Joe Scarborough and Wife Mika Battling Rival Rachel Maddow Over Popularity?

MSNBC is no more. In its place stands “MS Now,” a fresh coat of paint on an increasingly fractured house. And at the center of the drama? A prime-time queen and two morning show royals battling for control.

Rachel Maddow — the network’s once-a-week anchor who pulls in nearly 2 million viewers and commands a jaw-dropping $25 million salary — has reportedly become the network’s untouchable centerpiece.

“She knows she’s the star,” one senior insider told Radar-style sources. “Rachel Maddow doesn’t just host a show — she owns Monday night.”

Meanwhile, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski — the married co-hosts of Morning Joe — are said to be fuming as Maddow soaks up the spotlight, budget, and branding power. Despite airing five days a week, Morning Joe brings in only about 625,000 daily viewers, while Joe and Mika earn a combined estimated $16–20 million a year — and face growing internal criticism.

“They see themselves as the network’s anchors, the foundation,” said Hollywood columnist Rob Shuter. “But let’s be real — Rachel’s the gravity. Everyone else is just orbiting.”

While Maddow’s weekly dominance continues unfazed, Scarborough and Brzezinski’s on-screen presence has become unreliable at best.

Between May 27 and November 15, the pair were only seen together in 70 of 124 episodes. Scarborough missed 29. Brzezinski? Gone for 41. That’s nearly one third of all shows — gone.

July was the worst. Mika disappeared for two consecutive weeks, reportedly on vacation while staff scrambled to fill time.

“There’s no leadership,” a senior producer fumed. “Every day is a question mark. Who’s hosting? What’s the message? It’s chaos.”

Insiders claim resentment among long-time Morning Joe staff is boiling over.

“They’ve got sweetheart contracts, endless time off, but zero consistency,” said another source. “You can’t steer a ship with no captain.”

Maddow, by contrast, is rock solid — and fiercely guarded. Her once-a-week Monday night slot has become a fortress.

“Her team defends that show like it’s Fort Knox,” said Shuter. “Even when Morning Joe lands a huge scoop, the network pivots to protect Rachel’s throne.”

Despite the occasional on-air civility, insiders say the rivalry is obvious — and toxic.

“Maddow knows she doesn’t need to show up every day,” said a former MS Now executive. “She gets better numbers in one hour than Joe and Mika get all week. That burns them.”

After months of vanishing acts and internal backlash, Scarborough and Brzezinski have suddenly begun appearing on-air every day since November 12 — just as parent company Comcast finalized the sale of MS Now to new spin-off firm Versant.

“They’re trying to prove they still matter,” said one staffer. “But for many inside the building, it’s too little, too late.”

Their current streak — three straight weeks on-air without a no-show — is the longest they’ve logged since before Memorial Day. Coincidence? Hardly.

“They see 2026 coming. Trump is back. The country is changing. They want to stay relevant — but the suits already picked their queen. And her name is Rachel Maddow.”

In President Trump’s second term, MS Now remains a liberal stronghold — but a crumbling one. With shaky ratings, behind-the-scenes feuds, and an identity crisis mid-election season, insiders wonder if the network can hold on at all.

“Rachel’s the only thing keeping the lights on,” said one network veteran. “If she walks — it’s over.”

As 2026 approaches, Republicans are watching the infighting with popcorn in hand.

“They used to come after Fox. Now they can’t even show up for work,” one conservative media strategist quipped. “Let them eat each other.”