MSNBC to Offer State of the Union Analysis on New Digital Platform Shift

Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow will host the network’s coverage of Obama’s speech

rachel maddow chris matthews msnbc

MSNBC is bringing its State of the Union coverage into the digital age.

The cable news network’s coverage of the State of the Union address on Jan. 20 will include analysis on its new digital platform “Shift,” which debuted in December, marking the first time that Shift has been employed for SOTU coverage.

Shift coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, hosted by Krystal Ball, Dorian Warren and Josh Barro. The digital coverage will include a live stream of the address and the Republican response.

On the TV end, Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews will host State of the Union coverage for MSNBC, also beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The pair will be joined by Chris Hayes, Rev. Al Sharpton, Steve Kornacki and Kasie Hunt, as well as MSNBC contributors Steve Schmidt, Robert Gibbs, Michael Steele, Eugene Robinson, and Victoria DeFrancesco Soto.

Andrea Mitchell, Ed Schultz and Luke Russert will be reporting on the State of the Union live from Washington, with José Díaz-Balart participating from Miami. In addition to hosting coverage of the address, Matthews will anchor additional live coverage from midnight to 1 a.m. ET.

“As both parties set their agenda for 2015, our coverage will shape the conversation both inside and outside of Washington,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin said of this year’s coverage. “At this critical moment for our country, we are committed to programming that speaks to both political influencers and the Americans whose lives are impacted by the policies the President will discuss. We look forward to covering this State of the Union with a more integrated approach, featuring innovative programming across all of our platforms.”

Watch a promo for MSNBC’s State of the Union coverage in the video.

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