As President Donald Trump and Elon Musk take a sledgehammer to government departments and agencies, viewers seem eager to hear what MSNBC has to say about it. The network has seen an average of 1.37 million people tune into its primetime lineup since the inauguration, an 86 percent increase from its post-election and pre-inauguration numbers. MSNBC’s total-day ratings have also bounced back to 711,000 viewers, a 43 percent increase since the late-2024 period. The gradual rise came months after the network suffered steep ratings declines after Trump won in November, bringing some of its shows to their lowest viewership in years. The network had expected viewers to increase after Trump returned to office, mirroring historical post-election trends, and it gave them content to look forward to: Rachel Maddow returned to hosting five nights a week during Trump’s first 100 days, and its programs have punched back against his policies. Morning Joe has assailed Trump’s planned tariffs and Musk’s targeting of USAID, and Maddow has amplified reporters’ questioning of Republican lawmakers over Trump’s decision.
