Have you noticed that Lawrence O'Donnell is

[Joinfortmill]

spending a few minutes each night praising Ali Velshi? I hope this helps Velshi get his own prime time show. I really miss Brian Williams and with Rachel winding down, I've begun looking for other alternatives. I don't know who makes the programming decisions at MSNBC, but they really suck. Just an old lady's opinion.

[madaboutharry]

1. I think Ali Velshi would do a great job taking over Rachel's hour.

I hope that Velshi gets that hour. He earned it.

[RKP5637]

2. Yes, he would! n/t

[Rebl2]

26. I agree totally

He would be best to replace Rachel

[calimary]

43. He's certainly earned his stripes.

They can drop him in anywhere and he knows just what to do and how to do it.

Bigtime first-class utility player. Proving his mettle and his value. Wouldn’t surprise me if he got the Maddow spot - assuming she doesn’t return to reclaim it full-time

[eShirl]

3. Ali is either their MVP or close to it.

[SheilaAnn]

4. I defiitely agree, Ali is the best and such a hard worker. n/t

[jmbar2]

5. He has been doing an exceptional job

He finds angles that are very different from the other hosts. He digs deep. I like him a lot.

[NJCher]

31. I was going to post that

Yes, he does. That's what I like so much about Rachel, and Ali does it, too.

He gets my vote!

Also, has anyone noticed, Lawrence is looking good these days. He did something with his hair. He mentioned it on air one night. Anyway, I like his show, too.

[dewsgirl]

6. Middle aged lady here, feels the same.

[boston bean]

7. Eh.

[NellieStarbuck]

8. I like Ali fine, but . . .

. . . if we can't have Rachel back, I'd rather see Alex Wagner in the spot. I had forgotten just how good she is until her recent brief return to the network.

[Atticus]

9. IMHO, you will never be "just an old lady". nt

[Joinfortmill]

50. Thanks!

[RicROC]

10. Proof of Ali's hard work and preparation is

that he correctly pronounces the names of his guests. Does not stumble or try to 'wing it'. That impresses me.

Nothing is more respectful than addressing persons by their name, not how the ordinary person thinks it should be pronounced.

[Spazito]

11. I think Ali Velshi would be perfect as Rachel Maddow's replacement....

He deserves it, imo.

[2naSalit]

13. +1

[milestogo]

12. He's doing a great job from Europe.

I can't imagine how much more difficult that is than being in the studio.

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. Agreed! He doesn't miss a beat, or make any excuses for his challenging post.

[allegorical oracle]

14. Agree. Velshi is a good interviewer and works his tail off. n/t

[PatSeg]

15. I really miss Brian Williams

He had become the only MSNBC show that I watched every night.

Ali Velshi has been bounced all over the place at MSBC - daytimes, weekends, and go-to substitute for primetime hosts . He really deserves a more permanent time slot.

[allegorical oracle]

17. Same here. Enjoyed his sardonic wit. nt

[PatSeg]

25. The wit was priceless and so effortless

Sometimes it took a second to realize he'd thrown in a zinger and his guests seemed to really love him. One of my favorites was when he'd quote a republican nutjob and preface it with "We've translated it from the original Russian for you". Never missed a beat.

[Native]

34. That really is a good one!

[PatSeg]

37. And he did it in such an understated

professional way, managing to get his viewpoint in there inconspicuously. He has a Walter Cronkite demeanor combined with a Jon Stewart sarcastic humor.

[Native]

51. I'll have to start watching him!

[PatSeg]

53. Sadly, he's retired from MSNBC

He left toward the end of last year, such a loss.

[Native]

54. Crap, I was thinking you guys were still talking about Velshi.

I liked Williams too.

[PatSeg]

60. Oh, Velshi has been discussed as well

though he doesn't have the Brian Williams rare quick wit!

[pazzyanne]

18. This older than middle aged lady whole-heartedly agrees with you!

Not impressed with replacement for Brian Williams. No attempt was made to replace him with a similar personality/ presenting style. Stephanie Ruhle's presentations grate on my nerves, always have.

Note: I love Ali Velshi and follow him whenever he is on MSNBC.

[Frustratedlady]

32. As an octogenarian, I also miss Brian and his calm and relaxed manner.

Being the last show of the evening, he tended to calm me down, didn't talk so fast you couldn't follow him or the closed captions and interjected some dry humor most nights.

I like the way Ali explains the background of what he is about to cover...much like Rachel starts out her shows. If he had more time, I think he would build on that technique. If he's married, his wife can't see him very often, as he seems to be on the road or hosting shows at all hours of the day.

Right now, I can't figure out what the devil MSNBC is trying to do. So many guest hosts. One of those that I like is Garrett Haake.

[pazzyanne]

57. Exactly! nt

You and me both.

[KS Toronado]

19. I thought Rachel was coming back

after she completes her special project, or have I missed something?

[liberalla]

24. That was my impression also. I didn't think it was permanent... ?

[HootieMcBoob]

28. Mine too

I don’t know where this is all coming from. She just signed a new contract to do her show and said on the air that she was going to be away for a short time to work on a film. If there’s some other information does anyone have a link?

[ShazzieB]

30. I haven't heard anything about her not coming back.

I heard the same thing you did, that she's taking some time off to work on a documentary and will be coming back. If that's changed, it's news to me!

[themaguffin]

44. She's ultimately leaving. I don't know the timeframe.

[lindysalsagal]

20. Clearly, Lawrence should take Rachel's spot.

[jaxexpat]

21. Why do you want Ali to suffer?

He's safer reporting from the war front in the Ukraine.

[MOMFUDSKI]

22. Another old lady here

that totally agrees. YUCK Who is running the show there anyway?

[frogmarch]

23. I like Ali Velshi a lot

and would love it if he had his own show!

[Old Okie]

27. Ali

Feel sorry for him and the others sent to report from train stations on the borders of Ukraine, what is the point. Unless you are willing to risk your life and go to the front lines, they might as well stay here in the studio. Ali gets stuck with covering for other hosts as well as doing his own show. I think he has more than paid his dues by now.

Agree on the Brian Williams replacement, quit watching that program and now stop watching after Chris Hayes, probably better for me anyway.

[Capperdan]

29. Ari and Nichole

Ari wants so bad to get the big scoop, it's getting old. And he really needs a lesson in shaving. I think he's worn out 'bombshell'. Nicole and her reading glasses on the tip of her nose are ridiculous. Now that Trump is toast, I watch less and less MSNBC

[NoMoreRepugs]

41. Some in depth analysis there.

[MadMike47]

33. It's all about ratings and viewership. And I think Alex Wagner would win in that department.

[padah513]

35. I like Ales too

[Eyeball_Kid]

36. Ali does his homework and takes risks. Good journalist.

It would help if he modulated off his "hard-hitting" vocal style. Sometimes it seems as if he comes at you like a freight train and it doesn't go well with a bowl of soup.

[OMGWTF]

38. I miss Keith Olberman

[elleng]

39. He IS great.

Rachel's not replaceable, imo.

Tho she's pretty good, I could live without S. Ruhle @ 11th Hour.

[Demsrule86]

40. I only watch O'Donnell these days. I honestly wasn't as crazy about Rachel as some...

And if it is true she stopped Olberman from coming back well that infuriates me. I thought Olberman's show was much better than her show.

[northoftheborder]

42. Really admire Ali.

I just would like to see less war news - not 24 hours straight. What’s going on with Jan 6 committee.

[themaguffin]

45. I think he's ok, but i wouldn't watch a regular show with him.

[Qutzupalotl]

46. Mehdi Hassan is an incredibly good journalist.

He'd be my top pick for Rachel's spot, if I were making the decision, which I'm not.

[Fiendish Thingy]

47. Ali Velshi should get Chuck Todd's job- director of NBC news

Chuck Todd should be in the unemployment line.

[jcgoldie]

48. we've switched to CNN

Watched MSNBC for 15 years or so... love Rachel, Brian... also I like Joy, Nicole and even Ari. What irks me is the same dozen guests on show after show repeating the same points in panel discussions. The war in Ukraine is what prompted the switch. Desperate for actual information. CNN has correspondents doing actual reporting on events as they happen not just experts rehashing their opinions over and over in different groupings. For me it wasn't about cult of personality choices between Nicole Wallace vs Jake Tapper or whoever... it was the difference between some primary sources vs mostly secondary. Just my opinion.

[yorkster]

49. Definitely noticed O'Donnell's praise of Ali Velshi.

Ali has an unusual combo of dogged reporting, wide ranging intelligence and compassion. I like Alex Wagner, and several others, but Ali deserves a top spot.

[Grasswire2]

52. Many people agree with you.

My preference would be for Ali to have Rachel's hour, and for Keith Olbermann to have the Eleventh Hour.

Ruhle may be a nice person, but I don't feel she has the depth required for her own show, at this critical moment. And, frankly, I don't care for her voice or the slightly smirky expressions.

Some people dislike KO. But from what I see on twitter, he would have a huge audience and be a real draw in the Eleventh Hour.

The person who makes the decisions at MSNBC appears to be the same person who fired Phil Donahue in 2003. Phil Griffin.

Regarding Brian. I'm very sad that he simply disappeared from us, altho I realize that's likely best for him. He was soothing, in the midst of our chaos.

[FakeNoose]

55. Ali Velshi seems to be the go-to guy whenever someone is out for a few days

He always does a great job without patting himself on the back. I used to say the same thing about Joy Reid, and Joy finally got her own show a couple years ago. I think the leads all appreciate Ali's hard work, his reliability and high standards. I'll bet Rachel is another one who's putting in a good word for him, but she's not on the air right now.

If his co-workers think Ali deserves his own show, isn't that a very strong signal to the network executives? It should be.

[lees1975]

56. It's a little early to start having this conversation.

Shouldn't we be focusing on making sure we protect our majorities in the mid-term, or have we already given up on that idea?

[yorkster]

58. Not mutually exclusive discussions, I think.

It would seem that a fair number of those who responded to the op had positive reaction to it.

We know we have to fight hard to keep the House and improve numbers in the Senate. Make that fight like hell.

[Mike Nelson]

59. Agree...

... with Lawrence. I'd like Velshi to get the prime-time hour. Something else I noticed... I liked Stephanie Ruhle when she was partnered with Velshi. They had great chemistry. I would not have predicted it, but I like him more since they split.