Keith Olbermann is returning to his podcast after a prolonged health scare.
The former ESPN and MSNBC star, who more recently has hosted a political talk show for iHeartMedia, stepped away from the podcast in May. Less than a week later, Olbermann revealed on his YouTube channel that he was suffering from atrial fibrillation and would undergo a “surgical intervention” in June.
At the time, Olbermann said he hoped to return to air by the end of June. But earlier in August, Olbermann posted his first episode in months, and this week he announced the show’s full-time return on Sept. 9.
“The doctors have approved,” Olbermann said in a video posted to Bluesky. “Why am I waiting another week, an extra week? Because I am going to milk my illness for all it’s worth.”
BREAKING: Doctors give themselves an A+ on the surgery and me the clearance to resume The Countdown With Keith Olbermann Podcast, Thursday September 10. Wherever you podcast plus a new FULL video version on YouTube for you masochists.
— Keith Olbermann (@olbermann.bsky.social) August 27, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Olbermann, who is 67, has carved out a lane as a fiercely anti-Trump commentator for liberal audiences. Episodes of The Countdown regularly drew 70,000-plus views on YouTube despite not actually including a video component. The Aug. 11 test show on Olbermann’s channel included actual video of Olbermann at a desk, perhaps a sign that he will join the growing trend of video in podcasting.
Even decades into his career, Olbermann continues to mix it up online and with his commentary, even cropping up in the Olivia Nuzzi-Robert F. Kennedy Jr. romance scandal in 2024. Heading into a midterm election, Olbermann figures to pick up where he left off as a voice of “The Resistance” against the Trump administration.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is an Editorial Lead at Awful Announcing overseeing digital content and special projects. He lives in Phoenix and has covered sports media for Awful Announcing since 2023.