Hardball with Chris Matthews was an American television talk show that was hosted by Chris Matthews. The program premiered on the now-defunct America's Talking network in 1994 (as Politics with Chris Matthews) before moving on CNBC, and then to MSNBC, where it remained until its end in 2020. The show took its name from Matthews' 1988 book: Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game. The program primarily featured coverage of political issues and headlines, along with discussion from a panel of analysts and political figures. History Hardball was originally broadcast on CNBC from 1997 until 1999, after which the program was moved to MSNBC. On March 2, 2020, Matthews announced that he had left the program, effective immediately, stating that the "younger generation" was "ready to take the reins", but that he would still "continue to write and talk about politics and cheer on my producers and crew here in Washington in New York and my MSNBC colleagues." His sign-off also included an apology alluding to sexual harassment allegations he had recently faced from a female journalist, remarking that "compliments on a women's appearance that some men, including me, might have once incorrectly thought were OK, were never OK. Not then and certainly not today". The announcement aired in place of the program (which, thus, aired its final full episode the preceding Friday); Steve Kornacki hosted the rest of the hour. The time slot was filled by rotating hosts (under the MSNBC Live banner); on July 9, 2020, it was announced that Joy Reid would host The ReidOut in the time slot, beginning July 20. The Wall Street Journal reported that Matthews had already been considering retirement from the show, possibly after the 2020 presidential election, but that the allegations, as well other controversial remarks he had recently made on-air (such as during an interview of Elizabeth Warren, and comments made comparing Bernie Sanders' Nevada caucus victory to the fall of France to the Nazis), had expedited his departure. Notable moments Matthews caused controversy with remarks made off the air at a celebration of Hardballs 10-year anniversary in October 2007. He claimed that the Bush administration—specifically Vice President Cheney's office—had tried to "silence" him by pressuring MSNBC executives to put a stop to Matthews' criticism of the Iraq War. The White House declined to comment. Michele Bachmann On October 17, 2008, Minnesota representative Michele Bachmann