MSNBC faced a blizzard of backlash Thursday after announcing that popular liberal host Mehdi Hasan would lose his Sunday-night show as part of a broader restructuring of the network’s weekend lineup.
The network said the changes, which include a new weekend panel show, were made with 2024 election coverage in mind. But fans and prominent liberals questioned whether Hasan, one of the few Muslim hosts in cable news, was being penalized for his criticism of the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza and strong support for the Palestinian people.
Although Hasan was not among MSNBC’s top-rated stars, his segments often went viral on social media, where users celebrated his takedowns of conservatives such as former Trump adviser John Bolton and Israeli government adviser Mark Regev. During a Nov. 16 interview on his show for NBC’s Peacock streaming service, Hasan pressed Regev on the children killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes. When Regev said that Hasan had seen photos of dead children “because they’re the pictures Hamas wants you to see,” the host responded, “and also because they’re dead, Mark. They’re also people your government has killed.”
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The segment, as shared by Hasan, was viewed nearly 6 million times on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The British-born Hasan, who formerly worked for Al Jazeera English and the Intercept, began hosting his Peacock show in 2020 and joined MSNBC’s lineup the following year
Hasan will remain with the network as an analyst and fill-in host. And though his time segment will be absorbed by fellow host Ayman Mohyeldin — who has also gone viral for segments about the conflict in Gaza and Israel — criticism of the decision was sharp.
“It is bad optics for MSNBC to cancel @mehdirhasan’s show right at a time when he is vocal for human rights in Gaza with the war ongoing,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), wrote on X. “As a strong supporter of free speech, MSNBC owes the public an explanation for this decision. Why would they choose to do this now?”
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“MSNBC canceled Mehdi Hasan’s show. Because, of course, they did,” wrote former MSNBC host Cenk Uygur. “It’s not just because he treats Muslims as real human beings, it’s also because he actually challenges his guests. And that is the biggest heresy in mainstream media.”
MSNBC did not comment publicly on why Hasan's show specifically was canceled, and the host did not respond to messages seeking comment.
But a source close to the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, said the decision was unrelated to his commentary about Israel and Gaza. While Hasan’s show attracted more viewers in September than CNN’s 8 p.m. offering, it regularly came in third place among the 25-to-54 demographic most valued by advertisers and averaged just 532,000 total viewers in October.
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Hasan’s show was among several weekend MSNBC programs that were canceled as part of the changes, including Yasmin Vossoughian’s program. Meanwhile, Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend, who also hosted their own shows, will now instead appear on a weekend-morning panel show along with Michael Steele called “The Weekend.”
“As we emerge from a multitude of historic events these past months, we have an opportunity to build on our accomplishments and keep the momentum going into 2024 and beyond,” MSNBC president Rashida Jones wrote in a memo to staff explaining the changes. “Beginning January 13, we will evolve our weekend programming to better position ourselves as we head into the presidential election.”
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee launched a petition Thursday calling for MSNBC to reinstate Hasan’s Sunday-evening show, as well as his streaming show on Peacock, which is also being shuttered.
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“Media history is littered with voices that got in the door, resonated with the public, and were shut out because they challenged just a little too much power,” the organization wrote in an email to members. “It’s a huge programming mistake to kick voices like Mehdi Hasan off the air instead of asking: Why are they resonating with the public as they challenge power and question conventional wisdom?”
A representative of the liberal organization said the results would be shared with MSNBC.
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