MS NOW shakes up daytime line-up; Ana Cabrera to exit

by

MSNBC is significantly reshuffling its daytime TV lineup, with Stephanie Ruhle and Alicia Menendez both getting new show times.

I was really surprised to hear that Ana Cabrera is leaving! She shared the news with viewers yesterday, and I’ve enjoyed having her on MS NOW since she came over from CNN last year. It’s a big shift, but I’m glad Chris Jansing will be taking on a new role as chief political reporter – she’s fantastic and I’m excited to see what she brings to the position.

MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler has announced changes designed to boost daytime viewership on the network, formerly known as MSNBC. The network was recently rebranded after becoming an independent company called Versant, separating from Comcast.

Hollywood Inc.

This former CNN leader helped MSNBC rebrand itself. Now, can she do the same and make it thrive as a streaming service?

Since rebranding in November, MSNBC has seen a boost in prime-time ratings thanks to its opinion-based shows. In June, the network will expand this approach to daytime programming, featuring hosts who offer distinct perspectives.

According to a memo obtained by The Times, Kutler stated that daytime programming will continue to focus on real news stories.

Katie Ruhle is switching from hosting her 11 p.m. show, “The 11th Hour,” to a new daytime program airing from 9 to 11 a.m. Eastern. The new show will cover topics related to both money and politics.

Menendez will host two hours in the afternoon starting at noon Eastern.

The schedule changes will take effect in June.

When Katy Tur’s new show launches, “Morning Joe” will go back to its original three-hour length. The show, co-hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, had increased to four hours in 2022, but the hosts requested the change to allow them to focus on other work for the network, even though the longer format had boosted viewership.

Maria Teresa Menendez has been a panelist on MSNBC’s “The Weeknight” alongside Michael Steele and Simone Sanders-Townsend. Now, Luke Russert will be joining the show in her place, returning to an on-air position. Russert previously appeared on MSNBC’s “The Cycle” and most recently worked as a creative director for live events at MS NOW.

Ali Velshi, previously a weekend anchor, will now host “The 11th Hour,” replacing Ruhle. Jacob Soboroff, a national reporter for the network, will fill Velshi’s old role, anchoring from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern time.

Kutler stated that the upcoming schedule changes won’t result in any layoffs. In fact, she anticipates MS NOW will have a larger workforce by the end of 2026 than it does currently.

MS NOW is the second most-watched cable news network behind Fox News while leading CNN.

Read More

2026-03-18 18:01