Rachel Maddow Dominates MSNBC’s Ratings Surge Amid Network’s 2025 Shake-Up

The first quarter of 2025 has brought a wave of surprises in the cable news landscape, but one thing is clear: The Rachel Maddow Show remains the crown jewel of MSNBC’s primetime lineup.

Newly-released Nielsen ratings show that Rachel Maddow continues to outperform expectations, delivering standout numbers at a time when many of her peers are seeing significant viewership drops. While MSNBC’s overall ratings have seen some turbulence, Maddow’s impact has helped stabilize—and even uplift—the network during a critical political season.

According to Nielsen, The Rachel Maddow Show averaged 1.918 million total viewers in Q1 2025, with 177,000 in the coveted 25-54 demo. These numbers not only make Maddow the most-watched personality on MSNBC, but also the only non-Fox News program to crack the Top 15 shows in both total viewers and the key demo this quarter.

MSNBC’s Mixed Quarter

Despite Maddow’s success, MSNBC as a whole experienced notable declines year-over-year. In primetime, the network averaged 1.024 million total viewers and 96,000 in the demo—down 18% and 21%, respectively, compared to Q1 2024. For total day performance, MSNBC brought in 593,000 total viewers and 57,000 in the demo, reflecting a 27% drop in total viewers and a 30% drop in the demo.

However, there is some good news beneath the surface. From January 20 to March 28—covering the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency—MSNBC’s primetime viewership surged to an average of 1.45 million viewers, a 96% increase from the post-election period (Q4 2024). Total day numbers also improved by 43% compared to the previous quarter, hitting 830,000 average total viewers.

And driving that surge, in no small part, is Rachel Maddow.

Ratings Gold: Maddow’s Return to Weeknights

While Maddow had scaled back to a Monday-only schedule in 2022, she returned to host five nights a week through April 30, 2025, to cover the first 100 days of Trump’s second term. The move proved to be a major success—not just for her own show, but for MSNBC’s entire evening lineup.

According to reports, Maddow’s presence helped boost surrounding programs like All In with Chris Hayes and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, which regularly topped one million viewers during her return.

Maddow’s combination of sharp analysis, storytelling, and historical context continues to resonate with audiences, providing a reliable counterbalance in a news environment that is increasingly fragmented.

Cable News Rankings: Where Does MSNBC Stand?

Despite Maddow’s strong performance, MSNBC still trails Fox News in overall ratings. Fox averaged 3.012 million primetime viewers and 380,000 in the demo during Q1 2025, making it the undisputed leader in cable news. CNN came in third, with 558,000 total primetime viewers and 121,000 in the demo.

Notably, CNN’s News Central edged out other MSNBC programs in the 25-54 demo during key morning hours, marking the first time CNN surpassed its rival in that metric since 2022.

But in primetime, Maddow remains a force. While other shows—such as Alex Wagner Tonight—have struggled to maintain consistent viewership, Maddow has not only held her ground but expanded her influence.

What’s Next for Maddow and MSNBC?

With her 100-day return ending, Maddow is expected to revert to her Monday-only schedule beginning in May. Jen Psaki will take over the 9 p.m. ET slot from Tuesday to Friday with her new show, The Briefing with Jen Psaki. While Psaki brings government experience and fresh perspective, expectations will be high following Maddow’s ratings reign.

Network insiders are reportedly eager to convince Maddow to remain more involved moving forward, given her proven ability to anchor viewership and stabilize ratings during turbulent periods.

Whether she stays on weekly or returns in emergency moments, one thing is certain: Rachel Maddow is still MSNBC’s most powerful draw.

As the network navigates leadership shifts, competitive pressures, and changing audience habits, Maddow’s continued presence may be MSNBC’s best shot at holding ground—and regaining lost momentum.