NewsNation is expanding its production of digital-first programming with a new slate of podcasts and online shows, alongside the debut of a new production studio at the network’s Chicago headquarters.
The Nexstar-owned cable news operation is debuting “NewsNation’s Unreported with Meagan Medick,” a weekly video podcast focused on unconventional and often overlooked topics ranging from artificial intelligence and paranormal investigations to Bigfoot and other unexplained phenomena. The show builds on the success of “Reality Check with Ross Coulthart,” which NewsNation said has surpassed 100 million views on YouTube since launching in March 2024 and has ranked among the platform’s top 100 podcasts.
The network is also rolling out “Prove it with Batya!,” hosted by weekend anchor Batya Ungar-Sargon. The hour-long program streams live Monday through Thursday and centers on political and cultural debate, with a format designed to encourage direct viewer interaction through live comments and questions.
Another addition is “Hot Take with Jesse Weber,” which will stream twice weekly on YouTube beginning Tuesdays and Thursdays. The show blends commentary on politics, entertainment and high-profile legal stories with a faster-paced digital format aimed at younger online audiences.
Rounding out the new lineup is “The Scoop with Paula Froelich,” an entertainment and celebrity news podcast hosted by Senior Story Producer Paula Froelich, the former gossip columnist for the New York Post. The program will focus on developments in pop culture and entertainment, drawing on Froelich’s industry contacts and reporting background.
The new programs join an existing digital portfolio that already includes “Bradley on the Border with Ali Bradley,” “Missing with Marni Hughes” and “Truth of the Matter.”
As part of the initiative, NewsNation has opened a newly-built podcast and digital production studio inside its Chicago headquarters. The facility includes a four-camera production setup, dual microphone configurations and panoramic views overlooking Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. The network said the studio is intended to support both video and audio productions across multiple digital platforms.
NewsNation has increasingly emphasized YouTube growth as part of its broader digital strategy. According to data from Press Gazette, the network’s YouTube channel — launched in May 2020 — now ranks No. 74 among the top 75 publishers on the platform with 2.7 million subscribers and nearly 2 billion lifetime views.
The report also noted that NewsNation has generated more YouTube views than several legacy news organizations, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Bloomberg News and the CBS news magazine program “60 Minutes.”
