NewsNation has announced that political commentator Katie Pavlich will join the network as the host of a new primetime program airing in the 10 p.m. time slot beginning in 2026. The move marks a significant programming change as the network continues expanding its political coverage and building its lineup of nationally recognized media personalities.
Pavlich will take over the hour previously hosted by Ashleigh Banfield. While Banfield is leaving the nightly slot, she will remain with NewsNation and transition to overseeing the company’s true crime digital content, according to the announcement.
The network said Pavlich’s new show will focus heavily on politics and current events, covering subjects such as free speech, culture, immigration, national security, and foreign policy. Executives described the program as featuring spirited debates, dynamic panel discussions, and in-depth interviews with key newsmakers.
Sean Compton, president of Nexstar Networks, praised the hiring and said the network is pleased to offer viewers another hour of political news and analysis in primetime. He emphasized NewsNation’s stated commitment to straightforward, fact-based journalism while also presenting a range of viewpoints and original ideas. Compton added that Pavlich’s experience and voice would be a strong addition to the channel’s evening lineup.
Pavlich also released a statement expressing enthusiasm about the opportunity. She said she was honored to join NewsNation during what she described as a dynamic period of growth for the network. She called the chance to anchor a primetime show an exceptional privilege and said she hopes to bring a fresh perspective to audiences nationwide while creating a forum for thoughtful debate across many viewpoints.
Before joining NewsNation, Pavlich spent more than 15 years as chief news editor of the conservative website Townhall.com. She also became well known through frequent appearances on Fox News Channel, where she served as a political contributor, guest co-hosted The Five, and filled in as a host on multiple primetime programs.
Originally from Arizona, Pavlich is also an author. She wrote the 2012 New York Times bestseller Fast and Furious: Barack Obama’s Bloodiest Scandal, which focused on the controversial federal gun-trafficking investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious. That law enforcement program, run during the Obama administration, attempted to trace illegally purchased firearms to higher-level drug traffickers in Mexico. Critics argued the operation failed after many weapons were lost track of and later linked to violent crimes, including the killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
Pavlich later wrote Assault & Flattery: The Truth About the Left and Their War on Women in 2014.
At NewsNation, she joins a roster that already includes several former Fox News figures such as Leland Vittert, Chris Stirewalt, and Geraldo Rivera, signaling the network’s continued effort to grow its influence in cable news and political commentary.
