks hope she can help reverse “severe post-Trump ratings declines” and a “desperate need” for “new marquee talent” and, if she went with MSNBC, Byers spun that she could follow Maddow’s mold of “debunk[ing] falsehoods” and “punctur[ing] G.O.P. talking points.”

On Friday afternoon, Today News Africa’s Simon Ateba asked Psaki about the report, to which she replied with a nod to Fox’s Peter Doocy: “I have more than enough on my plate here and so, you can’t get rid of me quite yet. Sorry, Peter, for you on that.”

And on Sunday’s MediaBuzz, FNC host Howard Kurtz said in a 31-second brief that “while Psaki is obviously a strong partisan on President Biden’s behalf, she has an upbeat style and gets along with the press.”

“I’d say CNN has an edge because she was a contributor there and while she made the liberal case, she once told me she was friendly with such Republicans as Rick Santorum,” He concluded.

To see the relevant transcripts from February 25 and 27, click “expand.”

White House Press Briefing
February 25, 2022
Eastern, 4:27 PM

SIMON ATEBA – Can you confirm you’re looking for a job with CNN or MSNBC.

JEN PSAKI: Uh — I have more than enough on my plate here and so, you can’t get rid of me quite yet. Peter, sorry about that. So, Peter, sorry about that.

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FNC’s MediaBuzz
February 27, 2022
Eastern at 11:54

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Jen Psaki, Talk Show Host? CNN, MSNBC Pursuing Press Secretary]

HOWARD KURTZ: Jen Psaki — who’s become a certified celebrity as White House press secretary and expected to leave this year — is being courted by CNN and MSNBC as a talk show host. According to Puck News, there have been lunches. While Psaki has clearly been a strong supporter of President Biden, her upbeat personality and ability to get along with journalists make it clear that she is a strong partisan. CNN’s edge is her contribution to it. Psaki once said that while she supported liberal causes, she also was friendly with Republicans such as Rick Santorum. Psaki claims that for now, she’s busy with the White House.