The Best TV Shows on MSNBC

Every MSNBC Show Ranked From Best To Worst

With its programming history stretching from 1985 to N/A, MSNBC offers an impressive lineup of over 20 shows. Premiering in 1985 and 1996, National Geographic Explorer and MS NOW Reports are among MSNBC’s most celebrated shows. Check out the most acclaimed shows on MSNBC, with a catalog of over 20 series updated for September 2026.

  • TheWeekend
    TheWeekend (2024)10.0

    Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels, and Jackie Alemany team up to bring their wide range of political expertise every Saturday and Sunday morning. Fresh analysis of the week's biggest events and a rotating crew of major newsmakers.

  • The Weeknight
    The Weeknight (2025)10.0

    Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, and Symone Sanders Townsend offer their varied political expertise and fresh analysis on current events, including interviews with notable newsmakers in a nightly roundtable.

  • MS NOW Reports
    MS NOW Reports (1996)9.6

    MS NOW Reports is an American news / talk television program on MS NOW.

  • The Weekend: Primetime
    The Weekend: Primetime (2025)8.0

    Ayman Mohyeldin, Antonia Hylton, Catherine Rampell, and Elise Jordan team up to bring their wide range of political expertise to “TheWeekend: Primetime,” every Saturday and Sunday evening. Fresh analysis of the week's biggest events and a rotating crew of major newsmakers.

  • Lockup
    Lockup (2005)7.5

    Lockup explore prison facilities throughout the United States, profiling notable inmates, incidents, and prison operations.

  • Countdown with Keith Olbermann
    Countdown with Keith Olbermann (2003)7.0

    Countdown with Keith Olbermann was an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program hosted by Keith Olbermann that aired on MSNBC from 2003-2011 and Current TV from 2011-2012. The show presented five selected news stories of the day, with commentary by Olbermann and interviews of guests. At the start of Countdown, Olbermann told television columnist Lisa de Moraes: "Our charge for the immediate future is to stay out of the way of the news.... News is the news. We will not be screwing around with it.... As times improve and the war [in Iraq] ends we will begin to introduce more and more elements familiar to my style."

  • To Catch a Predator
    To Catch a Predator (2004)7.0

    An American news exposé series featuring hidden camera investigations by Dateline NBC, devoted to impersonating underage minors and detaining adult men who contacted them over the Internet for sexual liaisons. The men are lured to a sting house to meet with a decoy under the pretence of sexual contact and then confronted by Chris Hansen.

  • National Geographic Explorer
    National Geographic Explorer (1985)6.0

    National Geographic's Explorer gives viewers special access to the issues of the day.

  • The Rachel Maddow Show
    The Rachel Maddow Show (2008)5.9

    The Rachel Maddow Show is a daily news and opinion television program that airs on MSNBC, running in the 9:00 pm ET timeslot. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name. The show debuted on September 8, 2008.

  • Hardball with Chris Matthews
    Hardball with Chris Matthews (N/A)5.9

    Hardball with Chris Matthews is an American television talk show on MSNBC, broadcast weekdays at 7 PM ET hosted by Chris Matthews. It originally aired on now-defunct America's Talking and later CNBC. The current title was derived from a book Matthews wrote in 1988, Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game. Hardball is a talking-head style cable news show where the moderator advances opinions on a wide range of topics, focusing primarily on current political issues. These issues are discussed with a panel of guests that usually consists of political analysts and sometimes include politicians. It also runs in a "Best of" format Saturday mornings at 5 AM.

  • The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
    The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell (2010)5.2

    The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program on MSNBC. The program airs live at 10:00 P.M. Eastern Time Monday-Friday, and is hosted by Lawrence O'Donnell. O'Donnell is described by MSNBC as "providing the last word on the biggest issues and most compelling stories of the day." The show originally premiered in the 10pm slot Monday-Thursday on September 27, 2010, with the first episode featuring Vice President Joe Biden and Countdown host Keith Olbermann. The show was moved to the 8pm slot in January 2011 when Olbermann's show was canceled. Last Word returned to its original 10pm slot in October 2011. Guest hosts for the series include Ezra Klein and Steve Kornacki.

  • The Briefing with Jen Psaki
    The Briefing with Jen Psaki (2025)5.0

    Jen Psaki tackles the biggest issues of the week and features one-on-one interviews with newsmakers.

  • Inside with Jen Psaki
    Inside with Jen Psaki (2023)4.5

    Jen Psaki breaks down the biggest issues of the week, featuring one-on-one interviews with newsmakers.

  • All In with Chris Hayes
    All In with Chris Hayes (2013)4.3

    Chris Hayes delivers the biggest news and political stories of the day with a commitment to in-depth reporting that consistently seeks to hold the nation's leaders accountable for their actions. Drawing from his background as a reporter, Hayes at times reports directly from the scene of a news event as it occurs to provide a firsthand account, digging deep and speaking with people who represent different points of view. Hayes brings the nation's officials, legislators, policymakers, and local activists to the table to address key issues affecting communities across America.

  • The Joy Reid Show
    The Joy Reid Show (2020)4.0

    Joy Reid conducts one-on-one conversations with politicians and newsmakers while addressing provocative political issues both inside and outside of the beltway. Reid, who is also a best-selling author and public speaker, joined MSNBC in 2011 as a contributor. Drawing from her decades-long experience in politics, passion for addressing the intersection of race, justice and culture, as well as her signature tenacious interviewing style, Reid kicks off MSNBC’s primetime lineup by delving into American politics as they unfold.

  • Alex Wagner Tonight
    Alex Wagner Tonight (2022)2.0

    Alex Wagner brings years of reporting experience and insight to covering the news of the day, politics and the cultural trends shaping the United States and American lives, giving viewers a better understanding of the rapidly changing world.

  • Way Too Early
    Way Too Early (2009)N/A

    Inside-the-beltway political news and critical stories shaping the national conversation.

  • Velshi
    Velshi (2017)N/A

    Current events and sharp analysis of top trending topics.

  • The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart
    The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart (2020)N/A

    Examining the high stakes surrounding key issues affecting communities across America, cutting through the political noise with compelling, in-depth and unique viewpoints.

  • Symone
    Symone (2022)N/A

    It follows Symone as she explores issues at the intersection of politics, culture and race.