This article is about the former CNN morning show reinstated in 2025. For the early-morning show formerly titled Early Start, see CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt. For the weekend morning show of the same name, see CNN This Morning Weekend.
November 1, 2022(2022-11-01)– February 23, 2024(2024-02-23)
Release
2025(2025)–future
CNN This Morning is an American morning show that formerly aired on CNN. The program first aired on November 1, 2022 succeeding New Day as CNN's morning show. The program was established as part of programming changes led by short-lived CNN president Chris Licht. For contractual reasons, the program also aired in simulcast on HLN, replacing that network's long-time morning show Morning Express with Robin Meade.
It was initially hosted by Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins from CNN's New York City studios. Turnover began in April 2023 with the firing of Lemon from the network, and Collins departing in May 2023 to host the new CNN primetime show The Source. Their positions were filled by a rotating co-anchor until August 2023, when former CNN White House correspondent Phil Mattingly was named Harlow's permanent co-anchor.
In February 2024, new CNN CEO Mark Thompson announced that CNN This Morning would be cancelled, and that the morning block of CNN News Central would be moved into its former timeslot beginning February 26. CNN This Morning aired its final episode on February 23, 2024. The CNN This Morning branding would be concurrently repurposed by CNN's early-morning newscast Early Start. CNN would reinstate the program but without "withKasie Hunt" in the title and with new anchor Audie Cornish in 2025. Cornish would then begin hosting a one hour version of CNN This Morning titled CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish on March 3, 2025.
History
A promotional image featuring the three original hosts.
Chris Licht became the head of CNN in April 2022, succeeding Jeff Zucker following WarnerMedia's merger with Discovery Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery. During the company's first upfronts in May 2022, Licht announced plans for a new CNN morning show, stating that "we are seeking to be a disruptor of broadcast morning shows in the space, we believe we have the people and resources to do this."[1]
Licht had prior experience with establishing morning shows at his past employers, with a particular emphasis on formats focusing upon panel discussions.[2][1] He launched Morning Joe at MSNBC in 2007, and CBS This Morning in 2012;[2][1] the latter was initially CBS's most successful format in the timeslot in years, but began to see instability and declines in 2017 after the dismissal of Charlie Rose due to sexual harassment allegations, and was rebooted as CBS Mornings in 2021.[3][1]
On September 15, CNN announced that Don Lemon would leave his primetime show Don Lemon Tonight and move to the new morning show, joined by fellow CNN anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.[4] On October 12, it was announced that the show would premiere on November 1 ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, and be titled CNN This Morning.[2] In March 2023, it was announced that Derek Van Dam would be joining as the program's meteorologist.[5]
On December 1, 2022, it was announced that the show would also be simulcast on HLN beginning on December 6, replacing Morning Express with Robin Meade.[6]CNN This Morning was the only news program remaining on HLN, and reports indicate it is being retained solely to fulfil contractual obligations to provide news content, as that channel otherwise shifts to a full-time true crime format.[7]
On April 24, 2023, Lemon was fired from CNN.[8] On May 17, 2023, Collins was announced as the network's 9 p.m. ET anchor, with her new program set to begin in June 2023. Her position with CNN This Morning would be filled on a rotating basis by current CNN staffers.[9] On August 14, 2023, CNN named Phil Mattingly, who had been the network's chief White House correspondent, as Harlow's permanent co-anchor.[10]
On February 5, 2024, new CNN CEO Mark Thompson announced that CNN This Morning had been cancelled, and would air its final broadcast later that month; it aired its final edition on February 23. Thompson stated that CNN would no longer produce any dayside programming out of New York.[11][12] On February 26, the morning block of CNN News Central with John Berman, Kate Bolduan, and Sara Sidner was moved up from 9 a.m. ET to 7 a.m. ET as a replacement, while CNN's early-morning program Early Start with Kasie Hunt took on the CNN This Morning branding, relocated to Washington, D.C., and expanded back to two hours.[12][11] Both programs are produced from CNN's headquarters in Atlanta.[11] Mattingly was promoted to CNN's chief domestic correspondent.[13]
In January 2025, CNN announced a reshuffle of its weekday schedule, which would see Hunt promoted from CNN This Morning to host the new afternoon show The Arena with Kasie Hunt. CNN This Morning becoming an hour long with new host Audie Cornish, with the 5 a.m. hour taken over by the new series 5 Things with Rahel Solomon.[14]
As of March 2025, Cornish serves as the host of CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish.[15]
Personnel
Notable former staff
Weekdays
Anchors
Poppy Harlow (November 1, 2022 – February 23, 2024); left network after show cancellation.
Phil Mattingly (August 14, 2023 – February 23, 2024); promoted to Chief Domestic Correspondent.
Don Lemon (November 1, 2022 – April 24, 2023); fired after the April 24 airing of the program.[8] Lemon was replaced with rotating fill-in anchors. It was later decided to have only two co-anchors.
Kaitlan Collins (November 1, 2022 – May 25, 2023); departed the program after being named permanent host of CNN's 9 p.m. current affairs and talk show hour.[16] It was later titled The Source with Kaitlan Collins.[17]
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