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🎤 CNN’s Abby Phillip and Laura Coates Welcome in a New Era of CNN Primetime

CNN anchors Laura Coates, left, and Abby Phillip, right, kick off a new era of weekday primetime programming as the new anchors of the 10pm ET and 11pm ET hours. (CNN)

CNN Primetime launched two new shows this week with CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip at 10pm ET weekdays and Laura Coates Live at 11pm ET weekdays.

We sat down with both anchors to learn what their new shows bring to audiences and what they feel their role is as journalists.

Tell us about your new show! What kind of stories and what voices should viewers expect to see? 

Abby Phillip: Like so many things, what NewsNight ultimately is will evolve over time. But fundamentally, we want the show to reflect my approach to the news and to public discourse. We'll do the news, of course, but at that hour, we have a responsibility to help people understand it better. So, we'll go deep on topics of importance when it makes sense, we'll bring in fresh voices who can offer different perspectives than the ones we typically see in New York or Washington. And we'll also talk about the stories that regular people are talking about – the buzz makers – always with an eye toward helping people understand "why it matters" and connecting the dots in an information-rich world. 

Laura Coates: For me, the conversation is the news. Laura Coates Live will be the conversations we are all having and need to have. We won’t just scratch the surface of the biggest issues of the day, we will make time for the conversation to breathe by bringing the depth, context and information we all crave. And we will run the gamut of topics that appeal to a full cross-section of the audience, not just for people living inside the beltway. It’s about the stories and voices that matter to a diverse audience with eclectic interests that includes politics, the law, pop culture. It will be a fun late-night vibe, that will always move the conversation forward to what everyone will be talking about tomorrow. The goal will be to be additive not redundant, and I hope the audience will feel like someone is asking the questions they too are asking and being relentless about answering them. 

Abby Phillip anchors the new 10pm ET weekday program, NewsNight with Abby Phillip (CNN).

What life lessons have been relevant or useful as you prepare to launch this new show?

Abby: I became a journalist to ask tough questions— of everyone. As someone who started off as a political journalist, I know how much scrutiny that job can come with and how uncomfortable it can be when you're on no one’s team. But I’ve found that success in life is directly related to how much tolerance you have for challenges, discomfort and criticism. This is a tough time slot and in the news and political world, there's a lot of scrutiny. The key is to always evolve forward not to be perfect. And critically: tune out the noise. Keeping that focus on getting the story right is what I can promise our audience we’ll try to do every night.

Laura: I believe that every aspect of your personal journey informs your perspective and the way you see and relate to the world. Motherhood has exponentially broadened my perspective in ways that I could never have imagined. I don’t shy away from any of it when I approach the news. One of the things that drew me to becoming a prosecutor was a calling to give a voice to the voiceless and advocate for what they need to feel powerful in their own lives. Information gives that power and I have seen the value of democratizing it. I’m not here to tell you how or what to think or feel. My job and joy is to give you the information you need to reach your own conclusions and form your own opinion. After all, before you can speak your truth to power, you have to first know the truth. 

What stories do you think need to be covered in more depth? 

Abby: Education, public safety are probably the two issues that most people in this country think the most about and yet they sometimes get the least amount of thoughtful coverage. I'm always thinking about ways to get into these stories in a smart way that avoids the futility of the typical culture war arguments. 

Laura: We have a tendency to focus on stories from inside the DC beltway even though most of America doesn’t live there. Sure, we have to focus on the seat of the government, but there are other stories we desperately crave more information from communities who have felt disconnected and sidelined. And don’t you worry—I’m going to be all over the biggest legal stories and I’ll be all in!

Laura Coates anchors the new 11pm ET weekday program, Laura Coates Live (CNN).

What advice have other anchors given you about being in primetime?

Abby: Trust your team and trust your gut. 

Laura: The best advice is the most consistent: be yourself, flaws and all, and never take the platform for granted. I agree.

What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?

Abby: I'm a huge homebody and I love to cook and garden when I'm not working. I also love music of all kinds. It's not all news and politics! 

Laura: I watch every Real Housewives franchise, unapologetically.

I’m undefeated at the Kevin Bacon game.

I’m obsessed with my Pinterest boards.

If you could pick your is your dream guest, who would it be and why?

Abby: Taylor Swift or Beyonce, obviously! (Together would be a dream!) The two women of the summer are maybe the most influential people on the planet right now.

Laura: Do you mean besides Diana Ross and Beyonce? Oh….

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