It’s a historic moment!
CNN just announced a new primetime lineup with journalist Abby Phillip snagging the 10 p.m. ET primetime slot, Deadline reports. The political correspondent cut her teeth in Washington early, working at Politico and covering Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. In 2018, she joined CNN, thrust into prominence after being berated on camera by former President Donald Trump.
Always the consummate professional, Phillip maintained her composure, telling reporters later that she felt no way about the exchange.
"I didn't feel offended in any way. I felt like he was lashing out because he didn't like the question, but sometimes the questions he doesn't like are the most important ones," said Phillip.
Her commitment to journalistic integrity, even when it’s tough, has won the hearts of her peers and viewers. Phillip has anchored coverage of both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, praised the courage of Black women on air, consistently stood firmly behind what is right, all while paying homage to those who have come before us.
"She has your back. She's a really, really good person. It's getting me a little emotional. A rough year like this, it puts a lot in perspective," White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor previously said of Phillip.
Now she is anchoring her own primetime cable news show on CNN, taking to social media to announce the exciting news.
“You’ve all been on this incredible journey with me. I hope you’ll continue to tune in as we seek to give you the news and elevate the perspectives that matter. Every night,” said Phillip.
The new primetime lineup is the first permanent primetime schedule the network has had since 2021 when Chris Cuomo was fired. Phil Mattingly and Poppy Harlow will co-anchor CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt taking over Early Start. Pamela Brown will anchor the weekday show, The Bulletin with Pamela Brown, while Victor Blackwell, Chris Wallace, Manu Raju, and Christiane Amanpour are all getting weekend shows. The new lineup is largely dominated by women and people of color, with Laura Coates also anchoring an 11p.m. ET show, Phillip broadcasting out of New York and Coates out of Washington, D.C. It’s the first time in history that two African American women are hosting their own primetime cable news shows on the same network.
BREAKING: For the first time in television history, two African-American women will host their own primetime cable news shows on the same network. Abby Phillips is getting her own show at 10pm followed by Laura Coates at 11pm on CNN. Both shows will be based in DC. pic.twitter.com/seMZyXOzVR
— JMK 🟢 🗞️ (@JMKTVShow) August 14, 2023
“One of CNN’s key differentiators is our deep roster of experienced journalists, reporters and storytellers. Many joined CNN early in their careers and have grown with the network throughout the years. They are extraordinarily talented and share the same CNN sensibility: versatility, determination and an inquisitive and empathetic approach to reporting the news. By expanding the range and depth of our programming lineup across multiple dayparts, we are strengthening our reporting excellence throughout the schedule, elevating our ability to tell great stories across platforms, and doubling down on CNN’s position as the most trusted name in news,” CNN said via statement.
The network also has plans to roll out King Charles, a weekly series hosted by Gayle King and Charles Barkley set to air this fall on Wednesdays at 9 p.m.
Congratulations Abby!
Cover photo: Abby Phillip announces new nightly broadcast primetime show on CNN/Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Freeman/CNN