Viral Rumor Debunked: No Joint Independent Newsroom for Maddow, Colbert, and Reid

By Grok News Desk December 25, 2025

A sensational rumor claiming that progressive media stars Rachel Maddow, Stephen Colbert, and Joy Reid have teamed up to launch an independent newsroom has spread rapidly across social media, sparking excitement, debate, and misinformation. However, fact-checks from reliable sources confirm the story is entirely false.

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Fact Check: Stephen Colbert, Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid didn’t …

Composite images like this one have fueled the viral rumor, often shared on platforms promoting unverified claims.

The claim originated in summer 2025 and resurfaced periodically, alleging the trio had secretly formed a “revolutionary” platform free from corporate constraints, focused on “unfiltered truth” and investigative journalism. Posts described dramatic announcements, private funding, and even a mysterious fourth member, igniting national speculation about a “media earthquake.”

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Social media graphics and YouTube thumbnails amplified the hoax, blending real portraits with fabricated narratives.

Snopes and other outlets thoroughly debunked the rumor, noting no credible evidence or announcements from the individuals or major news organizations. Maddow herself addressed similar falsehoods on her show, stating she had no plans to launch a separate network. The story gained plausibility from real events: Joy Reid’s MSNBC show ended earlier in 2025, Colbert’s Late Show is set to conclude in 2026, and ongoing changes at MSNBC (including a rebrand to MS NOW amid a corporate spin-off).

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Rachel Maddow (left), Joy Reid (center), and Stephen Colbert (right)—prominent voices whose separate careers inspired the unfounded collaboration rumor.

These developments fueled speculation, but no collaboration exists. Ad-heavy blogs and viral posts exploited the timing for clicks, often linking to fabricated details. Social media reactions ranged from hopeful celebration to skeptical calls for verification.

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Fake news, disinformation and misinformation in social media: a …

Illustrations of misinformation spread on social platforms highlight how rumors like this proliferate.

This incident underscores broader challenges in the digital age: declining trust in media, the rapid spread of unverified claims, and the allure of “insider” stories promising disruption. While independent journalism ventures continue to emerge, this particular tale remains a hoax.

As 2025 closes, Maddow hosts on MS NOW, Reid explores new projects like podcasts, and Colbert prepares for his show’s finale—no joint newsroom in sight.

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MSNBC Broadcast Set Design Gallery

A typical MSNBC/MS NOW studio set, representative of the networks where these hosts built their careers.