MSNBC Cancels Mehdi Hasan’s Show, Debuts New Politics-Focused ‘Ensemble Program’ in Major Weekend Overhaul
MSNBC announced major changes to its weekend lineup on Thursday, canceling the Sunday show hosted by Mehdi Hasan and debuting an ensemble program that will air weekend mornings.
The changes, which will take effect Jan. 13, will alter almost every hour of the weekend, where MSNBC has struggled in the ratings for years through a series of lineup revamps.
The new show, The Weekend, is billed as a politics and Washington-focused program. It will be hosted from Washington D.C. by MSNBC anchors Alicia Menendez, Symone Sanders-Townsend and Michael Steele on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. Both Sanders-Townsend and Menendez will be leaving their weekend programs to join the new show.
Another big change: MSNBC canceled The Mehdi Hasan Show, a Sunday night program hosted by the British-American journalist and commentator. He will be replaced by another hour of Ayman Mohyeldin’s show, which already airs for three hours on the weekend.
Hasan and Sanders-Townsend will also be retiring their shows on MSNBC streaming service Peacock. Hasan will remain at MSNBC as a political analyst and fill-in host.
Semafor reported soon after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas that MSNBC has “quietly taken three of its Muslim broadcasters out of the anchor’s chair” — referring to Hasan, Mohyeldin and Ali Velshi. MSNBC denied it was benching the hosts.
“Some staff at MSNBC have been concerned by the moves, feeling all three hosts have some of the deepest knowledge of the conflict,” Semafor reported. “NBC says the shifts are coincidental, and the three continue to appear on air to report and provide analysis.”
Some other highlights from the changes: Jonathan Capehart’s show is moving to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays, Yasmin Vossoughian’s show will end — she will continue as national reporter for MSNBC — and Alex Witt-hosted Alex Witt Reports will expand to three hours.
Velshi is one of the few hosts staying where he is: he will continue to host four hours of MSNBC’s weekend schedule, from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
