Fox News has canceled “MediaBuzz” and ended Howard Kurtz’s 12-year run as host of the Sunday morning media affairs show, marking a significant overhaul of the network’s weekend programming lineup. The cancellation comes just months after President Donald Trump publicly called for Kurtz’s retirement in a scathing social media tirade.
The network announced the programming changes on September 10, 2025, with the new lineup taking effect beginning September 20. Kurtz, 71, will transition to a political media analyst role for Fox News while continuing to host the Media Buzzmeter podcast and write for Fox News Digital.
Kurtz expressed his sentiments about the program’s end, stating he was “extraordinarily proud of the program, which was number one for over 12 years and built a loyal audience that liked our down-the-middle approach.” The show’s cancellation eliminates the last remaining media criticism program on major national television, following CNN’s cancellation of “Reliable Sources” in 2022.
The decision follows a furious Truth Social outburst from Trump in May 2025, where the president declared it was time for Kurtz to retire. Trump criticized the longtime host for what he perceived as weak defense of his administration, writing that every “Woke Anchor” from competing networks appeared on Kurtz’s show with negative statements while he received only weak support.
Trump specifically complained that the case Kurtz made for him was so inadequate that it would be better if he remained silent entirely. The presidential criticism came after a “MediaBuzz” panel discussion where commentators clashed over the departure of Trump’s then-national security adviser Mike Waltz.
Following Trump’s attack, Kurtz faced accusations of betrayal from Trump loyalists. The veteran journalist defended himself on social media, noting he had known the president for 35 years and questioning why Trump would continue granting him interviews if he harbored animosity toward him. Kurtz emphasized that some people were not interested in fairness.
Despite the controversy, Kurtz continued delivering critical assessments of the Trump administration. As recently as last month, he criticized President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that little was accomplished during their discussion.
“MediaBuzz” will be replaced by “The Sunday Briefing,” a new program hosted by Washington correspondents Jacqui Heinrich and Peter Doocy, airing Sundays at 11 a.m. The correspondents will rotate hosting duties for the show.
Fox News Media president and executive editor Jay Wallace praised the programming changes in a statement, emphasizing the network’s commitment to delivering comprehensive coverage. Wallace noted that Kurtz had served as the lead authority for media coverage in cable news for more than a decade and expressed anticipation for his continued analysis across Fox programming.
The weekend overhaul extends beyond Kurtz’s departure. Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany will host “Saturday in America” from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Correspondent Griff Jenkins has been named a permanent co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend,” where he previously served as a recurring guest host.
Additionally, Johnny Joey Jones and Tomi Lahren have been tapped as permanent co-hosts of “The Big Weekend Show,” which will expand to three hours on both Saturday and Sunday from 5-8 p.m. The panel program typically features four panelists discussing weekly news developments.
Kurtz joined Fox News from CNN in July 2013 after hosting “Reliable Sources” since 1998. His departure from CNN followed several high-profile errors, including incorrectly claiming NBA player Jason Collins had failed to disclose his previous engagement to a woman when announcing he was gay. The Daily Beast terminated his employment as Washington bureau chief following that incident.
During his tenure at Fox News, Kurtz faced restrictions on covering certain stories involving the network. In February 2023, he revealed that Fox News management had prohibited him from covering the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against the network, a decision he strongly disagreed with as an employee bound by company policy.
The programming changes reflect Fox News’ continued efforts to innovate its weekend offerings while maintaining its competitive position in cable news. The network had previously added “My View with Lara Trump” to its weekend primetime lineup earlier in 2025, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to expanding weekend programming options.
