Jen Psaki, who rose to fame as President Biden’s first White House press secretary, presiding over more than 200 briefings and gaining TikTok stardom for her occasionally spiky exchanges with reporters, is joining the cable news channel MSNBC later this year.
She will serve as a political analyst throughout this year’s midterm elections and during the 2024 presidential campaign, the network said on Tuesday. She is also set to host a show starting next year on a streaming-only channel, MSNBC on Peacock.
Ms. Psaki’s last day in the West Wing was May 13, and her move to television news was widely expected. Speculation about her potential job at MSNBC began this year, while she was still presiding at the White House lectern. Ms. Psaki said at the time that she adhered to ethical guidelines while discussing future employment prospects.
She is the second major hire by MSNBC from the Biden administration. Symone D. Sanders, a former spokeswoman for Vice President Kamala Harris, is hosting a weekend show for the network. Ms. Psaki said in a statement provided by MSNBC that her program would focus on “fact-based and thoughtful conversations about the big questions on the minds of people across the country.”
MSNBC is popular with Democrats and left-leaning viewers, and its election and primary night coverage already feature opinionated hosts like Rachel Maddow and Nicolle Wallace. Now its viewers will receive real-time commentary from a key member of Mr. Biden’s first-term inner circle.
Ms. Psaki previously worked as an on-air contributor on CNN. Before that, she served as a White House communications director for former President Barack Obama, and as chief spokeswoman for former Secretary of State John Kerry.
Source: NY Times
