Observed Signal · Oct 9, 2026 · Market Signal · Source: VERSANT · Impact: 4/5
MS NOW to Present New Primetime Special, “MS NOW Live: Together in Texas” Airing Tomorrow, Oct. 10 at 8 P.M. ET
MS NOW announces a new primetime special, 'MS NOW Live: Together in Texas,' featuring Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, Jen Psaki and more. Also, MS NOW and FiftyPlusOne ink a deal for trusted data and polling, and Versant reaches a multi-year distribution renewal agreement with Verizon.
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MS NOW Revamps Schedule Ahead of 2026 Elections
MS NOW announced a wide-ranging programming reshuffle, effective in June, designed to position the network for the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential cycle. Rebecca Kutler, MS NOW president, cited double-digit viewership growth across dayparts as context for the shifts. Key moves include Stephanie Ruhle leaving her 11 p.m. slot to anchor a new two-hour 9 a.m. morning show while retaining her role as senior business analyst; Morning Joe returning to a three-hour format; Ali Velshi taking over The 11th Hour; Chris Jansing moving to chief political reporter; and Ana Cabrera departing the network. The changes are the first major overhaul since MS NOW came under full control of Versant after it separated from NBCUniversal earlier in the year.
MS NOW Appoints Executive Producers for Four Shows
MS NOW announced four executive producers who will oversee new shows launching in June as part of a programming overhaul revealed in March. Patrick McMenamin, Stephanie Ruhle’s 11th Hour executive producer, will move to mornings to run Ruhle’s new 9 a.m. two-hour news block. Rebekah Dryden will move from Ali Velshi’s weekend show to serve as EP for Velshi’s new 11 p.m. weeknight slot. Dina Moss was named EP of Jacob Soboroff’s weekend 10 a.m.–12 p.m. program. Marti House will be EP of Alicia Menendez’s weekday 12–2 p.m. show, having been EP of Chris Jansing Reports since 2020. MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler framed the changes as positioning the network for the midterm elections and the 2028 presidential cycle. The network also confirmed Peter Alexander (from NBC News) will anchor the 11 a.m. hour soon.
MS Now Unveils New Weekday Lineup June 15
MS Now announced a major programming overhaul that will debut a new weekday schedule on June 15, 2026, shifting away from the network’s prior "Reports" branding to emphasize breaking news and focused issue-driven shows. Key changes include a two-hour morning program, Money, Power, Politics with Stephanie Ruhle (9–11 a.m. ET); On the Line with Alicia Menendez at noon; The Moment with Katy Tur at 2 p.m.; a Washington-based panel The Weeknight at 7 p.m. (adding Luke Russert); and The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi at 11 p.m. ET. Weekend programming expands with Connect with Jacob Soboroff debuting June 13, 2026 (10 a.m.–1 p.m. ET). Several executive producers and show producers were named, Ana Cabrera has departed the network, and Peter Alexander is slated to anchor an 11 a.m. hour with a debut date to be set.
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