Longtime MSNBC host Steve Kornacki is well known for being the network’s high-energy, fast-talking numbers guy who, chock full of excitement, would break down poll data and election results with passion and gusto. Lots of viewers know him for his khakis and the super intelligent analysis he delivered, which made him famous in households all over the country during the 2020 presidential election.
But those days are long gone now. Korniack has jumped ship from MSNBC, which is a failing news network that will hopefully go extinct some day in the near future, for NBC. The numbers dude, who is 45, signed a brand new contract with NBC that makes him their new chief data analyst.
You’ll still see him make appearances when covering events like the Triple Crown, NFL games, and the Olympics, along with regular spots on NBC’s News Now, Meet the Press, Today, and NBC Nightly News. However, you won’t be seeing him on MSNBC.
“That’s because the left-wing cable network is being spun off into its own separate entity. Parent company Comcast is restructuring operations, separating MSNBC from NBC News, and allowing the cable network to build its own independent news-gathering team,” Trending Politics News reported.
“The Los Angeles Times reported that Kornacki’s new deal excludes work for MSNBC. Instead, Kornacki opted to stay with NBC News. His new agreement gives him flexibility—he’s now permitted to take on work with other networks and media platforms, as long as the projects aren’t tied to politics or sports. One of those outside ventures may even include a game show. Back in 2022, Kornacki shot a pilot, and sources said to The Times that idea may soon come back to life,” the article said.
Kornacki, who entered our world in Groton, Massachusetts, has technically been apart of NBC ever since 2012, rising through the ranks to get his own program, Up With Steve Kornacki, as well as a co-hosting a gig on The Cycle.
He wrote a book, The Red and the Blue, which took a deep-dive into the political polarization of America. But what really made him popular was the marathon sessions during elections.
Now, with MSNBC moving in a new direction, Kornacki’s move marks a notable turning point. NBC confirmed Kornacki’s contract shift on Tuesday. The network has faced a wave of internal and external problems, ranging from high-profile staffing changes to technical difficulties that have frustrated viewers.
Kornacki’s exit from MSNBC is the second high-profile departure from the network since the spin-off was announced. Last month, longtime host Joy Reid was fired as part of a broader reshuffling. MSNBC, meanwhile, has already begun hiring more than 100 new journalists as it redefines its programming slate.
“Rachel Maddow described it as a “bad mistake” that could damage the network’s long-term credibility and audience trust. Taken together, these problems point to a period of instability for the left-leaning network, both in terms of its public image and its operational effectiveness,” the report concluded.
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