Rachel Maddow To Take Hiatus From Show

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow announced Monday that she will be taking a hiatus after Thursday’s show until April.

She is taking the time off to focus on co-producing Bag Man, a movie based on her book and podcast about President Richard Nixon‘s disgraced Vice President Spiro Agnew. The movie will be directed by Ben Stiller and produced by Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels. She also announced that she will be working on a new podcast in the next couple of months for NBC Universal.

“I am super excited to tell you about it when I have more to tell,” said Maddow.

She made the announcement from her home studio since she was exposed to someone who tested positive for Covid-19 and was symptomatic. She said she did not want to put any of her crew members at risk, even though she tested negative and is vaccinated and boosted.

Ali Velshi, who usually fills in for Maddow when she’s away, is likely to be the primary replacement. Other MSNBC personalities will rotate in to host the show as well. Maddow added that she would appear on MSNBC to cover major events like President Joe Biden‘s first State of the Union Address on March 1.

This may also be a trial run, in case Maddow ends up leaving the program. Sources have said that Maddow’s new contract may allow her to stop hosting the show every night.

“And there may eventually be another hiatus again sometime in my future. But for now, we’re just taking it one step at a time,” Maddow said. “Of course, while I’m away the show will continue to be run by the absolute best producers in this entire business, by the amazing staff of this show. So don’t worry, don’t worry, you will be in very, very good hands. Change is good, change is absolutely terrifying. But in this case, it’s good. So now you know.”