MS-NOW makes first major programming moves since name change

[Intractable]

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/18/ms-now-ruhle-joe-rogan-show

Some switching around of hosts.

Ana Cabrera gone. (Will anyone miss her?)

Morning Joe back to three hours.

Stephanie Rhule moves to mornings.

[Raven123]

1. Ruhle was on mornings in the past, I think

I do learn a bit from her take on the economy

[Intractable]

5. Years ago, Velshi and Rhule co-hosted the 5AM show.

That's where MS-NBC would give new hosts a trial run.

[Rebl2]

44. Yes she

used to be on in the mornings several years ago.

[milestogo]

2. Stephanie Rhule moves to mornings.

[LisaM]

3. Not bad changes.

I was kind of hoping for Jonathan Lemire for The Eleventh Hour (which is on at 8:00 on the West Coast). I always liked Brian Williams' tempered and neutral approach for the show and really missed it when he left.

[Deminpenn]

6. Like the changes

I think MSNOW has been better since it was spun off from NBC/Comcast. It's been a plus not to have to listen to Garrett Haake and Kornacki anymore. The reporter staff is much stronger and independent. Carol Leoning's hire was a grand slam. I like the roundtable format of The Weeknight where viewers get straight talk a surprisingly lot of the time from guests. Glad to see Hayes back 5 days a week.

[yellow dahlia]

21. Carol Loennig was a great hire!

[Starbeach]

10. Lemire

Lemire is sane and prepared and skeptical. Should be more prominently featured.

[LisaM]

16. He also has that sort of sardonic way of speaking

that I think suits that time slot. He can actually be quite funny (so can Willie Geist).

[milestogo]

17. He's ok.

At least he doesn't spend the whole time slot talking about himself.

[Intractable]

36. Are you implying there's someone on MJ that talks a lot about himself?

Scarborough thinks he has fans. He doesn't.

Rachel Maddow has fans. Scarborough has a timeslot.

Nobody tunes in because they want to watch him. Rather, we want to watch MS-NOW at that time, and he's what's on.

[milestogo]

39. Scarborough thinks he is brilliant and interesting

but he's annoying as hell.

[PatSeg]

24. I loved Brian Williams at 11:00 pm

I really looked forward to his show every night.

[LisaM]

30. I did too.

That's why it seems to me that Johnathon Lemire could bring the same wry kind of energy.

[snowybirdie]

4. I always thought

Stephanie Rhule,was wasted in the late night time slot. She has expertise,in financial markets that will be good midday.

[hlthe2b]

7. I usually saw it on repeat (way past my bedtime) and her round tables seemed pretty wild!

They did not (seemingly) feel held back and would very vocally speak their mind. It was often amusing...

[hlthe2b]

8. Ali Velshi (who I love) gets the 11 PM show. Alicia Menendez gets her own afternoon show.

I really respect Alicia who has gone through a lot with a great deal of class (her father is in prison--former NJ (disgraced) Senator Bob Menendez. To my knowledge she has kept the "Chinese Wall" firmly intact throughout--never speaking to the issue nor ever appearing on a broadcast where he was mentioned. I also think she did some "Yeoman's Work," appearing with two very strong personalities but especially Symone Townsend Sanders--without getting drowned out.

Not bad changes, really.

[yorkster]

13. GMTA..

Also Jacob Soboroff gets Ali Velshi's weekend time. which is great.

[lastlib]

15. I wonder what will happen to Ali's "Banned Book Club.".....

I really liked that segment (when I got to watch it...)

[yellow dahlia]

23. Jacob Soboroff has the "chops" for his own slot.

Yay!

[yellow dahlia]

22. Yes - working with Symone was work I'm sure.

Alicia was indeed drowned out. But when she got a chance to say something, it was always smart.

[PatSeg]

25. Symone is too much like an entertainment host

Whereas Alicia comes across more as a serious journalist.

So now Luke Russert will take Alicia's place! I've never watched the show and now with Luke, I probably never will.

[yellow dahlia]

26. I haven't seen much of Luke Russert.

I'm busy at 7:30 w/ Jeopardy. So if they screw up the hour, I'll survive.

Although it seems like a time slot they might like to make work as a savvy roundtable, given today's political climate.

[hlthe2b]

35. I have my qualms, but I will say he seemed to have majorly matured after his year traveling the world...

I think he may have been humbled by some of the people he met (and yes, he did experience at the local, cultural level--not a mere monied tourist).

We'll see. I didn't watch that show all that much, but Michael Steele is probably the best suited (other than a tranquilizing dart) to keep STS from going "nuts" at times... But, yes, as has already been noted, she has that "entertainment" personality that dominates... I do think the lingering deep respect the network has for Russert's late father is something Sanders will have to keep in mind. I doubt too many producers and Execs are going to be happy if she mows him over.

[PatSeg]

38. "A tranquilizing dart"

Ha, ha! Yeah, she is a bit much. I wonder how her co-hosts tolerate her.

[yellow dahlia]

42. Good points.

[PatSeg]

37. It seems that Russert was a guest host

a few times, but other than that, I haven't seen him anywhere. I can't say I missed him.

[CTyankee]

40. Symone has toned down her presentation a lot. She came across as a wildly gesturing loudmouth but now is calmer and

easier to listen to. Which is good because her message was getting lost in her gesturing before and now she makes a more forceful statement, without all the drama, eye rolling, and hand gesturing.

[hlthe2b]

41. Intermittently... But I have seen episodes where that tranquilizer dart could be justified...

Just sayin...

[yorkster]

9. And Ali Velshi gets the 11pm slot.

Sounds good to me.

[democrank]

11. These sound like positive changes.

I’m particularly glad that Jacob Soboroff will host a show on weekends and that Stephanie Rhule will have a morning show. Stephanie is so knowledgeable about economic matters and she gives her guests a good amount of time to speak. In my view, Jacob Soboroff leads with his conscience. He makes us look at issues that frequently get overlooked.

[msongs]

12. since it is no longer a news channel, who cares what hours their opinions are spouted?

[Intractable]

14. Useless comment

[Zorro]

18. I'll miss Ana Cabrera

I thought she was pretty good.

[a kennedy]

19. I always liked her as well.

[SocialDemocrat61]

20. Morning Joke should have been canceled

They are not trustworthy.

[generalbetrayus]

27. I wish MSNOW could find a slot for Mehdi Hasan.

I really enjoyed his guest hosts on various shows.

[yellow dahlia]

28. He had a show on the weekends a couple of years ago - they canned him.

I like him also - extremely smart.

[Deminpenn]

34. Wish they'd can Catherine Rampell

She is annoyingly smug.

[yellow dahlia]

43. Indeed. And defensive.

[Totally Tunsie]

29. Ali Velshi is wonderful, and deserves a 5-night show, but I'll miss Stephanie Ruhle at that hour.

The good news is her two hour slot in the a.m., especially if it gets Joe and Mika off an hour earlier. Also like that Jacob Soboroff will have a regular show. Yay for bringing Chris back on Mondays. He's a favorite.

If they must add Luke Russert, it was a good move to pair him with Simone. Now I can ignore both of them in one shot. Poor Michael Steele, however...what did he do to deserve this?

Ana Cabrera? eh. Won't miss her.

I'll agree the changes are positive.

[SouthBayDem]

31. Why the hell did the URL mention Joe Rogan?

His only connection to NBC was on the cast of NewsRadio 30 years ago.

Remember the days when MSNBC used to have all those prison documentaries and Dateline true crime reruns all weekend long? Thankfully those aren't being brought back.

[Intractable]

33. I noticed that too. He's not mentioned in the article.