MSNBC, a network often criticized for its left-leaning bias, has recently added another member to its team who has strong ties to the Democratic Party.
Jackie Alemany, a former Washington Post journalist known for her coverage of the January 6th incident and the various legal battles of Donald Trump, has been appointed as a Washington correspondent and co-host of a new weekend show for MSNBC. She will be sharing the stage with Jonathan Capehart, a known Democrat, and Eugene Daniels, a recent hire who has gained recognition as a "Kamala Harris expert" with a flair for fashion and a fondness for Beyonc.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, Alemany is married to Jake Levine, a fervent climate activist who has served as an advisor to several high-profile Democrats, including former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as California governor Gavin Newsom. Levine's interests extend beyond politics, with a particular enthusiasm for electric scooters, the progressive "Squad," and activist Colin Kaepernick.
The couple's wedding, held in the Hamptons, was featured in Vogue and included a performance by Geordie Kieffer, a childhood friend of the groom and alleged "musical artist," who performed in a rather unconventional attire of assless chaps. The nature of Kieffer's performance, including whether his hit song "Sex Party" was part of the setlist, remains unclear.
The engagement party of Levine and Alemany was co-hosted by Jamie Gorelick, a veteran of Bill Clinton's Justice Department and chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council under President Biden. Among the attendees were MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski and former Democratic congressman Henry Waxman. Alemany is the offspring of Ellen Alemany, a Democratic donor and a prominent figure in the finance industry who has held leadership roles at CitiBank, RBS Americas, CIT Group, and First Citizens Bank.
In a statement, Alemany expressed her excitement about joining MSNBC, stating, "I'm thrilled to join MSNBCs cohort of exceptional reporters and journalists in covering Washington during this critical period for fair and unflinching journalism. MSNBC continues to provide much needed context and insight to consequential stories."
Alemany's appointment comes at a time when MSNBC is undergoing a significant revamp under the leadership of new president Rebecca Kutler, a former CNN executive. The network is striving to boost its ratings, particularly among the under-75 demographic. This effort has been intensified by parent company Comcast's announcement of its plan to separate the struggling network into a standalone company by year's end.
The reshuffling of MSNBC's lineup includes several new panel shows. Joy Reid's weekday program is being replaced by a trio of weekend hosts: Symone Sanders, a former advisor to Kamala Harris, Michael Steele, a Republican critical of Trump, and Alicia Menendez, daughter of "Bullion Bob" Menendez. Rachel Maddow, an MSNBC host who earns $25 million annually for a single night's work, has criticized the decision to replace Reid with three non-white hosts as an act of racism.
Alemany, a Harvard alumna and former member of the women's basketball team, will be taking over the weekend slot alongside Capehart and Daniels. Daniels, a recent hire from Politico, gained recognition in 2024 as an unofficial spokesman for the Harris campaign. Capehart, an MSNBC veteran, recently moderated a forum for DNC chair candidates, asking them to acknowledge the role of racism and misogyny in Harris's defeat.
The intertwining of journalism and politics is not a new phenomenon. Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary under President Biden, has been in a long-term relationship with Suzanne Malveaux, a veteran CNN correspondent. Dana Bash, a CNN host, was married to Democratic operative Jeremy Bash, and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus is married to Jon Leibowitz, former chair of the Federal Trade Commission under President Obama.
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