Michael Smerconish is joining CNN as host of a new weekly program that will air live on Saturday mornings.
Smerconish, who worked most recently as an MSNBC contributor and guest-host for “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” will also provide analysis and opinion on CNN throughout the week. He joins the network this month.
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“We are thrilled to have Michael join CNN,” said CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker. “At a time when the cable news landscape has become increasingly polarized, his independence and passion for reasoned dialogue makes him the perfect fit for CNN.”
Smerconish will continue hosting his radio show “The Michael Smerconish Program” on SiriusXM Radio and writing a weekly column for the “Philadelphia Inquirer.”
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“I’ve long wanted to host a program of my own and I’m appreciative of Jeff Zucker for making that dream a reality,” he said. “I think the type of content I seek to provide is perfectly suited for CNN’s non-ideological brand.”
Smerconish has interviewed five U.S. presidents including Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as Vice Presidents Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Joe Biden.