MS NOW Announces Sweeping Programming Overhaul
In a significant restructuring of its broadcast schedule, MS NOW has unveiled a comprehensive shakeup of its lineup, featuring the reduction of its flagship program Morning Joe by one hour and the departure of prominent anchor Ana Cabrera. These changes, the first major adjustments since the network's separation from NBC in November, were detailed by MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler in an announcement on Wednesday and are scheduled to take effect in June.
Morning Joe Sees Airtime Reduction
The network's cornerstone political show, Morning Joe, hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, will be shortened from four hours to three, now airing from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Both hosts have previously expressed support for this decision, citing the demanding nature of the early morning schedule. Scarborough, in a November interview with People, highlighted the unique challenges of their role, stating, "Getting up at 4:30 in the morning, and getting shot out of a cannon at 6 a.m. and tap dancing for four hours, there’s literally nobody on the planet that understands what that’s like, except for the person that I’m with all the time."
Ana Cabrera Exits the Network
Another major change involves the exit of Ana Cabrera, host of Ana Cabrera Reports, which previously aired daily from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. In a video message released online on Wednesday morning, Cabrera shared her decision to leave, reflecting on her career and gratitude. "Throughout my career, I've always sought the best opportunities to do this work and have the greatest impact while staying true to myself and my mission as a journalist," she said. "That's what I've always done and what I will continue to do now, understanding I am truly grateful for my time at MS NOW for my wonderful colleagues, my amazing team that works so hard every day, and for you, the viewers who put your trust in me to serve you through this most meaningful work."
New Roles for Velshi, Ruhle, and Others
The reshuffle also includes notable role changes for other key personalities. Ali Velshi will assume hosting duties for the late-night program The 11th Hour at 11 p.m., taking over from Stephanie Ruhle, with whom he previously co-hosted It’s Happening. Ruhle is transitioning to a two-hour morning slot from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., focusing on money and politics. In a recent interview with Mediaite, Ruhle praised the increased autonomy following the NBC split, saying, "I love our studios, I love working together, I love being with the team. And kind of the beauty is, it’s a 25-year-old company… We have the legacy, we have the brand of all that we’ve built, and now we have the nimbleness of not necessarily having to ask NBC’s permission."
Additional adjustments see Alicia Menendez, co-host of The Weeknight, taking over the 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. slot, while Luke Russert joins as a full-time team member. Jon Lemire will shift his co-anchor position from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m., further diversifying the morning lineup.
Kutler Emphasizes Growth and Stability
Despite the extensive changes, Kutler reassured staff in a memo that the network is not reducing its resources. "As part of these programming changes, team members will have the opportunity to shift into new roles to support new priorities," she wrote. "In most cases, comparable opportunities will be available to employees as these changes take shape. Overall, we expect to have more people working at MS NOW by the end of 2026 than we do today. I am confident that these changes will make what is already a successful lineup even stronger in the future. We are fortunate to have so many exceptional journalists on our air, online, and behind the scenes."
This overhaul marks a pivotal moment for MS NOW as it continues to establish its independent identity post-NBC, aiming to strengthen its programming and adapt to evolving viewer preferences in the competitive news landscape.
