MSNBC is ushering in a historic new era for cable news with the announcement of a groundbreaking weekend lineup. Beginning this spring, the network will launch a revamped edition of its weekend morning show, The Weekend, hosted by a dynamic new trio: Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Jonathan Capehart, senior Washington correspondent Eugene Daniels, and newly appointed Washington correspondent Jackie Alemany.
The move marks a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. Capehart and Daniels will become the first two out gay Black men to co-host a news program together on a major cable network. Their visibility not only represents a powerful moment of inclusivity but also sets a new standard for diversity in political journalism.
A New Chapter for Weekend News
MSNBC officially announced the change during a live segment of Morning Joe, where Capehart, Daniels, and Alemany appeared together to tease their upcoming collaboration. Capehart, who has hosted solo weekend programming for the network for several years, expressed enthusiasm about the format shift and his new co-hosts.
“We have so much to talk about,” Capehart said during the broadcast. “And thankfully, we’re going to have six hours—Saturday and Sunday—to really keep the conversation going.”
The weekend program is expected to blend in-depth political analysis with a more conversational roundtable approach, capitalizing on the chemistry between its hosts and their combined decades of experience in Washington reporting.
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On April 16, Capehart shared a joyful selfie with Daniels and Alemany on Instagram, captioning it, “A three-pack of shenanigans,” hinting at the energy and camaraderie viewers can expect.
Breaking Barriers in News Media
Capehart and Daniels’ partnership on The Weekend is not just about journalism—it’s about visibility, representation, and breaking long-standing barriers in the television news industry.
Jonathan Capehart, an associate editor at The Washington Post and a regular contributor to PBS, has been a trailblazer in political commentary. Openly gay and deeply engaged in both politics and social issues, he brings a seasoned voice to MSNBC’s progressive slate. His background includes a Pulitzer Prize as part of The New York Daily News editorial team, and he is known for blending sharp analysis with a warm, inclusive on-screen presence.
Eugene Daniels, widely respected for his political reporting and commentary, joins the show after rising to prominence as a co-author of Politico’s influential Playbook. Daniels is also the current president of the White House Correspondents’ Association—the first Black gay man to hold the position—and is expected to continue in that role alongside his MSNBC duties.
Their presence at the helm of a major news show offers a powerful counterpoint to an industry that has historically excluded LGBTQ+ journalists—particularly those of color—from positions of leadership and visibility.
“It’s not just a seat at the table. It’s being allowed to lead the conversation,” said one MSNBC executive in a background briefing. “Jonathan and Eugene are doing just that.”
Jackie Alemany Joins the Lineup
Joining Capehart and Daniels is Jackie Alemany, an experienced political correspondent known for her time at The Washington Post and CBS News. Alemany brings insider reporting experience from Capitol Hill and the White House, complementing the dynamic perspectives of her co-hosts.
The trio’s mix of personal authenticity, professional gravitas, and natural chemistry is already generating buzz online—and not just among political junkies. The announcement was met with an outpouring of support from LGBTQ+ audiences and journalists alike, many celebrating the move as a long-overdue evolution in political news coverage.
A Broader Shift at MSNBC
The weekend changes are part of a broader transformation at MSNBC, following its formal split from NBC News, which has allowed the cable news arm to operate as a more independent news-gathering and editorial entity.
This programming reshuffle also includes moving Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez—the previous hosts of the weekend slot—to a new weeknight 7 p.m. primetime block. That hour is being vacated by longtime host Joy Reid, who is departing the network for undisclosed future endeavors.
While MSNBC has long positioned itself as a progressive voice in American news media, these recent changes signal a renewed investment in inclusive programming and bold, diverse perspectives.
Representation That Matters
The significance of two out gay Black men co-hosting a major cable news program cannot be overstated—especially at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly under political attack. Media representation remains a crucial front in the broader struggle for equality, and MSNBC’s new lineup arrives as both a cultural milestone and a necessary corrective to years of underrepresentation.
In a media environment where authenticity and diversity are more essential than ever, Capehart and Daniels are poised to bring fresh voices, lived experience, and critical insight to the issues shaping American life.
“This moment isn’t just about who’s on screen—it’s about who gets to tell the story,” said a viewer on X (formerly Twitter). “Jonathan Capehart and Eugene Daniels being in this space means we’re telling the story, too.”
