MSNBC Makes Hire For New Standalone D-C Bureau

Sudeep Reddy

MSNBC hired Sudeep Reddy, a veteran journalist and senior managing editor at Politico, to serve as its first-ever Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief, a move announced on May 15, 2025. 

MSNBC needs to establish a standalone D.C. bureau as it prepares to separate from NBCUniversal and Comcast later in 2025, forming a new company called Versant that will include MSNBC and other Comcast cable networks like CNBC and USA Network. 

The new bureau, located at the Hall of States building (separate from NBC News’ offices in the same complex), aims to bolster MSNBC’s independent news-gathering capabilities, as the network will no longer rely on NBC News’ reporting resources post-spinoff.

Reddy, who starts on June 16, 2025, brings extensive experience from his eight-year tenure at Politico, where he led a newsroom of 150 journalists, launched products like newsletters, podcasts, and live events, and built the outlet’s first audio team. Before Politico, he spent a decade at The Wall Street Journal, primarily as an economics editor in D.C., covering U.S. and global economic issues, the Federal Reserve, and the financial crisis.  His earlier career included roles at The Dallas Morning News and reporting on energy and business in Texas. 

Known for his “straight news, unbiased” approach, Reddy’s hiring surprised some given MSNBC’s left-leaning reputation, signaling a focus on analytical, policy-driven journalism over partisan commentary.

MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler emphasized Reddy’s fit for the network’s “cerebral” audience, which values contextual reporting. Reddy will report to Scott Matthews, MSNBC’s Senior VP of Newsgathering, and work with Erin Zimmerman, VP of Newsgathering, to build a team of over 100 journalists. 

The team will cover key D.C. beats, including the White House, Capitol Hill, the State Department, the Justice Department, and the Supreme Court, with a focus on how Washington’s decisions impact the nation and world. The move reflects MSNBC’s broader push to strengthen its newsroom amid a ratings decline post-election and a shifting media landscape.