In his latest industry-rattling move, Elon Musk has acquired MSNBC for $1 billion—marking the tech mogul’s most ambitious media venture since purchasing Twitter (now X). The deal, finalized late Tuesday, includes a bombshell clause: the immediate departure of polarizing anchor Joy Reid as Musk vows to “detoxify” cable news.
The SpaceX CEO outlined his vision for the network in a midnight X post:
“News should illuminate, not inflame. MSNBC will become a forum for civil discourse—or it won’t exist.”
Insiders reveal planned changes:
✔ AI Fact-Checking – Real-time verification during broadcasts
✔ Viewpoint Diversity – Adding center-right voices to primetime
✔ Deep-Dive Reporting – Tripling investigative team budgets
✔ Reid’s Replacement – Frontrunners include veteran journalist Soledad O’Brien and rising star Ayman Mohyeldin
The host’s removal appears strategic:
- Her 2022 admission of “problematic” past blog posts
- Consistently low ratings in key demographics
- Frequent clashes with Musk over COVID policies
MSNBC staffers reportedly learned of Reid’s exit via mass email—a move echoing Musk’s abrupt Twitter layoffs.
• Supporters praise Musk for challenging “echo chamber” journalism
• Critics warn of billionaire overreach into Fourth Estate
• Wall Street watches nervously as Comcast stock fluctuates
NBCUniversal issued a terse statement: “We remain committed to journalistic excellence across all platforms.”
This acquisition continues Musk’s pattern of targeting institutions he believes resist disruption:
2015: Tesla vs. auto industry
2022: Twitter vs. social media
2024: MSNBC vs. cable news
With Reid’s final broadcast scheduled for Friday, all eyes turn to Musk’s next move. Will this be the rebirth of trustworthy journalism—or just another billionaire’s vanity project? The ratings battle with Fox and CNN begins now.