CNN officially announces Kasie Hunt hire, will anchor politics show for CNN+

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CNN officially confirmed that it has hired former MSNBC anchor Kasie Hunt.

In a surprise move, Hunt announced her departure from the NBCUniversal owned cable channel in June 2021, and reports began circulating soon after that CNN had lured her away.

Hunt will serve as a chief national affairs analyst and anchor a daily politics show on the network’s upcoming streaming service, CNN+.

She’s being billed as the first CNN+ hire.

Hunt’s CNN+ show, which has yet to be titled, is expected to debut in the first quarter of 2022.

Hunt starts at CNN Sept. 7, 2021.

We are thrilled to welcome @kasie Hunt to CNN as our new anchor and chief national affairs analyst. Kasie will host a new daily politics show on @CNNPlus and her reporting and analysis will appear on both CNN+ and @CNN. Please join us in welcoming Kasie, CNN’s first CNN+ hire.

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) August 10, 2021

Hunt had covered Congress for NBC and MSNBC and also anchored “Way Too Early,” the network’s early morning offering that airs ahead of “Morning Joe.”

She previously anchored “Kasie DC” on Sundays.

During her on air announcement of her departure, Hunt hinted that money could have been a factor in her leaving MSNBC and NBC by praising “Morning Joe” co-anchor Mika Brzezinski’s “know your value” mantra, a movement to get women to recognize they deserve to be compensated fairly and equally for the work they do.

Can't wait to join the team of incredible journalists @CNN — I'm so excited to be part of the launch of @CNNplus and the streaming future of news — my new political show coming in 2022! https://t.co/nr2oGZgElE

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) August 10, 2021

Hunt will reportedly make between $1 million and $1.5 million at CNN, a sum that NBC was reportedly unwilling to meet.

Hunt’s move is similar to former ABC News anchor Tom Llamas, who left the network and eventually was announced as an anchor over at NBC News’ streaming platform. He also appears on the networks of NBC as a national correspondent.