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** OPINION
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** Talking to Jen Psaki about her new MSNBC prime-time show
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Jen Psaki, shown here waving goodbye to the press after her final briefing as White House press secretary in 2022. She has since gone on to a TV career at MSNBC. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Many have gone from working in the White House communications department to becoming stars on television. Pierre Salinger. Diane Sawyer. George Stephanopoulos. Dana Perino. Kayleigh McEnany. That’s just a few of the names who have left the White House and gone on to have impressive careers on TV.

But Jen Psaki has a chance to be right at the top.

Psaki, who served as White House press secretary in the Joe Biden administration, joined MSNBC in May 2022 and started hosting Sunday’s “Inside with Jen Psaki” in March 2023. She was a natural on TV and quickly became a rising star at the network.

That led to this week. Starting Tuesday, Psaki will host “The Briefing” Tuesday through Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern on MSNBC. That’s the same time slot held by Rachel Maddow, who is going back to her schedule of just hosting on Mondays.

I spoke with Psaki for the latest episode of “The Poynter Report Podcast, ([link removed]) ” which comes out today.

Obviously, being a White House press secretary already means you’re an effective communicator and comfortable speaking publicly. But I asked Psaki why so many former White House press secretaries have such a smooth transition to television.

A lot of it, Psaki said, is just having an understanding of how the government, Washington and the White House work.

“I do think it helps in moments like this,” Psaki said. “I do think it's valuable, and sometimes can be undervalued from people who are like, ‘Well, you can only be in media — which, again, is so broad, what does that mean? — if you … went to journalism school and you moved through every local market?’ That may have been true once. It is certainly not true today.”

In many ways, I suggested, it’s like networks hiring former athletes and coaches to analyze games. Who can explain sports better than someone who was actually in the game?

Psaki said, “Some people are better than others, but that's true. Coming from a background of it means you've lived it, and that can be informative to viewers.”

There’s much more to our conversation, including what her new show will be like, why it’s called “The Briefing,” how she balances work and home life, and if she would ever leave TV to get back into the political arena.

So be sure to check out our conversation on your preferred podcasting app — Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) , Spotify ([link removed]) or Amazon Music ([link removed]) . And please consider leaving a rating and review; it really helps.

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
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** Celebrating 50 years: NABJ, Poynter look ahead in special webinar
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The National Association of Black Journalists and the Poynter Institute are each turning 50 in 2025. As we celebrate decades of impact, we’re also looking ahead.

Join us for a special webinar ([link removed]) featuring influential leaders in news, education and media strategy as they tackle the real issues shaping journalism today.

Register now. ([link removed])


** Trump doesn’t know
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The most troubling moment in Sunday’s “Meet the Press” interview with President Donald Trump ([link removed]) was when moderator Kristen Welker asked him if he had a duty to uphold the Constitution.

Trump’s answer: “I don’t know.”

Welker was asking Trump about his sweeping deportation agenda and whether he believes undocumented immigrants deserve due process.

Trump said, “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know.”

Welker then quickly reminded Trump that the Fifth Amendment says they do deserve due process. Trump said, “It might say that,” but then Trump said the U.S. might have to have as many as 3 million trials. Trump said some of them were murderers and drug dealers and “some of the worst, most dangerous people on earth,” and added, “I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it.”

That’s because the courts are interpreting what the Constitution says. And, when taking the oath of office, Trump agreed, to the best of his ability, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

So Welker asked him directly, “Even given the numbers you’re talking about, don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?”

Trump said, “I don’t know. I have to respond again by saying I have brilliant lawyers who work for me and they are going to follow, obviously, what the Supreme Court said.” However, Trump said he and his administration don’t interpret the Supreme Court’s recent 9-0 decision — that he and the U.S. ​​must facilitate the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States from El Salvador so that he can be afforded the due process — the way everyone else does.


** What else?
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President Donald Trump is interviewed by NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. (Courtesy: NBC News)

Welker did a solid job interviewing Trump for “Meet the Press.”

Some of the other notable moments included:
* Trump said he would not seek a third term, which the Constitution already says he is not allowed to do. He told Welker, “I’ll be an eight-year president, I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important.” Trump acknowledged some around him want him to find a way to seek a third term, saying, “I have never had requests so strong as that. But it’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do. I don’t know if that’s constitutional, that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else. … I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward.”
* About the troubling economic numbers and predictions, Trump tried to both take credit and then blame former President Joe Biden, telling Welker, “I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy because he’s done a terrible job. He did a terrible job on everything.”
* As far as the impacts that tariffs are having on the economy, Trump said, “Ultimately, I take responsibility for everything. The tariffs have just started kicking in. And we’re doing really well. Psychologically, I mean, the fake news was giving me such press on the tariffs. The tariffs are going to make us rich. We’re going to be a very rich country.”
* Welker asked Trump if he would rule out using military force to control Greenland. Trump said, “I don’t rule it out. I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.”
* Welker also asked Trump about his desire to make Canada the 51st state and if we would ever use military force. Trump said, “I don't see it with Canada. I just don't see it.” Trump said he spoke with Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, but the topic of Canada becoming the 51st state did not come up. However, he said the topic could come up when Trump visits with Carney in the next week or two.


** Getting their voice back? Not yet
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It continues to be a topsy-turvy time for the Voice of America, and it got a whole lot more chaotic over the weekend.

Back in March, Trump signed an executive order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees the VOA, as well as other outlets such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. That meant some 1,400 jobs were in jeopardy, as well as the organizations that fight global terrorism and propaganda worldwide.

But on April 22, a U.S. district court judge granted a preliminary injunction that said Trump’s executive order likely exceeded the president’s authority. That looked like great news, and employees at the VOA (as well as other USAGM outlets) were scheduled to return to work this week in a “phased return.”

But nothing in this situation is easy. On Saturday, the three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, issued a stay of that April 22 ruling. The Washington Post’s Scott Nover and Bart Schaneman wrote ([link removed]) , “In a split opinion, the court decided the government was likely to succeed on the merits of its case, and that the district court judge didn’t have the authority to block provisions of Trump’s executive order regarding workforce decisions and disbursement of grants. It was not immediately clear whether Voice of America’s back-to-work plans have been halted in the wake of that ruling. Agency staff were awaiting guidance from the government as of Saturday afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Kari Lake, a USAGM senior adviser to the Trump administration, has been bouncing back and forth like a ping-pong ball. She was behind the effort to get rid of the USAGM, calling it “unsalvageable.” But then Friday night, she sent a memo to staff saying, “We look forward to working with you all.”

Then, after the weekend court ruling, Lake celebrated, writing ([link removed]) , “BIG WIN in our legal cases at USAGM & Voice of America. Huge victory for President Trump and Article II. Turns out the District Court judge will not be able to manage the agency as he seemed to want to.”

It’s not known what the Trump administration has in store, but Lake told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, “We don’t want to get rid of Voice of America. We want to save what’s salvageable,” adding that the administration wants to “shrink things down.” Lake even suggested that the VOA be moved under the State Department.

Wouldn’t that literally make it state-run media?


** Tirico leaves NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage
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NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico had to leave Saturday’s coverage of The Kentucky Derby because of a nut allergy.

Tirico started NBC’s several-hour lead-up to the race, and many on social media commented that Tirico sounded under the weather. He eventually had to leave the broadcast. Ahmed Fareed stepped in, telling viewers, “Mike, as you may have heard, feeling a little under the weather right now, so I'm going to step in, take over for a bit. It is not like baseball. If the closer comes in, the starter can come back in the game, so rest assured that when Mike's feeling better, he'll be back right here in this seat.”

But Tirico could not make it back. Fareed later told viewers, “(Tirico) does have a nut allergy, he had a reaction earlier today. He is feeling fine now, but he is just going to stay on the sideline. Mike, I know you're watching right now, I hope you're feeling better and get yourself back here very soon.”

Tirico later tweeted ([link removed]) , “Hate being a scratch after making the starting gate @KentuckyDerby. Just a significant reaction to my nut allergy. If you have one you know how it can knock you down. Profound thanks to @ChurchillDowns for their care. And to our amazing @nbcsports horse racing family.” He especially thanked colleagues Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey and Fareed, a fellow Syracuse alum.”

Meanwhile, the Derby was a good, but not a great day for Journalism. Literally. The horse named Journalism was the favorite going into the race, but ended up finishing second to Sovereignty.

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
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** Media tidbits
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* The Pulitzer Prizes will be announced today at 3 p.m. Eastern. Be sure to check out Poynter.org ([link removed]) later today and Tuesday for the latest on the winners and other finalists.
* More layoffs at the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times Guild said 14 people were laid off. The Guild said in a statement, “This is the third round of newsroom layoffs in as many years, and it will leave the Los Angeles Times ever more decimated. (Friday’s) announcement of cuts, which could change in coming weeks as we bargain over the effects of the layoff, represent 6% of our newsroom staff.
* My Poynter colleague, Angela Fu, with “In his executive order on NPR and PBS, Trump leapfrogs Congress to target a private organization.” ([link removed])
* CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan with “Why it’s time we change how we talk about conspiracy theories.” ([link removed])
* A high-five goes out to The Denver Post for the headlines on the front page of its sports section on Sunday morning. On Saturday, the Denver Nuggets blew out the Los Angeles Clippers to win the seventh and deciding game of their first-round playoff series in the NBA playoffs. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche blew a two-goal lead in the third period and lost to the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoffs matchup. The headline on the Nuggets win: “Seventh Heaven.” Right above it was the headline on the Avalanche story: “Seventh Hell.” Click here ([link removed]) to see it.
* After a week’s worth of crummy PR backlash over a weird “CBS News Sunday Morning” interview, Bill Belichick might be rethinking his strategy. ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio with “Bill Belichick explores hiring outside P.R. help.” ([link removed])


** Hot type
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* Warren Buffett has announced he will step down as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway. Here’s The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Zweig with “Why There Will Never Be Another Warren Buffett.” ([link removed])
* “CBS News Sunday Morning” and correspondent Mark Whitaker with “The remarkable life and afterlife of Malcolm X.” ([link removed])


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Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
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