[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12/08/art.johnking.cnn.jpg caption="John King will host a new political show at 7 pm. ET starting early next year."]Washington (CNN) – Heading into the critical 2010 midterm elections, CNN will launch a new weekday political program that will be hosted by award winning correspondent John King.
"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity, at this busy and consequential time, to have a platform to discuss and explore the big issues of our time," King, chief national correspondent and anchor of the network's Sunday program "State of the Union," said in a statement released Thursday by CNN.
Early next year, King will move into the 7 p.m. ET time slot that was previously held by longtime CNN anchor Lou Dobbs, who announced Wednesday that he was leaving the network.
"The program will reflect what CNN is all about: straight facts from our anchors and the widest range of opinions from across the political spectrum," Jonathan Klein, president of CNN/U.S., said in the network's statement. "John has enthralled CNN viewers with his vast political knowledge, and he has spent the past year reporting from beyond the Beltway on pressing policy issues and the real people they impact. Every night, he'll share his passion and his insights about what is really going on in Washington and across America."
CNN did not announce the name of King's new program and in the statement said he would "continue to anchor 'State of the Union' until early next year."
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Congratulations Mr. King. You are probably one of the most fair, and unbiased of all CNN anchors. You deserve it, looking forward to being able to watch CNN @ 6pm CST now!
So will this be an OPINION show like Lou's or real news?
Glad to see Lou Dobbs and his anti this, anti that, rants go. He was beginning to sound as bad as Glen Beck.
I thought Lou was CNN's answer to Fox News. Good riddance.
Good choice.
Great. Replace one hack with another.
"State of the Union" is the most disrespectful name for a program that I have ever heard. Please Please get rid of this horrid title.
Thank God! What took so long? Lou lost it about a year ago. I did watch his show a couple of years ago but his hatefull rhetoric became to much to take.
I like John King, but I am really going to miss Lou Dobbs. He was a fantastic talk show host who wasn't afraid to take on controversial issues.
Thank goodness a real reporter type person instead of hateful tone by lou dobbs so glad dobbs is gone THANK YOU THANK YOU
Great news! Really enjoy listening to John. Could not stand Mr. Dobbs and his so called "Independent" perspective. CNN is fortunate to have someone of his caliber to step right in!
"The program will reflect what CNN is all about: straight facts from our anchors and the widest range of opinions from across the political spectrum,"
Translation:
"The program will reflect what CNN is all about: cherry-picked, slanted progressive sound bites from our liberal anchors and the narrowest range of opionions possible from the narrowest minds in the political spectrum".
Good Dobbs is wack! John King is way more straight facts.
Thank you CNN and thank you John King. I just couldn't bring myself to watch Lou what's his name with his big phony grin and whitened teeth. I'll be sure to catch Mr. King once he gets into the 7PM time slot.
Welcome John !
At last a reporter in this time slot who will present the stories/news and allow the viewers to form their own opinions.
Congrats to John King on this well deserved opportunity. He is definitely the right person. I can't wait to watch his show!!
Utku
Good move ! Lou was getting absurd by the day and John King had been doing a good job with the State of the Union so far
This is such good news! Welcome, John King!
Now I don't have to switch channels at 4:00 (PST) every day.
I stopped watching Dobbs years ago. John King will be a welcome change!
Be careful or you'll start sounding like Fox News with you "wide range of opinions". You would do well to better compete with Fox as they are tearing CNN a new one. Its pretty bad when MSNBC even beats out CNN.
So with Dobbs & Beck gone, any suggestion of balanced commentary is absurd. Welcome to MSNBC, CNN!
Yes! Not only are you attractive John King, but your sexy going white-silver hair will fit in perfectly alongside CNN's most attractive anchor, AC.
I like your current show (when I have the time to watch it, weekends ya know?), but I also like Lou's. I like him because he's more conservative than most on CNN. I like that; It gives me a bit of insight on the other side, and I also like to disagree with someone on CNN, it makes me feel a bit smarter and like my opinions are actually my opinions, even though they are based on information from other CNN sources.
None-the-less, Congratulations!!
Lou Dobbs is the only program I watch at CNN. Lou is the only one on CNN who has the courage to ask the hard questions on any political issues. He's not afraid to examine the facts and question them. That's something CNN and MSNBC have a difficult time doing.
Lou would be a perfect fit at Fox, where they have no fear of offending anyone by speaking out and reporting on any and all issues.
Best of luck to Lou.
Good for you John, love to watch you everytime you are on CNN. Look forward to your new program next year. Great job on reporting issues that matter everyday's life.
John King is the best the media has to offer right. He more often than not just let the people speak. He will bring daily clarity to the health care debate where the emphasis should be on care not cost; on health assurance not health insurance. Everyone sems to have miss the most important aspect of this entire issue which is the ability of insurance to deny procedures or drugs prescribed by a doctor.