Mehdi Hasan Leaves MSNBC In Surprise Announcement At End Of Final Sunday Show

Mehdi Hasan signed off on Sunday evening’s final episode of MSNBC’s The Mehdi Hasan Show by announcing he is leaving the cable news network.

“As we begin 2024, with an election coming, a war still ongoing, and too many Trump trials honestly to even keep track of, and with this show going away, I’ve decided that it’s time for me to look for a new challenge,” Hasan said. “Tonight is not just my final episode of the Mehdi Hasan Show, it’s my last day with MSNBC. Yes, I’ve decided to leave.”

“To be clear: I’m so, so proud of what we’ve achieved on this show, on this network, and I can’t thank you all enough for tuning in and for your support and feedback,” he concluded. “But as I say, new year, new plans.”

Hasan’s show was canceled in late November in a network shakeup of weekend programming despite impressive ratings on the largely left-of-center network. That move raised some eyebrows following a report by Semafor’s Max Tani that MSNBC had sidelined its Muslim anchors following the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians. MSNBC vehemently denied that was at issue, noting they were opting for news anchors, not opinion hosts, during a time of war coverage.

MSNBC confirmed Hasan’s announcement. Ayman Mohyeldin will expand and help the hour vacated by Hasan beginning next week.

Hasan is an internationally recognized talent who, before joining MSNBC, had for years earned a terrific reputation for tough but fair interviews that genuinely held the powerful to account.

Hasan’s departure will likely reignite speculation about the reasons for his sudden departure. Mediaite understands that the network did not force him out and that this was his own decision. Losing his eponymous show probably catalyzed Hasan into seeking other options.

Watch above via MSNBC.

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