Is Mehdi Hasan Leaving? Why is Mehdi Hasan Leaving? What Happened to Mehdi Hasan?
by P Nandhini
Updated Jan 08, 2024
Is Mehdi Hasan Leaving?
Yes, Mehdi Hasan is leaving MSNBC. The British-American broadcaster and author announced his departure on the final broadcast of The Mehdi Hasan Show on January 7, 2024. This decision follows the cancellation of his Sunday night show by MSNBC in November 2023 as part of a broader shakeup of its weekend lineup.
Despite initial plans for Hasan to stay on as a political analyst and fill-in anchor after the cancellation, he revealed during his last show that he has chosen to pursue new challenges in the upcoming year. The cancellation of Hasan's show sparked some controversy, with criticism from viewers and public figures who appreciated his contributions as a journalist.
Notably, members of Congress Ro Khanna and Ilhan Omar, along with The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, expressed concern over MSNBC's decision to cancel Hasan's show, emphasizing his significant role as a Muslim journalist and his outspoken stance on issues such as the Israeli government's actions in Gaza.
Who is Mehdi Hasan?
Mehdi Hasan is a British-American broadcaster and author known for his impactful career in journalism. Born in July 1979, he has become a prominent figure in the media landscape. After graduating from Christ Church, Oxford, Hasan initially worked on ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby program as a researcher and producer. His journey in television continued with roles on the BBC's The Politics Show and as deputy executive producer on Sky's breakfast show Sunrise.
Hasan later became the editor of news and current affairs at Channel 4. In 2009, he took on the role of senior editor for politics at the New Statesman, showcasing his diverse expertise in the field.In 2012, Mehdi Hasan transitioned to international broadcasting as a presenter on Al Jazeera's English news channel. He further solidified his presence in the media by moving to Washington, D.C., in 2015, working full-time for Al Jazeera on the program UpFront.
Additionally, Hasan hosted the Deconstructed podcast produced by The Intercept from 2018 to 2020. His career at MSNBC began in 2021 when he hosted The Mehdi Hasan Show on Peacock, and later on MSNBC, gaining recognition for his incisive interviews and contributions to political discourse.
Why is Mehdi Hasan Leaving?
Mehdi Hasan is leaving MSNBC because his show, The Mehdi Hasan Show, was canceled by the network in November 2023 as part of a weekend lineup shakeup. Despite plans for him to stay on as a political analyst, Hasan has chosen to leave the network to seek new challenges.
Is Mehdi Hasan Leaving? - FAQs
Yes, Mehdi Hasan announced his departure from MSNBC on January 7, 2024.
Mehdi Hasan is leaving because his Sunday night show, The Mehdi Hasan Show, was canceled by MSNBC in November 2023 as part of a broader shakeup of its weekend programming.
MSNBC canceled Mehdi Hasan's show in November 2023.
During his final show, Mehdi Hasan announced that he decided to leave MSNBC to pursue new challenges in the upcoming year.
Mehdi Hasan began his television career as a researcher and producer on ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby program.