MS NOW, the cable news network formerly known as MSNBC, has announced a significant overhaul of its weekday programming lineup, with changes set to take effect in June 2026. The adjustments span from early morning through late night and represent the most substantial programming shift since the network’s rebranding earlier in the year following its separation from Comcast and transition under Versant ownership according to Deadline.
At the center of the changes stands the long-running flagship program Morning Joe. The show, anchored by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, currently occupies a four-hour block from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Eastern Time on weekdays. Under the new structure, it will shorten to three hours, running from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. This reduction addresses the intense demands placed on the hosts by the extended format, which has previously affected their schedules and availability. Jonathan Lemire, who has been co-anchoring the 9 a.m. hour, will shift to co-anchor the 8 a.m. hour alongside Scarborough and Brzezinski. The program has maintained strong ratings performance in its time slot, and the adjustment aims to preserve its core strengths while allowing the team greater flexibility to develop additional content for the network’s forthcoming digital subscription service targeted at dedicated viewers.
Filling the newly available 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. slot will be Stephanie Ruhle, who currently anchors The 11th Hour at 11 p.m. Ruhle’s new two-hour program will emphasize the intersection of money, business, and politics, aligning with her established expertise as the network’s senior business analyst. This move positions her to lead coverage as financial markets open and political developments unfold in real time. Ruhle will continue contributing to the network’s YouTube Live program It’s Happening alongside Ali Velshi.
In turn, Ali Velshi will assume hosting duties for The 11th Hour starting at 11 p.m. weekdays. Velshi, a veteran presence who has long anchored weekend hours and co-hosts the digital show with Ruhle, brings extensive experience in political and international reporting to the late-night slot. The transition maintains continuity in the program’s focus on in-depth analysis of the day’s major stories.
Other notable adjustments include Alicia Menendez moving from her current role on The Weeknight to anchor a new weekday block from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Luke Russert, previously involved in the network’s live events division and a frequent contributor, will join her full-time as co-anchor. The Weeknight itself will reduce to a one-hour format on Mondays to allow Chris Hayes to resume anchoring All In with Chris Hayes at 8 p.m. on that day, restoring the show’s regular presence after a previous adjustment in 2023.
On weekends, Jacob Soboroff will take over anchoring duties from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., stepping into a slot previously associated with Velshi. Chris Jansing will transition from her current 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. weekday role to become chief political reporter, concentrating on coverage leading into the 2026 midterm elections. Ana Cabrera, who has anchored the 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. block, will depart the network entirely. An anchor for the 11 a.m. weekday hour remains to be announced.
The broader daytime programming will emphasize hard news and reporting, moving away from previous branding elements. Network president Rebecca Kutler outlined the changes during a staff editorial call and in a subsequent memo, framing them as strategic preparations for expanded midterm election coverage and growth in a challenging pay-TV environment. The plan includes no overall reduction in resources, with some staff shifting to new positions and an expectation of net staff growth by the end of 2026. The moves support the network’s efforts to increase market share and build engagement through its upcoming subscription product for avid followers.
These programming alterations reflect an effort to balance established strengths with evolving viewer habits and competitive pressures in cable news. By redistributing talent across key dayparts, MS NOW aims to refresh its daily flow while positioning key personalities for maximum impact ahead of major political events.
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