Eugene Daniels Joins MSNBC as Weekend Host in New Programming Shift

LOS ANGELES, March 3, 2025 — Eugene Daniels, a veteran White House correspondent for Politico, will join MSNBC as a full-time host for the news channel’s weekend morning program, “The Weekend.” The announcement was made on Monday, detailing that Daniels, 36, will co-host the three-hour program alongside Washington Post journalist Jonathan Capehart and another co-host yet to be announced.

The revamped weekend lineup will debut in late April, featuring current hosts Michael Steele, Alicia Menendez, and Symone Sanders-Townsend transitioning to a new 7 p.m. Eastern weekday slot.

In addition to hosting, Daniels will also serve as senior Washington correspondent for MSNBC. This marks a significant shift for Daniels, who has been an MSNBC contributor since 2021 and has frequently appeared on the morning program “Morning Joe.” He will be leaving Politico to embark on this new chapter of his career.

MSNBC is currently evolving as it establishes its own news operation after being under the NBC News umbrella since its inception in 1996. Daniels is noted as the first outside hire under the current leadership aiming to redefine the network.

In related news, Jen Psaki is set to host four nights a week, while Rachel Maddow adjusts her schedule to Mondays only. Joy Reid‘s program has been discontinued as part of this restructuring.

Joining Daniels on the weekend program, Capehart has recently concluded his weekend evening show, which started back in 2020. His transition to “The Weekend” follows the cancellation of several other weekend programs, including those hosted by Katie Phang and Ayman Mohyeldin. However, Mohyeldin will take part in a new evening edition of the weekend show, and Phang will remain with MSNBC as a legal analyst.

Daniels, who joined Politico in 2018, was also a co-author of the widely acclaimed morning newsletter, “Politico Playbook.” As president of the White House Correspondents Association, a role he was elected to last year, he has made significant strides in his career. A Texas native, Daniels earned his degree from Colorado State University, where he was also a defensive end for the football team.

While Reid’s departure may signal changes, analysts predict it does not indicate a shift in MSNBC’s overall direction, which remains focused on a progressive audience. The network retains a strong following among political progressives, ensuring viewers will still find content aligning with their views.