Kasie Hunt Departs NBC News & MSNBC For CNN

UPDATED, with details on Hunt’s move to CNN: MSNBC host and NBC News correspondent Kasie Hunt announced her departure at the end of Way Too Early on Friday, promising that she would announce her next move “in the next few weeks.”

Hunt plans to join CNN, according to a source familiar with her plans. Variety, which first reported the move, also reported that she would focus largely on streaming content as the network develops a streaming service, with reports that it will be called CNN+.

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Hunt did not immediately return a request via Twitter for comment.

“This is going to be my final broadcast with all of you,” Hunt said, adding that she would have more on her “next adventure” in “the next few weeks.”

She added, “I just want to thank everyone at NBC News, at MSNBC, of course to Mika, for always insisting that you should know your value.” That was a reference to Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, who wrote the best-selling motivational book Know Your Value: Women, Money and Getting What You’re Worth.

An MSNBC spokesperson said that Way Too Early will continue in the meantime with various MSNBC figures hosting in the interim.

Hunt had hosted the Sunday show Kasie DC until September, when MSNBC switched her to the morning slot anchoring the weekday Way Too Early, which as the title suggests, starts at 5 a.m. ET and, on 2 a.m. the West Coast. She also was NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent and also had a large presence on the network. She co-anchored major events coverage for NBC News’ streaming service, NBC News Now, and appeared on Meet the Press and NBC Nightly News.

Hunt joined NBC News in 2013 covering Congress and politics, and became political correspondent for MSNBC in 2014. She began anchoring the Sunday evening Kasie DC in 2017. She previously worked for the Associated Press and Politico.

In 2016 Hunt was among the team of correspondents covering the presidential election known as the Road Warriors, with Hunt covering Hillary Clinton’s campaign during the general election. She also was at the Capitol on January 6, and recounted the experience in Esquire.

“I will so miss working with you and the amazing team @WayTooEarly! And after I spend a few days sleeping in, count me among your loyal viewers in the future,” Hunt wrote.

Almost all of the networks have worked to expand their original content for their streaming platforms, mixing their broadcast and cable news stars with up-and-coming talent. On Thursday, MSNBC announced that its Peacock channel, The Choice, was being renamed The Choice from MSNBC, with plans for new shows featuring Brzezinski, Michael Beschloss and Nicolle Wallace. CNN, however, has yet to launch a separate streaming channel, although it did start streaming its linear channels online in 2011, with the live feed generally available to cable and satellite subscribers.

After announcing her departure, Hunt posted a tweet from her husband Matt Rivera of their son.

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