CNN’s First of All Celebrates Milestone Amidst Media Shifts

CNN’s Saturday morning program, First of All with Victor Blackwell, marked its 100th episode this past weekend. Launched in 2024, the show, also available as a podcast, focuses on national headlines impacting communities of color. Recent topics have included Anti-ICE protests, a racist video shared by Donald Trump on his social media platform depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, environmental justice issues in Alabama, and the evolving landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

A Focus on Underrepresented Voices

Victor Blackwell, reflecting on the show’s milestone, emphasized the continued need for a program dedicated to communities of color. “Every week, the news cycle reaffirms why an hour that focuses on communities of color is necessary,” he stated. He highlighted the show’s strength in providing “unique angles and approaches to the big stories everyone is talking about—and elevate the stories and voices that should be part of the national conversation.”

Sidney Wright IV, First of All’s executive producer, echoed this sentiment, noting the show’s role in amplifying voices often excluded from mainstream media. “When so much of the conversation focuses on the loudest voices, this show speaks to those communities that aren’t being heard. I believe that’s our biggest strength. Communities of color are impacted just as much as everyone else. We try to find voices in those communities and give them a chance to weigh in on the conversation.”

Media Landscape Changes: Layoffs and New Hires

The celebration of First of All’s success occurs against a backdrop of restructuring within the broader media landscape. CNBC recently underwent a reorganization, resulting in the layoff of fewer than a dozen personnel. However, a CNBC spokesperson clarified that these changes were “not driven by cost-cutting,” but rather to “align CNBC’s newsroom structure for the future.” The network anticipates hiring over 40 new editorial roles in the coming year across television, digital, and direct-to-consumer platforms.

CNBC also announced the addition of Matt Peterson as a senior economics writer, starting March 2, 2026. Peterson joins from Barron’s, where he served as the politics, policy, and ideas editor. NBC News has also added Emily Ngo as a newsletter writer/editor for The Inside Scoop, previously a political reporter at Politico.

MSNBC Ratings and Election Coverage

MSNBC has seen audience growth under the leadership of Rebecca Kutler, now in her first year as president. Nielsen data indicates a 25% increase in the daily audience, reaching 613,000 viewers, compared to the same period last year. Weeknight primetime viewership is up 27% to 1.2 million, with The Weeknight program experiencing a 30% audience increase in January 2026 compared to January 2025.

Looking ahead to the March 3 primary elections in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas, MSNBC will provide special primetime coverage led by Rachel Maddow, alongside Nicolle Wallace, Ari Melber, Chris Hayes, Lawrence O’Donnell, Stephanie Ruhle, Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez.