Stephanie Ruhle Moves to Mornings in Major Programming Reshuffle at MS NOW

MS NOW is making sweeping changes to its programming schedule, touching all dayparts.

These changes, announced today and set to begin in June, are meant to better position the network in preparation for the midterm elections while also looking ahead to the 2028 presidential elections.

In a memo to staffers, MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler said these forthcoming moves are “building on the momentum that we are already seeing in 2026.” She noted that the network has seen double-digit viewership growth across every daypart in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo.

Headlining the changes is late-night host Stephanie Ruhle, who is departing her 11 p.m. perch to anchor a new two-hour morning show airing at 9 a.m. (all times Eastern).

She will continue to be MS NOW’s senior business analyst.

With Ruhle moving to the 9 a.m. slot, Morning Joe returns to its three-hour format after a four-year run. Jonathan Lemire will serve as co-anchor of the 8 a.m. hour.

Ali Velshi will take over the 11th Hour. The newly named chief data reporter will depart his weekend post, which will be filled by Jacob Soboroff anchoring from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. out of the network’s Los Angeles bureau.

The Weeknight’s Alicia Menendez moves to the 12-2 p.m. slot. Replacing her on the ensemble program will be Luke Russert, joining Symone Sanders Townsend and Michael Steele around the table.

The Weeknight will also lose an hour on Mondays, reverting to a one-hour show. It cedes its 8 p.m. time slot to All In with Chris Hayes, which is expanding from its current four-day-a-week schedule.

MS NOW is moving Chris Jansing from the studio to the field, becoming the network’s chief political reporter, where she will cover important political stories impacting voters across the country.

Finally, Ana Cabrera will be departing the network after a three-year run. In a note to colleagues, Cabrera said, “I am truly grateful for my time at MS NOW, for my wonderful colleagues, my amazing team that works so hard every day, and for you, the viewers who’ve put your trust in me to serve you through this most meaningful work.”

Personal news…

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— Ana Cabrera (@anacabrera.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 10:05 AM

She did not disclose her next move but said she will share more soon. MS NOW has not yet named a new host for the 11 a.m. show.

These are the first significant changes MS NOW is making since falling under the complete control of Versant, which became a fully separate company from NBCUniversal at the start of the year. The last programming overhaul the network undertook was in February 2025.

MS NOW’s revised program lineup, beginning in June, is below.

WEEKDAYS 

5 a.m. Way Too Early with Ali Vitali

6-9 a.m. Morning Joe

9-11 a.m. Stephanie Ruhle anchors

11 a.m. Anchor to be announced 

12-2 p.m. Alicia Menendez anchors

2-4 p.m. Katy Tur anchors

4-6 p.m. Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace

6 p.m. The Beat with Ari Melber

7 p.m. The Weeknight 

8 p.m. All In with Chris Hayes

9 p.m. The Rachel Maddow Show (Monday)

The Briefing with Jen Psaki (Tuesday-Friday)

10 p.m. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

11 p.m. The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi

WEEKENDS

7-10 a.m. The Weekend

10 a.m. -1 p.m. Jacob Soboroff anchors

1-4 p.m. Alex Witt anchors

4-5 p.m. The Beat: Weekend (Saturday)

Deadline: White House Weekend (Sunday)

5-6 p.m. PoliticsNation

6-9 p.m. The Weekend: Primetime

9 p.m. Crooked on MS NOW (Saturday)