Take a stand. That’s the theme of Joy Reid’s last episode of The ReidOut. The often eloquent Reid delivered a powerful message condemning fascism, marking the end of her recently canceled MSNBC show. The 56-year-old journalist used her opening segment to address the growing threat to democracy and urged viewers to reflect on how to respond to such a crisis.
“We begin tonight with what I think is the question when you are in the midst of a crisis, and specifically a crisis of democracy: How do you resist when fascism isn’t just coming, it’s already here?” Reid asked in a clip from the episode that quickly spread across social media. “What, if anything, can you do about it? For one thing, you can try to learn from history, from what people in this situation, in countries around the world and in America, have done before. As my friend Rachel Maddow always says, ‘History is here to help.’”
In case you need a quick lesson. The Associated Press defines fascism as “an authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement,” often linked to far-right ideologies and characterized by dictatorial leadership that employs military force to suppress opposition. Historical figures like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini are prime examples of fascist leaders. In modern contexts, the term has broadened to describe oppressive, racist, or totalitarian tactics used by leaders to consolidate power.
As you can expect, Reid’s departure from MSNBC has sparked significant backlash, with prominent figures like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann supporting her. Maddow, whose show will continue on the network, expressed deep admiration for Reid, stating, “(Reid) is leaving the network altogether, and that is very, very, very hard to take. I am 51 years old. I have been gainfully employed since I was 12, and I have had so many different kinds of jobs. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. But in all of the jobs I have had in all of the years I have been alive, there is no colleague for whom I have had more affection and more respect than Joy Reid.”
Keith Olbermann made one thing clear. The former MSNBC primetime host went further, labeling the decision to cancel The ReidOut as “racist.” The announcement of the show’s cancellation earlier this week drew mixed reactions, including praise from former President Donald Trump.
Despite the unceremonious cancellation, Reid remained resolute in her commitment to the issues she championed on her show. In a statement shared on social media, she expressed gratitude to her supporters: “I just want to say thank you to everyone who has reached out with kindness and encouragement, both personally and in these social media streets.” During a Win With Black Women call streamed on YouTube, she defended her show’s impact, saying, “My show had value. Whether it was the Black Lives Matter issues … (or) talking about Gaza and the fact that we as the American people have … a right to object to little babies being bombed … I am not sorry that I stood up for those things.”
If we can take away anything, Reid’s final episode served as both a farewell and a call to action, urging viewers to confront the challenges of fascism and draw lessons from history to safeguard democracy. Her departure leaves a void in the media landscape, but her message of resistance and resilience continues to resonate.