Trending Now - MSNBC Cuts 'morning Joe' Hours Amid Strain on Hosts
WHO:
MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Stephanie Ruhle, Alicia Menendez, Ali Velshi, Luke Russert, Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist, Ana Cabrera, Chris Jansing, Jacob Soboroff
Insider sources from MS NOW
WHAT:
"Morning Joe" will now air for three hours starting at 6 a.m. ET, instead of four hours, as the 9 a.m. hour will be replaced with a new program hosted by Stephanie Ruhle.
An MS NOW insider stated that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski were "beaten up for the whole day" due to the previous four-hour schedule.
The insider mentioned, "Four hours of linear TV, in 2026, it just doesn’t make sense."
Scarborough reportedly considered leaving the show if Kamala Harris won the 2024 presidential election but decided to stay after Trump prevailed.
The network is set to fill an 11 a.m. time slot before the changes take effect in June 2026.
MS NOW is reshuffling its programming schedule, moving Stephanie Ruhle and Alicia Menendez to daytime slots.
Ruhle will anchor a two-hour daytime slot starting at 9 a.m. ET.
Menendez will start her program at noon.
"Morning Joe" will be reduced from four hours to three hours, now airing from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET.
Ali Velshi will take over Ruhle's current 11 p.m. show.
Luke Russert will replace Menendez on “The Weeknight,” which airs at 7 p.m.
Ana Cabrera is leaving the network, and Chris Jansing will become MS NOW's chief political reporter.
Jacob Soboroff will anchor two three-hour shifts on the weekend.
WHERE:
New York, NY (location of MS NOW)
WHEN:
Changes to the programming schedule will take effect in June 2026.
The additional hour for "Morning Joe" was added in 2022.
WHY:
An MS NOW insider indicated that the network is leaning into its liberal identity and moving away from straight news programs, as evidenced by the departure of Ana Cabrera and the promotion of Chris Jansing to chief political reporter.
The changes are part of a major programming overhaul at MS NOW to strengthen its lineup.
Insiders indicated that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski were tired of the physical toll of hosting four hours of television.
HOW:
MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler stated, "We want to make sure that as we cover the news, we are creating shows and programs that bring personality to every hour of the day."
The network is adjusting its schedule by reallocating time slots and introducing new programs.
(UPDATED March 19, 2026 01:26 UTC)
In a significant programming shift, "Morning Joe" will now air for three hours starting at 6 a.m. ET, with the 9 a.m. hour being replaced by a new show hosted by Stephanie Ruhle. An insider revealed that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski faced pressure over the previous four-hour format, which they felt was outdated, and Scarborough even considered leaving the show after the 2024 election but chose to stay after Trump won. As part of a broader strategy to embrace its liberal identity, the network is also promoting Chris Jansing to chief political reporter and plans to fill an 11 a.m. time slot before these changes take effect in June 2026.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 23:18 UTC)
MS NOW is set to overhaul its programming schedule in June 2026, moving Stephanie Ruhle to a two-hour daytime slot starting at 9 a.m. ET and Alicia Menendez to noon, while "Morning Joe" will be shortened to three hours, now airing from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET. Ali Velshi will take over Ruhle's current 11 p.m. show, and Luke Russert will replace Menendez on “The Weeknight,” which airs at 7 p.m., as Chris Jansing steps in as the network's chief political reporter following Ana Cabrera's departure. The changes come as insiders reveal that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski were feeling the strain of hosting four hours of television, prompting this significant reshuffle.