Martin Bashir was an American hour-long weekday political commentary program that aired on MSNBC. It aired for three years between February 2011 and November 2013. The show was one of several opinion-driven programs that defined MSNBC’s afternoon and primetime lineup during that era.
The program blended news and opinion content, serving as a lead-in to the network’s primetime programming. Bashir shared his views on the issues of the day, supplemented by a rotating panel of guests and relevant interviews. He presented from a liberal left point of view, consistent with the broader MSNBC editorial direction.
The show also featured recurring segments, which gave the show a structured feel. Play of the Day featured a viral video, Top Lines highlighted notable sound bites from politicians and comedians, and Clear the Air was Bashir’s personal commentary on the day’s news story. During the 2012 Republican presidential primary season, the show also ran a dedicated segment called Here’s the Story, which focused on the GOP nominees.
The program originally aired in the 3:00 p.m. slot but moved forward one hour on June 25, 2012, replacing The Dylan Ratigan Show. Among the frequent contributors and guest panelists were political analyst Julian Epstein, commentators Karen Finney and Jonathan Capehart, journalist Joy-Ann Reid, and cultural critic Michael Eric Dyson.
Martin Bashir ended its run in 2013, in the wake of controversial comments Bashir had made about Sarah Palin. On December 4, 2013, the British journalist resigned from MSNBC, bringing the program to a permanent close after less than three years on air. Before launching the show, Bashir was already a well-known and polarizing figure in broadcast journalism, having gained international attention for his 1995 BBC Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, and his 2003 ITV documentary on Michael Jackson. He had also co-anchored ABC’s Nightline from 2005, taking over from the legendary Ted Koppel.
