MS NOW, the cable news network formerly known as MSNBC, announced a significant programming overhaul on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, impacting its weekday schedule from early morning through late night. The changes, set to take effect in June, represent the network's first major programming shift since rebranding earlier this year and come as the network positions itself for upcoming midterm and presidential election cycles.
The announcement was made by MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler during the channel’s daily editorial call, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. This restructuring follows MS NOW's separation from NBC and its rebranding as part of Comcast’s spinoff of its linear cable assets, with the network now operating under Versant ownership. President Kutler articulated the network’s strategic vision in a memo to employees, stating, "With the midterm elections quickly approaching and the 2028 presidential election on the horizon, we have some programming changes to share that will build on the momentum we are already seeing in 2026."
At the centerpiece of the shake-up is "Morning Joe," the network’s long-running flagship morning program hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. The show currently occupies a four-hour block from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Eastern Time on weekdays. Under the restructured schedule, "Morning Joe" will return to a three-hour format, airing from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The demanding nature of the four-hour broadcast has been a known factor. Joe Scarborough previously commented on the intensity, telling PEOPLE, "Getting up at 4:30 in the morning, and getting shot out of a cannon at 6 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.” An MS NOW insider, speaking to Fox News Digital, corroborated this sentiment, suggesting that Scarborough and Brzezinski were weary of the physical toll. The insider added, “Four hours of linear TV, in 2026, it just doesn’t make sense.” A second MS NOW insider also suggested the hosts were not fond of the 9 a.m. segment, stating, “On one hand, they’re losing real estate and a little influence. On the other hand, I don’t think they really like that hour.” Jonathan Lemire, who had previously co-anchored the 9 a.m. hour of "Morning Joe," will now work during the 8 a.m. hour instead.
The 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. slot will be filled by a new weekday morning show hosted by Stephanie Ruhle, who previously anchored "The 11th Hour." President Kutler highlighted Ruhle’s qualifications for the new role, stating she “will bring her energy and real-world experience on Wall Street to our morning viewers as the opening bell rings, covering the intersection of politics and the economy.”
Concurrently, Ali Velshi will transition into the anchor chair at "The 11th Hour," departing from his weekend anchoring duties. Jacob Soboroff is set to take over Velshi’s weekend slot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Further adjustments to the daytime schedule include Alicia Menendez leaving her position at "The Weeknight" to launch a new afternoon show in the noon to 2 p.m. slot. Luke Russert will join "The Weeknight" full-time, alongside Symone Sanders-Townsend and Michael Steele in the 7 p.m. hour. Chris Hayes’ "All In" will also return to its Monday slot, a position it had previously ceded to a two-hour block of "The Weeknight."
President Kutler’s memo to employees also addressed concerns about potential staffing impacts, emphasizing that the network is not reducing resources. She wrote, “As part of these programming changes, team members will have the opportunity to shift into new roles to support new priorities.” She further assured staff, “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.” Kutler expressed confidence in the new lineup, concluding, “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.” The comprehensive restructuring reflects MS NOW's strategic effort to optimize its programming for the evolving media landscape and to enhance its competitive standing in the lead-up to significant political events.
