MSNBC bigwigs leaked layoffs plan in stunning gaffe — and staffer found grim ‘kill list' morning of bloodbath
Bungling MSNBC bigwigs accidentally printed out details about the left-leaning network's impending jobs bloodbath — and the top-secret document was found by a stunned staffer who leaked the details to co-workers, The Post has learned.The production assistant stumbled across the 'kill list' at MSNBC's 30 Rock headquarters in midtown Manhattan shortly before the cuts were announced on Monday, Feb 24, sources close to the situation said.
The printed pages, which were viewed by The Post, laid out meetings to be held with workers and 'talent' about their fate in ominously-dubbed 'impact conversations,' the insiders said.
'On the Monday, management accidentally printed the list of people and teams getting fired or being made to reapply for their roles.' said one source close to the situation.
'Entire teams in primetime learned that they were getting fired from a printout that a PA found sitting on a printer.'
The screwup is the latest episode in MSNBC's botched layoffs plans after Trump-bashing anchor Joy Reid and her staff learned they were about to be fired from a New York Times report on Sunday, Feb. 23.
The intended confidential memo reveals a callous play-by-play beginning Feb. 19 and leading up to the Feb. 24 massacre in which about 100 people were canned.
It includes a legal review with human resources, a talking-points script on the cuts and a scheduled pow-wow between NBCUniversal chair Mark Lazarus and NBC News Group chairman Cesar Conde.
MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler was also slated to discuss show cancellations, time changes and new job placements, according to the document.
MSNBC declined to comment.
On Feb. 24, the ratings-challenged network ended up firing staffers on 'The Rachel Maddow Show,' and canceling programs hosted by Alex Wagner, Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, Ayman Mohyeldin and José Díaz-Balart.
The document revealed a packed day of back-to-back meetings with the above talent, in addition to others including on-air talking heads Alex Witt, Ana Cabrera, Jen Psaki and Richard Lui — who was referred to as 'Tier 3 talent' despite having received Peabody and Emmy Awards during his time at CNN.
By the end of the day, MSNBC had posted 100 new jobs, and according to the document, the network intends to make all its new hires by April 7 and get them to start by April 14.
One network insider lashed out at the 'absolute humiliation' of some staffers being asked to re-apply for their own positions.
Another brushed off the notion that employees might find new jobs at the embattled cable network.
'NBC and MSNBC always say employees can reapply for jobs after they're laid off,' the person said. 'For [MSNBC] lifers, it's difficult because there are generally fewer postings for senior jobs.'
The overhaul is part of a plan by MSNBC parent Comcast to spin off the beleaguered left-wing network and other distressed cable properties.
Lazarus will head up the new entity, dubbed SpinCo.
Kutler, who was named interim president after Rashida Jones stepped down earlier this year and then had that label lifted last month, has been widely seen as an architect behind the remaking of the network.
'She was dealt a tough hand in essentially having to build out a new company with all of the changes,' said a network source. 'She has had a rough start.'
One source said employees were caught off-guard by Monday's mass culling after the New York Times reported a day earlier that Reid, host of the 'ReidOut,' would be fired.
'Everyone thought the cuts were only affecting 'ReidOut' and a couple of other shows,' one source said.
Network star Rachel Maddow blasted her bosses on air for the changes – especially their decision to fire Reid – in what has been described by sources as a 'polarizing' move.
'Management was pissed and talent was like, 'relax Rachel'' said a source close to the situation.
While the dustup put the powerful anchor in the spotlight, others wondered if it also made her more vulnerable.
'Rachel made this big play to try and protect Joy, but then Rebecca fired her anyway,' the source told The Post.
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