NBC News veteran Peter Alexander will launch a new political programme, "State of Play," on the Versant-backed network MS NOW starting Monday, 10 August, airing at 11 a.m. The move marks a significant addition to MS NOW's daytime lineup, with network executives framing it as strengthening the channel's political coverage ahead of the 2026 midterms and the early stages of the 2028 presidential race.

The show will focus on "authoritative and original reporting" and analysis of major political and national stories, according to a memo from senior vice president of programming Greg Kordick. Alexander, who left NBC News in March after 15 years covering the White House beat and hosting weekend "Today" since 2018, will also take on breaking-news anchor and national correspondent duties, plus contribute to sports coverage across Versant properties such as Golf Channel and USA. His new slot follows Stephanie Ruhle's programme and precedes shows hosted by Alicia Menendez and Katy Tur, continuing MS NOW's (formerly MSNBC's) long tradition of a Washington-focused hour once held by Andrea Mitchell for nearly two decades.