February 17, 2026
(Feb. 17, 2026) – MS NOW has signed a deal with Crooked Media to bring its hit audio portfolio to the network for a new weekly compilation show, Crooked on MS NOW.
Airing weekly on MS NOW every Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, the first edition will premiere on Saturday, Feb. 28, capping off a pivotal news week with in-depth analysis of the State of the Union.
Crooked on MS NOW will bring the most talked-about moments of the week from its chart-topping podcasts, including Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Strict Scrutiny, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country with Alex Wagner, Hysteria, Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams, Offline with Jon Favreau, and What A Day to the MS NOW audience.
MS NOW is the premier destination for breaking news and best-in-class opinion journalism, reaching diverse audiences across cable, online, social, and audio. MS NOW reaches more than 11 million Americans every week on television, commanding one of the most engaged audiences across all of television, with the average viewer watching for more than eight hours each week. The network has seen rapid and sustained success across digital, social, and audio, with more than 3.8 billion YouTube views and over 140 million audio downloads in 2025. MS NOW has also built a growing live events business, hosting its second annual fanfest event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan this past October, featuring more than a dozen hosts across two sessions with thousands of MS NOW fans flying in from all over the country for the day-long gathering.
MS NOW is home to 20 original podcasts and 22 showcasts, including #1 chart-topping hits such as Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra, which received a 2025 Edward R. Murrow Award, and recent launches including MS NOW Presents: Clock It, Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order, and The Best People with Nicolle Wallace.
The launch of Crooked on MS NOW is part of VERSANT’s continued investment in the network’s original programming, content, and non-linear offerings.
Crooked Media’s current podcast lineup generates more than 30 million monthly downloads, consistently topping competitive charts, with flagship Pod Save America reaching more than one million fans per episode. Recent guests across programming are some of the most interesting and impactful voices in politics and culture, including former President Barack Obama, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, former FTC Commissioner Lina Khan, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, Chrissy Teigen, and more.
Crooked's subscription Friends of the Pod shares exclusive content and access with fans across Substack, YouTube, Supercast, and Apple Podcasts. In addition, Crooked has a robust touring and live events business, including its first-ever Crooked Con in 2025, a merch and ecommerce business, a growing portfolio of newsletters, and expansions across audio, digital, film, and television. Crooked has earned more than 80 awards and nominations, from the Webbys and Tribeca Honors to a prestigious Peabody Award nomination, underscoring its impact and influence across the media landscape.
Press Contacts:
MS NOW
Claudia Meyer-Samargia
Claudia.Meyer-Samargia@versantmedia.com
Crooked Media
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
crooked@ssmandl.com
