{"id":607538,"date":"2026-04-26T14:09:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T14:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/607538\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T14:09:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T14:09:18","slug":"inside-ms-nows-buzzy-first-whcd-bash-since-nbc-break-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/607538\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside MS NOW’s Buzzy First WHCD Bash Since NBC Break Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(Photo Credit: MS NOW)<\/p>\n

MS NOW is ready to party.<\/p>\n

The recently-rechristened left-leaning cable channel is set to host its splashy inaugural bash following the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night \u2014 and Mediaite has a sneak peek.<\/p>\n

MS NOW has dubbed the much-anticipated party \u201cDemocracy After Hours \u2014 The Underground After Party.\u201d And as the name suggests, democracy \u2014 and the role journalism plays in maintaining it \u2014 is being emphasized.<\/p>\n

Here is what the party\u2019s RSVP page said:<\/p>\n

Over the past year, as MS NOW built and launched a standalone, independent newsroom, one core belief has guided our mission: a free press and the journalists who power it are essential to the future of democracy. Following this year\u2019s White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner, we invite you to step just beyond the expected and into something entirely new \u2014 an undiscovered experience just moments away from the Washington Hilton.<\/p>\n

There will also be a huge sign that reads \u201cWe are all on the same side of the First Amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attendees are expected to include Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), who was thrust into the national spotlight earlier this year for battling<\/a> President Donald Trump on his crackdown on illegal immigration, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin.<\/p>\n

As for MS NOW, plenty of the channel\u2019s stars will be there, including: Jen Psaki, Katy Tur, Ali Vitali, Vaughn Hillyard, Michael Steele, Stephanie Ruhle, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and Carol Leonnig.<\/p>\n

And Bravo fans in the building will be stoked to know The Real Housewives of New York City alums like Lunna De Lesseps and Dorinda Medley are showing up.<\/a><\/p>\n

The event stands out, considering it is MS NOW\u2019s first WHCD afterparty since its split with NBC News in November 2025. MSNBC rebranded to MS NOW at the same time, in a move that was spearheaded by outlet President Rebecca Kutler.<\/p>\n

More recently, the channel has enjoyed a ratings jolt<\/a> over the last few months, thanks in large part to viewers looking for news on the Iran war.<\/p>\n

MSNBC started the afterparty decades ago, but the divorce between MS NOW and NBC News has led to the two channels hosting rival parties<\/a> on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

A person familiar with the event said MS NOW is going for a grittier and less corporate feel than other parties being thrown. MS NOW\u2019s bash is going down at Dupont Underground, a 15,000 square-foot arts and music venue that was at one time a busy trolley car tunnel, while NBC News is hosting its party at the French ambassador\u2019s residence.<\/p>\n

MS NOW is leaning into the location\u2019s history and transforming it into an underground speakeasy. Guests will walk a blue carpet before descending down a stairway receiving a custom flask that says \u201cDemocracy After Hours\u201d on it; they\u2019ll have the chance to get their names engraved on it, too.<\/p>\n

There will be a custom built trolley with four bartenders making drinks, as well as a DJ booth and live entertainment pop ups throughout the night.<\/p>\n

And now for the pics.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the \u201cWe the People\u201d signage that attendees can\u2019t miss when they arrive:<\/p>\n

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And below is a 10\u2032 x 40\u2032 mural from local artist Jay Coleman; MS NOW commissioned the art installation, which \u201ccelebrates the free press and role of journalists in democracy,\u201d as a company spokesperson put it:<\/p>\n

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Some of that classy, old school vibe MS NOW is going for:<\/p>\n

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The MS NOW logo on display:<\/p>\n

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And some more of Coleman\u2019s work:<\/p>\n

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\u201cYears ago, what was then MSNBC put the after-party on the map. This weekend marks MS NOW\u2019s first White House Correspondents\u2019 Dinner as a standalone, independent news organization. Democracy After Hours \u2014 The Underground After Party is both a return and a statement, reaffirming the organization\u2019s mission,\u201d\u00a0MS NOW\u2019s SVP of comms Richard Hudock said. \u201cIt puts our momentum, strength, and reach on display in an important market and underscores that MS NOW is stronger than ever, while honoring the essential role journalists play in a democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The party will follow Trump attending his first WHC Dinner since he was elected president. You can watch the event tonight by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Photo Credit: MS NOW) MS NOW is ready to party. The recently-rechristened left-leaning cable channel is set to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":607539,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[88,10815],"class_list":{"0":"post-607538","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-media"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607538"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607538\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/607539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=607538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=607538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}