Since the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan has been embroiled in controversy over some of his inflammatory comments.
Hasan has been one of the strictest critics of Israel and joined MSNBC after working for Al Jazeera and the hard-left site The Intercept.
Now, NBC executives had decided to pull his show, but he will remain as an on-camera analyst.
The changes are part of “sweeping changes” being made at MSNBC that will begin in January.
Democrats, including members of Congress, are fuming over the move.
Instead, MSNBC host Ayman Mohyeldin, who is more moderate than Hasan, will see his hours extended.
Hasan came under heavy criticism immediately following the Oct 7 attack however, MSNBC denied a report he was “quietly” removed.
Days later he returned to the airwaves only to make more waves and was accused of pushing Hamas propaganda.
Democrat lawmakers are scolding MSNBC for canceling his show.
“Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., heralded Hasan as “one of the most brilliant and most prominent Muslim journalists in the U.S.”
“It is deeply troubling that MSNBC is canceling his show amid a rampant rise of anti-Muslim bigotry and suppression of Muslim voices. Anyone who cares about free expression should be concerned,” Omar posted on social media.
However, Hasan’s show being canceled may have more to do with his ratings that his ideology.
From Fox News:
Others have suggested it was a programming decision, citing MSNBC’s viewership struggles as a possible explanation. In 2023, “The Mehdi Hasan Show” averaged only 483,000 viewers during the Sunday 8 p.m. ET time slot while Fox News’ “Life, Liberty and Levin” managed 1.4 million at the same time.
Among viewers between ages 25-54 who are coveted by advertisers, “The Mehdi Hasan Show” averaged a dismal 44,000 viewers in 2023, which is significantly less than even struggling CNN attracted during the Sunday night timeslot.
Meanwhile, Fox News host Mark Levin, who has the same time slot sees about 1.4 million viewers.
Mehdi Hasan is an uppity foreigner (even if he has citizenship) and I’m glad MSNBC cancelled his show. He should go back to Al Jazeera and complain about how non-Muslims are animals and leave America permanently.
Leave. Leave now. https://t.co/BlxN9jlHdo
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 30, 2023
