Laura Coates Live is a live weeknight news program broadcast on CNN and CNN International. It premiered on October 16, 2023, airing from 11 p.m. to midnight ET. The show followed a series of interim hosting arrangements dating back to September 2022. That’s when CNN restructured its late-night lineup after Don Lemon left the slot. It airs immediately after CNN NewsNight and is also available as a podcast.
Each episode examines the day’s most significant stories spanning law, politics, and popular culture. The show draws on host Laura Coates’ background as a federal prosecutor to unpack legal angles other programs often skip. Segments combine analysis with guest interviews and viewer-facing explainers designed to make complex legal issues accessible.
CNN adjusted the surrounding schedule several times before the show found its current format. Coates and Alisyn Camerota first co-anchored the 10 p.m. to midnight CNN Tonight block starting in September 2022. The two swapped hours in January 2023. Coates then left CNN Tonight entirely in March 2023. Laura Coates Live launched as its own standalone program seven months later.
Laura Coates has anchored the show as its sole host since its October 2023 debut. When Coates is unavailable, CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip extends to fill the hour rather than using a substitute host.
