In a move that screams desperation louder than a Rachel Maddow monologue, MSNBC has announced its rebranding to “MS NOW,” short for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World.” But let’s be honest, conservatives across America are already dubbing it “MS NoW,” or more aptly, “No One’s Watching.” This cosmetic facelift, set to roll out later this year amid Comcast’s spinoff of the network, is the latest symptom of a much larger disease plaguing mainstream media: the American people’s wholesale rejection of biased, dishonest reporting that has eroded trust to historic lows.
For years, MSNBC has positioned itself as the go-to hub for progressive talking points, but its viewership tells a different story. Cable news ratings have been in freefall, with MSNBC often trailing far behind competitors like Fox News.
In prime time, the network’s audience has plummeted by double digits in recent years, a trend accelerated by the post-Trump era, where sensationalism no longer masks the lack of substance. This rebrand, which ditches the iconic peacock logo in favor of something that sounds suspiciously like a Microsoft software update or a support group for multiple sclerosis, won’t fool anyone. It’s not the name that’s the problem; it’s the blatant lies and poor journalism that have driven viewers away in droves.
The broader trend is unmistakable: Americans are tuning out mainstream media en masse. According to recent polls, trust in news outlets has hit rock bottom, with only about a third of the public expressing confidence in the press. This isn’t some fleeting fad; it’s a direct response to years of egregious misconduct.
Remember the Russia collusion hoax? MSNBC, along with its liberal media allies, spent endless airtime peddling the narrative that President Trump was a Russian puppet, based on the now-debunked Steele dossier. When the Mueller report cleared the air, did they apologize? Hardly… they just pivoted to the next outrage.
Then there’s the Hunter Biden laptop saga. In the lead-up to the 2020 election, MSNBC dismissed the story as “Russian disinformation,” echoing the claims of 51 intelligence officials who later admitted they had no evidence. We now know the laptop was authentic, containing incriminating evidence of influence-peddling that the media buried to protect Joe Biden.
Fast-forward to the COVID-19 era: MSNBC relentlessly shamed anyone questioning lab-leak theories or lockdown efficacy, labeling them conspiracy theorists. Yet, as evidence mounted that the virus likely escaped from a Wuhan lab, funded in part by U.S. tax dollars, the network barely blinked, refusing to correct the record or hold Fauci accountable.
These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re part of a pattern of poor reporting that prioritizes narrative over facts. In recent years, we’ve seen MSNBC hype up climate doom prophecies that never materialize, downplay urban crime waves in Democrat-run cities, and amplify divisive identity politics while ignoring the economic struggles of everyday Americans. MSNBC’s coverage of Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign was overly flattering, ignoring her policy flip-flops and border failures as Vice President.
No wonder viewership tanked. People aren’t stupid; they can spot propaganda when it’s shoved down their throats 24/7.
This rejection of mainstream media isn’t just about conservatives; it’s a bipartisan awakening. Independents and even some Democrats are flocking to alternative sources—podcasts like Joe Rogan, independent journalists on Substack, and yes, platforms like X—where unfiltered truth can thrive without the gatekeepers.
The rise of citizen journalism and decentralized media has exposed the emperor’s nakedness: legacy outlets like MSNBC are relics of a bygone era, clinging to relevance as their audiences evaporate.
The “MS NOW” rebrand is a band-aid on a bullet wound. Dropping “NBC” from the name might distance it from the peacock’s tarnished feathers, but it won’t erase the network’s history of deceit. If they truly wanted to rebuild trust, they’d fire the partisan hacks, commit to balanced reporting, and issue mea culpas for past sins. But don’t hold your breath; that would require self-reflection, something in short supply at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
While all facts presented in this article are accurate and supported by credible sources, any opinions or independent views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any affiliated organizations or publishers.
