More big changes are in store for MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, which rebranded in November 2025 after the cable news network was spun off from NBC Universal to become part of a new media company called Versant. The rebrand has gone well, with its daily viewership up 25% since the change, per the Los Angeles Times.
But on March 18, 2026, the network announced more changes: a major shakeup to its lineup, including the departure of anchor Ana Cabrera and daytime lineup shifts. Find our report on the new MS NOW schedule starting in June here.
Ana Cabrera Says She’s ‘Truly Grateful’ for Her Time at MS NOW
In a social media video posted just before MS NOW’s announcement, Cabrera — who anchors the weekday timeslot from 10 to 11 a.m. Eastern time — shared her news with fans.
“I’ve decided to make a change,” Cabrera said, “and I am leaving MS NOW. Throughout my career, I’ve always sought the best opportunities to do this work and have the greatest impact, while staying true to myself and my mission as a journalist. My goal has always been to educate and inform and shine light, to hold people in power accountable, people on all sides of the political aisle, and non-politicians as well.”
Cabrera noted that she is “truly grateful for my time at MS NOW,” including her “wonderful colleagues,” and said she’ll “still be helming the anchor desk for a few more months.” She did not reveal her plans, but said she looks forward “to sharing what’s next for me soon.”
Stephanie Ruhle Moves From Primetime to Daytime on MS NOW
GettyThe timing of Cabrera’s departure seems to be aligned with all of the other changes coming to the network in June, which MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler announced during the morning editorial call on March 18, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
Ahead of the fall midterm elections, Stephanie Ruhle will leave her primetime show “The 11th Hour,” per Deadline, but stay on the MS NOW YouTube Live series “It’s Happening,” which she co-hosts with Ali Velshi. She will move from nights to a new morning show about money and politics, airing from 9 to 11 a.m. Eastern time. Veshi, meanwhile, will take over “The 11th Hour,” per THR, and Jacob Soboroff will take the helm on Velshi’s weekend show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern.
GettyRuhle’s new timeslot means “Morning Joe,” the long-running show hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, will drop its last hour and air for three hours instead of four, from 6 to 9 a.m. Eastern time. Jonathan Lemire, who’s already part of the show, will co-anchor the 8 a.m. hour, according Deadline. The outlet also noted that a new anchor is expected to be announced “in the coming weeks” for the 11 a.m. Eastern hour.
Meanwhile, the noon to 2 p.m. Eastern slot, Deadline reported, will be anchored by Alicia Menendez, who has been co-hosting “The Weeknight” with Symone Sanders Townsend and Michael Steele, which replaced “The ReidOut” after Joy Reid was let go in February 2025. Menendez will be replaced on “The Weeknight” by frequent fill-in Luke Russert. On Mondays, “The Weeknight” will only air one hour instead of two, because Chris Hayes will return to the 8 p.m. Eastern slot after cutting back his hours in 2023, per THR.
In addition, daytime anchor Chris Jansing will leave that show to become MS NOW’s chief political reporter. Other daytime shows will be announced soon, as well as a new 11 a.m. Eastern anchor, per THR.
Update: the new MS NOW schedule starting in June 2026 can be found here.
“7 p.m. “The Weeknight” with new anchor Ali Veshi” – I thought it was Luke Russert joining The Weeknight?
Luke will be on at 7:00 pm. Ali will be on at 11:00 pm.
You need to get rid of “Morning Joe.” Those two have already had their glory days.
Yes! Especially Mika! They pay her way too much money to whine out a “thank you very much” to parting guests. She sucks! Joe does nothing but bloviate about what he want. Johnathan and Willie are the stars of that broadcast for sure. Glad that Velshi is going to be on when I’m in bed. Too much hand waiving which is very distracting to us viewers.
I will miss Velshi but will watch him on late night he is excellent
Velshi is strongest journalist and is good at talking with guests. What will happen to his banned book segment/authors on Saturday? The problem with 11:00 pm is that is when the comedy shows are on.
all of these supposed “news” people are terrible. Their news is always late and many times
inaccurate. Add in the fact that their attitudes are childish at best and what you get is
a sad group of shows that have little to do with actual news and everything to do with
their personal opinions all left leaning all the time.
When is Nicole Wallace show on? Hopefully she will still be on, the best person on all of your shows. Please give update ASAP.
Would you please dial back the volume on Sanders she constantly yells and interrupts everyone! I use my mute button and read captions! Too boisterous!
I love Velshi he’s so talented!
It’s discouraging enough when a woman runs MSNOW and moves Stephanie Ruhle and Alicia Menendez to daytime slots but then replaces both of them with men who overwhelmingly dominate primetime?!
86 Michael Feinberg
he’s worse than Trump
loathe the way he articulates (a la Cory Booker)
Ana Cabrera was excellent.Will miss her.Velshi should have the 7pm slot.Velshi’s wise “editorials” will sorely missed on weekends. Excited that the very talented Jacob Soboroff will anchor on weekends. Move Steele, Sanders-Townsend, Russert to 11pm. Lots of drama on that show to keep views awake at 11pm but too much loud angst and repetition to hear after work at 7pm.
These changes all seem good. The reporting staff at MS Now is the best in the business, and the key to good ratings are the guests. MS Now brings on really top guests. I learn a lot by watching. (Aljazeera is also good.)
Put Medhi Hassan in primetime!
if their journalists they shouldn’t add their opinion.
Get rid of Wallace and Sanders. Bring back Jansing and Cabrera. Move Velshi to prime time. Sanders is to loud and continuously interupts, as does Stephanie Ruhle.
I am a loyal watcher of MS NOW and support your current changes except one. I was disgusted that the back drop of Washington’s iconic White House and Capital, but the GOLD HOUSE AND GOLD CAPITAL, supporting Trump’s attempt to change the character of Washington in his own image, “gold”. Please change the color back to “White”.