Rachel Maddow to Take Weeks-Long Hiatus from Hosting Her Nightly MSNBC Talk Show: 'Change Is Good'

Rachel Maddow is taking some time away from hosting her nightly series on MSNBC.

On Monday, Maddow, 48, announced on The Rachel Maddow Show that she would be taking a few weeks off of work while she focuses on some outside projects.

Among her upcoming projects, the famed anchor is set to serve as an executive producer on a Ben Stiller-directed film based on her book and podcast, Bag Man. She is also gearing up to launch a new podcast.

"Ben Stiller is going to direct it. He's incredible," Maddow said on Monday's broadcast, filmed from her home studio. "One of the producers of the film is Lorne Michaels — yes, that Lorne Michaels. This has been in the works for a while now. But it looks like it's gonna happen. I am super excited about it."

"I am going to take a little bit of time off from this show, to go help with the movie and also to work on some other things that I have cooking with NBC right now, including a new podcast," she continued. "There's also an adaptation of a different book that I want to try to make for TV as well. But I've just started working on it. There's all this stuff I've been working on that I want to work some more on."

Maddow confirmed that she'll remain on her show through this Thursday and then will be taking a few weeks off. The anchor said she plans to return to the show in April, and will still appear in the network's special event coverage, including for the upcoming State of the Union address on March 1.

"As you can tell, I'm nervous about all this as a change in my life, but it's all for the good," she said. "I'm not really going anywhere... I will be back doing the show again before you'll even miss me."

"And there may eventually be another hiatus again sometime in my future. But for now, we're just taking it one step at a time," she added. "Of course, while I'm away the show will continue to be run by the absolute best producers in this entire business, by the amazing staff of this show. So don't worry, don't worry, you will be in very, very good hands. Change is good, change is absolutely terrifying. But in this case, it's good. So now you know."

In addition to Maddow's hiatus, the famed anchor revealed that she was broadcasting from her home studio after having a "recent COVID exposure" from "somebody who was symptomatic and positive."

"I'm vaccinated and boosted. I have tested negative so far but I was definitely exposed... so that means I cannot go to the studio and risk infecting any of my beloved co-workers or anybody else in that space," she explained. "I'm just trying to do my part to make sure I don't put anybody else at risk."

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News of Maddow's hiatus was first reported earlier on Monday by Business Insider. The outlet reported that Maddow had already informed her team of her plans to briefly step away from the show and expected to have a rotating group of hosts to fill in her place.

Maddow has been hosting her eponymous series since 2008. The political news program is based on her former radio show of the same name. Over the years, she has faced criticism from conservatives for her liberal political stance.

"Bring it. Your hatred makes me stronger," she told The Guardian in 2020 of her opposers. "Come on. Give me more. Give me more. I love it!"

Maddow has been in a relationship with partner Susan Mikula since 1999. Previously, she told Oprah.com that Mikula, 63, is her "best" reason to be happy.

"I'm alone a couple of days a week while I'm working in New York, but I haven't felt alone in the world — I haven't felt lonely — in the 13 years since I laid eyes on her," she said.

Last year, Maddow said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show she's "lucky" to have "the world's greatest relationship."

"I'm totally in love," she added. "She's the most important thing in my life."

The Rachel Maddow Show airs weeknights at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC.