This weekend, Eugene Daniels steps into television history.
As co-anchor of MSNBC’s brand-new morning news program The Weekend, airing Saturdays and Sundays from 7–10 a.m. ET, Daniels becomes one of the first openly gay Black men to host a cable news show—joining fellow anchor Jonathan Capehart and journalist Jackie Alemany.
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In an interview with GLAAD, Daniels shared that it’s a milestone that isn’t lost on him, and that it’s one that signals a powerful shift around who gets to tell the stories that shape the world we live and do business in.
“I keep thinking about what little Eugene or little Jonathan would’ve thought if there were one, let alone two network TV anchors who were living out loud and still able to be tough journalists,” Daniels said. “A lot of the internal struggles and pain points of my life may have looked a lot different.”
When it comes to representation on-screen, Daniels makes clear, it’s not about checking a box.
Daniels explained that it’s about expanding the possibilities of what leadership in news media looks like—and trusting that diverse voices bring deep, authentic value to journalism: “I hope it reminds newsroom leaders that representation does not mean lowering your standards. People of color, queer people contain multitudes,” he told GLAAD.
“I hope the future of journalism continues to be one where we hold powerful people accountable and tell stories for folks who can’t do that for themselves,” he added. “Especially as the world changes and gets more complex and in some ways more disconnected, we have to be able to tell the truth about as much of that as we can, without fear or favor.”
It’s a philosophy that aligns seamlessly with MSNBC’s legacy of accountability reporting—and with Daniels’ own journey from print journalism into broadcast, podcasting, and now, a national anchor desk.
But Daniels’ path hasn’t been a solo one.
He credits Jonathan Capehart, his now co-anchor, as a mentor whose bravery opened doors for others. “He took some arrows in his career, so the next generation (me) didn’t have to,” Daniels reflected. “It’s not perfect by any means, but him walking into rooms as his whole self has made it so that I can do the same.” He added that Capehart’s ability to move fluidly between print, TV, podcasts, and books is a model for journalists navigating today’s shifting media landscape: “It’s a good reminder for all of us to be nimble as technology changes while staying focused on the foundation of what journalism is all about.”
As a journalist, Daniels is particularly attuned to how social issues—especially LGBTQ and racial justice—are politicized and misrepresented in the media. His “secret sauce” for cutting through the noise?: “Empathy. And it’s not complicated,” he said.
“It’s also important not to allow bad-faith actors to frame the conversation. Certain things are outright lies and fear-mongering, and we should be honest to the viewers about that. People’s lives depend on it.”
Daniels rejectes the idea that personal experience undermines objectivity. Instead, he sees it as a crucial strength.
“Being able to lean into your personal experience in addition to your reporting chops is not a bias. It is an expertise,” he explained. “When we cover issues that disproportionately impact Black people, people of color, and the LGBTQ community, I’m coming at it with a particular knowledge of how these policies and the political realities shake out on the ground.”
It’s that lived understanding that makes Daniels not just a sharp interviewer, but a journalist people can trust—especially those in marginalized communities. “People in marginalized communities are more likely to open up to you as a journalist when you can speak that same language, and when they can tell you are coming to them with open ears and an open heart,” Daniels told GLAAD.
In addition to his new role on MSNBC, Daniels will continue serving as President of the White House Correspondents’ Association, where he’s advocated for press freedom and fought back against access limitations.
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That experience, he reiterated to GLAAD, has only deepened his resolve: “Being president of the association has reinforced the importance of independent coverage of every single person in power. The American people deserve those of us who are in those rooms to be fearless when asking questions and reporting on the answers.”
That fearless energy is what he’s bringing to The Weekend.
“Every single elected official who comes on can expect a fair and tough interview where they will need to explain to the American people why they are operating the way they are, and how their actions respect the people who elected them,” he said.
For Daniels, this moment isn’t just about a seat at the table, it’s about what he does with it—and who he brings alongside him.
Catch Eugene Daniels, Jonathan Capehart, and Jackie Alemany every Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 10 a.m. ET only on MSNBC.
