NewsNation is retooling its weekday and weekend program lineup as it adds more programming hours to become a 24/7 cable news network.
Morning in America expands to the weekends on Saturday, Jan. 27, with the morning show being anchored by Hena Doba on Saturdays and Sundays from 7-10 a.m. ET.
Doba comes to NewsNation from Cheddar News, where she served in various roles, including host of Cheddar News’ Wake Up with Cheddar. Previously, she worked as an anchor and correspondent for CBS News. She led The National Desk with Hena Daniels from 2015 to 2019, covering national and international stories and reporting live from the New York Stock Exchange for CBS affiliates nationwide.
Running the show on the weekends will be NBC Today show veteran Dee Dee Thomas, who joins the network as executive producer of the weekend edition of Morning in America. Thomas served as executive producer of Weekend Today from 2011-2014 and led the 8 a.m. hour on the weekday edition of Today from 2008-2011; she started as a PA on Weekend Today in 1993. Most recently, she served as senior executive producer of Live Content & Talent Development at Yahoo Finance Live.
Previously, Thomas was Cheddar Inc.’s executive producer, overseeing daily news programming for Cheddar News and primetime specials. Before Cheddar, she worked at NBC News and held several roles, including senior producer on MSNBC’s dayside unit.
Meanwhile, on the weekday front, Morning in America switches from a dual-anchor format to a single-anchor format beginning Monday, Jan. 22, as Markie Martin will anchor from 6-9 a.m. ET. Martin’s co-host, Adrienne Bankert, will leave the program and become NewsNation’s Special Projects anchor. She’ll begin a new series centered on faith in America, One Nation Under God, debuting in February 2024.
Additionally, NewsNation Now with Nichole Berlie will expand to three hours from 12-3 p.m. ET, following NewsNation Live with Marni Hughes from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET. Also, Elizabeth Vargas Reports moves from 6 to 5 p.m. ET, with current 5 p.m. offering The Hill moderated by Blake Burman moving into Vargas’ 6 p.m. slot.
“We are excited to debut our new weekend morning show along with an enhanced daytime lineup to fill out our 24 hour/7 day-a-week schedule in 2024,” said Michael Corn, NewsNation’s President of News. “This programming is another big milestone for the network as we continue to build a best-in-class news organization.”
NewsNation’s new weekday program lineup is below
6-9 AM ET– Morning in America with anchor Markie Martin
9 AM-12 PM ET– NewsNation Live with Marni Hughes
12-3 PM ET – NewsNation Now with Nichole Berlie
3-5 PM ET– NewsNation Now with Connell McShane
5-6 PM ET – Elizabeth Vargas Reports
6-7 PM ET– The Hill with moderator Blake Burman
7-8 PM ET– On Balance with Leland Vittert
8-9 PM ET– CUOMO hosted by Chris Cuomo
9-10 PM ET– Dan Abrams Live hosted by Dan Abrams
10-11 PM ET– Banfield hosted by Ashleigh Banfield