After her departure from MSNBC, Joy Reid isn’t looking back — she’s looking ahead, and speaking freely.
In a recent episode of her independent show Joy’s House, the veteran political commentator contrasted her new platform with her years at the cable network and highlighted the creative liberation she now enjoys.
Joined by filmmaker Ava DuVernay for an extended conversation, Reid reflected on the difference between corporate television news and independent media.
“Is it not better than the seven minutes you get on cable?” she asked DuVernay with a laugh, referencing the rushed and commercial-laden format of her previous show The ReidOut.
Reid, who was let go from MSNBC amid a broader restructuring of its programming lineup, didn’t hold back.
“It is fabulous because you get to just have an authentic conversation… that isn’t dependent on a corporate sort of structure,” she said, pointing to the benefits of platforms like Substack, where she now publishes.
DuVernay agreed. “No producers telling you what not to say,” she chipped in.
Reid’s exit from MSNBC was formally announced in a memo from network president Rebecca Kutler.
“Joy Reid is leaving the network, and we thank her for her countless contributions,” the memo stated. Reid’s final episode of The ReidOut aired on a Monday, ending a chapter that included numerous accolades — most recently the 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News Series.
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Now, through Joy’s House, Reid seems to be reclaiming her voice. The long-form format allows her to dive deeper into subjects, interview guests without time pressure, and speak without corporate filters.
“I love the fact there’s no commercial break. We don’t have to rush,” she said.
During the episode, Reid asked DuVernay a question she’s often posed herself: What gives you hope? The Selma director responded with perspective:
“History. We enjoy rights and privileges that were fought for. Everything we’re experiencing now has happened before… Worse than this has happened before.”
For Reid, that historical context — and the freedom to explore it in depth — may just be the start of a new era, one where her voice rings clearer and louder, outside the constraints of traditional cable news.
