CNN’s Kaitlan Collins will assume the outlet’s former host Chris Cuomo’s 9 p.m. EST time slot.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper announced Collins’ new role during a video meeting with CNN parent company Warner Bros. Discovery’s event for New York advertisers.
In a Wednesday memo, Licht shared the news with staff revealing Collins will host a new show in Cuomo’s former time slot beginning in June.
“Every night, she’ll bring fresh reporting that adds new perspective to the biggest stories of the day,” CNN CEO Chris Licht wrote in his memo, per USA Today. “Kaitlan will expose uncovered angles and challenge conventional wisdom to make sure viewers are seeing a story from every side. When she doesn’t know the answer, she asks – and she won’t stop until she gets them.”
“In her new program, officially launching later this summer, Kaitlan will showcase why she’s one of the top reporters and interviewers in the game.”
Just announced at #WBDUpfront: @KaitlanCollins is the new anchor of CNN’s 9pm hour. In her new program, officially launching later this summer, Kaitlan will bring fresh reporting that adds new perspective to the biggest stories of the day. Join us in congratulating Kaitlan! pic.twitter.com/RRv8QaJE6c
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 17, 2023
“She is a smart and gifted journalist who we’ve all seen hold lawmakers and newsmakers accountable,” Licht continued. “She pushes politicians off their talking points, gets real answers – and as everyone who’s worked with her knows – breaks a lot of news.”
Collins recently hosted CNN’s Town Hall with former president Donald Trump. Viewers criticized Collins, who appeared to debate the former president rather than mediate a discussion with typical Town Hall etiquette.
Collins co-hosted CNN This Morning with Poppy Harlow and former CNN host Don Lemon prior to his April departure. According to Licht, Collins will transition off the morning show which will continue to be hosted by Harlow along with a rotating panel of guest CNN anchors, per Politico.
Cuomo, who now hosts Cuomo with News Nation, was fired from CNN in late 2021 regarding his involvement in former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment allegations. The former CNN host was hired by News Nation in July 2022.
In late April, Lemon revealed he was terminated from CNN, saying he was “stunned.”
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” Lemon wrote to Twitter. “I am stunned.”
“I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly.”
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023
Lemon’s departure followed former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s abrupt departure from the outlet earlier on the same day.
According to Fox News, Carlson and the outlet had “agreed to part ways.”
“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” reads Fox News’ statement.
