#14: Chris Matthews
Once a mainstay of political chatter with Hardball, Chris Matthews built his brand on fast talk and fiery exchanges. However, in March 2020, the long-time MSNBC host stepped down abruptly, facing allegations of making inappropriate remarks to a guest.
Only 13% of viewers now say they trust him—a sharp fall for someone who once defined the network’s edge. In his farewell, Matthews passed the torch, lauding the rising generation of journalists. Yet the final impression stuck: an old-school broadcaster caught off guard by a changing media culture.