What is the credibility of MSNBC?
Executive summary
MSNBC (branded MS NOW in late 2025) is widely rated left-leaning by multiple media-bias trackers and has mixed public trust: independent ratings label its bias as Left or hyper-partisan left while surveys show relatively low “great deal” trust (10–19%) and sharp partisan divides in net trust (77 points). Media-rating firms AllSides, Ad Fontes, Media Bias/Fact Check aggregators and audience polls give a consistent picture of ideological lean and mixed reliability [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6].
1. How independent watchdogs and aggregators classify MSNBC
Independent media-rating organizations converge on a left-leaning classification. AllSides lists MSNBC as Left with “medium confidence” in that rating as of October 2025 [1]. Ad Fontes Media has categorized the outlet as “hyper-partisan left” with “mixed reliability” in its earlier ratings [2]. Media Bias/Fact Check also rates the network within left-leaning classifications in its profile updates [3]. Ground News aggregates these and other ratings and reports MSNBC’s media bias as Left and its factuality as “Mixed” [7].
2. What public-opinion polls say about credibility and trust
Survey data show modest levels of strong trust and clear partisan polarization. A YouGov-based Statista chart found only 10 percent of respondents in April 2023 said they had “a great deal” of trust in MSNBC, while 20 percent called it “very untrustworthy” [4]. Morning Consult via Statista reported 19 percent of U.S. adults in February 2022 said MSNBC was “very credible” while 18 percent said it was “not at all credible” [5]. YouGov’s 2025 analysis highlights severe polarization: net trust in MSNBC is 77 points higher among Democrats than Republicans [6].
3. Why experts and critics point to partisan presentation
Both historical controversies and programming choices feed perceptions of ideological slant. Longstanding critiques — catalogued in coverage of controversies and internal debates — document on-air incidents and editorial decisions that critics say demonstrate a liberal tilt; Wikipedia’s summary of criticisms traces controversies and recurring accusations of liberal bias [8]. Analysts and outlets like Ad Fontes and Media Bias/Fact Check explicitly link show formats, commentary-heavy prime-time lineups, and editorial framing to their bias and reliability ratings [2] [3].
4. Audience size, commercial positioning and recent rebranding
Despite criticisms, MSNBC (relaunching as MS NOW in 2025) remains a major cable player with competitive ratings and strategic changes. Deadline reported MSNBC was the most-watched network for off-year election coverage and posted strong total-viewer numbers against rivals [9]. Semafor’s reporting on the rebrand describes a gamble toward independence from NBC and investments in original reporting intended to position the channel as a newsroom heavyweight [10]. Trade commentary, however, notes execution problems during the transition that could affect credibility perceptions among audiences [11].
5. How to interpret “credibility”: competing metrics and viewpoints
“Credibility” is not single-dimensional. Professional fact-check and reliability metrics (AllSides, Ad Fontes, Media Bias/Fact Check) emphasize ideological tilt and levels of sourcing; public polls measure audience trust and are heavily partisan [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. Supporters point to investigative scoops and large audiences as evidence of journalistic weight [10] [9]. Critics point to opinion-driven programming, past controversies, and rebranding missteps as risks to consistent reliability [8] [11].
6. Practical takeaways for a news consumer
If you seek strictly neutral reporting, independent ratings and polls indicate MSNBC is not centrist: use its reporting alongside sources rated Center or with different ideological profiles and consult original documents and multiple outlets for confirmation [1] [2] [7]. If you value investigative scoops and an outlet with a clear editorial posture, MS NOW/MSNBC remains influential and widely consumed — but expect partisan polarization in how different audiences perceive its trustworthiness [9] [6].
Limitations: available sources do not mention specific current internal newsroom policies on fact-checking or examples of recent corrections beyond general controversy listings (not found in current reporting).