MSNBC has sidelined Mehdi Hasan, one of its most controversial anchors. Hasan has increasingly taken heat since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel.
Hasan will lose his Sunday night show. The network will relegate the pro-Palestinian host to being a fill-in anchor and analyst as needed.
MSNBC is canceling Mehdi Hasan's show, I'm told, and plans to expand Ayman Mohyeldin's show to two hours. Mehdi to become a fill in host and analyst. MSNBC is also launching a new weekend panel show, as @semafor previously reported.
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) November 30, 2023
While many observers support the move, it's not clear what the ramifications will be among MSNBC's intended audience.
MSNBC canceled Mehdi Hasan's show. Because, of course, they did. 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. Access must be protected!
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) November 30, 2023
The Daily Caller has more on the on the scheduling shift:
The outlet is also reportedly launching a new weekend panel show that will include Symone Sanders, Alicia Menendez and Michael Steele.
As part of a weekend shift, MSNBC is launching a new “ensemble show” featuring Symone Sanders, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele.
— Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) November 30, 2023
Mehdi Hasan will also be losing his 8 p.m. Sunday night show (which will be absorbed by Ayman Mohyeldin), but he's staying at MSNBC as an analyst.
Hasan has come under fire for his comments, most recently his takes on the Israeli-Hamas war. Hasan has frequently blamed Israel for the rise of Hamas.
Back in 2009 Hasan called non-Muslims “animals” and compared homosexuals to “pedophiles” and “sexual deviants.”
Just recently Hasan tried to diminish the magnitude of 9/11 terrorist attacks by needlessly equating the overthrow of the Chilean government in 1973 to the deadly attacks, garnering backlash.