CNN’s Saturday morning program, First of All with Victor Blackwell, marked its 100th episode this past weekend with a celebratory cake for the indicate’s staff. Launched in 2024, the weekly program, also available as a podcast, focuses on national headlines impacting communities of color.
Host Victor Blackwell stated that the continued relevance of the program is underscored by the ongoing news cycle. “Every week, the news cycle reaffirms why an hour that focuses on communities of color is necessary,” he said. Blackwell added that the show aims to “find the 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.”
First of All has recently covered topics including protests against ICE, a racist video shared by former President Donald Trump on his social media platform depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, environmental justice concerns in Alabama, and the diminishing presence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Executive Producer Sidney Wright IV emphasized the program’s role in amplifying underrepresented voices. “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 strive to find voices in those communities and give them a chance to weigh in on the conversation,” Wright said.
The milestone comes as other news organizations are undergoing restructuring. CNBC this week laid off fewer than a dozen personnel as part of a reorganization integrating its digital and television news operations. A CNBC spokesperson stated the changes were “to align CNBC’s newsroom structure for the future” and “not driven by cost-cutting,” adding that the network expects to hire more than 40 new editorial roles in the coming year. Reuters reported the layoffs are part of an overhaul led by CNBC Editor-in-Chief David Cho, who is preparing to introduce a paywall on the network’s website.
CNBC also announced the hiring of Matt Peterson as a senior economics writer, beginning March 2. Peterson will provide analysis and exclusive reporting on policy and the economy, coming from Barron’s, where he was the politics, policy, and ideas editor. NBC News announced Emily Ngo will join as a newsletter writer/editor, focusing on the daily newsletter, The Inside Scoop. Ngo was previously a political reporter and co-author of New York Playbook at Politico.
MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler marked her one-year anniversary with an interview in the Los Angeles Times, reporting a 25% increase in daily viewership to 613,000, according to Nielsen, compared to the same period last year. Weeknight primetime viewership is up 27% to 1.2 million, and the 7 p.m. Program, The Weeknight, saw a 30% audience increase in January 2026 compared to January 2025.
MS NOW has announced special primetime coverage of the March 3 primary elections in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas, led by Rachel Maddow, and joined by Nicolle Wallace, Ari Melber, Chris Hayes, Lawrence O’Donnell, Stephanie Ruhle, Jen Psaki, Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez.
