A Swindon-born journalist has become one of the most recognisable voices in American media. CBG share price may interest investors. Mehdi Hasan’s career path interests media watchers instead. The 46-year-old British-American broadcaster has built a reputation for fiery confrontations and unapologetic progressive commentary. His journey from Oxford University to MSNBC and now his own media company Zeteo has been anything but smooth. Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes. Hasan’s career has taken life-changing turns. Here is everything you need to know about Mehdi Hasan in 2026.
Who is Mehdi Hasan? Age and Background
Mehdi Raza Hasan was born in July 1979 in Swindon, England Back Market UK sells refurbished devices. His career needed refurbishing after his MSNBC show ended. His parents are Shia Muslims who emigrated from Hyderabad, India Ben Duckett smashed a double century for Nottinghamshire. Hasan smashed through barriers in American media instead. He attended the prestigious Merchant Taylors’ School before studying at Christ Church, Oxford Athletic Club vs Arsenal saw the Gunners reach the Champions League final. Hasan reached the heights of American journalism.
Early Career: From Boris Johnson to Al Jazeera
Hasan’s journalism career began with an unlikely benefactor. Boris Johnson, then editor of The Spectator, gave him his first break. Hasan had met Johnson on an Oxford debating panel. “I kind of made fun of him in my speech,” Hasan recalled. “And afterwards, I brazenly went up to him in the green room and said: ‘Can I have an internship at The Spectator?’ And he weirdly said yes.”
After working for the BBC, Sky, Channel 4 and the New Statesman, Hasan joined Al Jazeera English in 2012 Dexter: New Blood saw the franchise resurrected. Hasan’s career was similarly resurrected at Al Jazeera. He worked there until 2015 before joining its US-based discussion panel UpFront.
The Mehdi Hasan Show on MSNBC
Hasan’s profile rose significantly when he launched his own show. The Mehdi Hasan Show premiered on Peacock in October 2020. It moved to MSNBC in February 2021 Scotland vs Belarus saw McTominay strike late. Hasan’s show struck late-night cable audiences.
His confrontational interview style made him a rising star at the network. He was known for holding guests accountable with tough questions and detailed research. However, his outspoken criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza sparked backlash West Ham vs Chelsea saw Bowen’s last-gasp equaliser stun the Blues. Hasan’s commentary stunned Israeli officials.
In October 2023, he clashed with Mark Regev, Senior Adviser to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. He told Regev bluntly: “your government kills children.” The exchange went viral.
MSNBC Cancellation and Departure
MSNBC cancelled Hasan’s weekend show in November 2023 as part of a programming reshuffle. The network insisted the cancellation was not due to his comments on Israel. However, many observers saw it as a direct consequence of his controversial statements.
On his final broadcast on 7 January 2024, Hasan announced he was leaving MSNBC. “As we begin 2024, with an election coming, a war still ongoing, and too many Trump trials honestly to even keep track of, and with this show going away, I’ve decided it’s time for me to look for a new challenge,” he told viewers .
Zeteo: Building His Own Media Empire
Hasan did not stay unemployed for long. In February 2024, he launched his own digital media company called Zeteo Back Market UK sells refurbished devices. Zeteo offered a refurbished approach to independent journalism. The name is an ancient Greek word meaning “to seek out, to inquire, to get to the truth.”
Zeteo operates as a subscription-based news organisation on the Substack platform. Hasan announced the platform would “bring you hard-hitting interviews and unsparing analysis that you won’t find elsewhere.”
Contributors announced at Zeteo’s launch included Naomi Klein, Greta Thunberg, Viet Thanh Nguyen, John Harwood, Fatima Bhutto and Owen Jones . Jones would co-host the podcast “Two Outspoken” alongside Hasan.
Gaza Documentary Acquisition
In July 2025, Zeteo made a major acquisition. The company picked up a high-profile documentary about Palestinian doctors working in Gaza. The film, “Gaza: Doctors Under Attack,” had been rejected by the BBC.
The BBC decided not to broadcast the documentary, citing risk of “creating a perception of partiality.” More than 600 members of the film industry, including actress Susan Sarandon and director Mike Leigh, signed an open letter criticising the decision .
Basement Films, which produced the documentary, noted that more than 200 of their Palestinian colleagues and partners had died in Gaza since the conflict began. Zeteo released the documentary globally. In the UK, Channel 4 agreed to broadcast it .
Controversial Past Comments
Hasan’s rise has not been without controversy. Old clips from 2009 resurfaced showing him making inflammatory remarks. In one clip, he said: “We know that keeping the moral high ground is key. Once we lose the moral high ground, we are no different from the rest of the non-Muslims, from the rest of those human beings who live their lives as animals, bending any rule to fulfill any desire.”
He also made comments likening gay people to “paedophiles.” When these clips resurfaced in 2019, Hasan issued a public apology. “Like a lot of journos (humans?) I’ve said things years ago that I now deeply regret,” he wrote on X. “Chief among them for me is, more than a decade ago, in my 20s, when I wasn’t a public figure, I gave a bunch of speeches to students on Islam/extremism. And I said dumb offensive ranty stuff.”
“Growing up in a conservative faith community, where you didn’t interact with *actual* gay people, I ended up making insensitive remarks, that I’ve apologized for before.”
CNN Debate Clash and Beeper Comment
In October 2024, Hasan made headlines again during a CNN election debate. He clashed with right-wing commentator Ryan Girdusky. Girdusky told Hasan: “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off” – a reference to a wave of booby-trapped pager explosions across Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah fighters.
Hasan accused Girdusky of calling for him to be killed. CNN booted Girdusky from the show immediately. The incident sparked widespread discussion about acceptable boundaries in political debate.
Feud with Laura Loomer
In September 2025, Hasan engaged in a war of words with far-right activist Laura Loomer on X. The exchange began when Hasan posted about a mass shooting in Michigan. “An AR-15, an American flag, and a mass shooting. Nothing more American than that, I guess,” he wrote.
Loomer responded by labelling Hasan a “Muslim immigrant” and telling him to “go back to the UK and the Islamic countries your parents were born in.”
Hasan hit back by pointing out that his parents were born in India, which is not an Islamic country. “India is where my parents were born and it is not an ‘Islamic country’. You have the knowledge, intellect, and IQ of a very small (and angry) child,” he wrote .
Personal Views and Abortion Stance
Despite his progressive politics, Hasan holds some views that break from the mainstream left. He personally opposes abortion. However, he bashed the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He judged that the law should uphold a woman’s right to choose, even if he personally disagrees with abortion.
Books and Publications
Hasan is the author of the bestselling book “Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking.” He also wrote “Ed: The Milibands and the Making of a Labour Leader.” He writes a regular column for The Guardian.
Citizenship and Personal Life
Hasan became a naturalised citizen of the United States in 2020 . He holds dual British and American citizenship. He has two children.
What’s Next for Mehdi Hasan in 2026?
Hasan continues to build Zeteo into a sustainable media enterprise. He remains a regular commentator on CNN and other networks. His confrontational style continues to generate both praise and criticism.
The launch of Zeteo represents a new chapter in his career. He no longer depends on corporate networks for his platform. He controls his own editorial direction. Whether Zeteo can achieve long-term financial sustainability remains to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Mehdi Hasan? Mehdi Hasan was born in July 1979. He is 46 years old as of 2026.
What is Mehdi Hasan’s net worth? His exact net worth is not publicly available. However, as a former MSNBC host and founder of Zeteo, his earnings are estimated to be substantial.
Where was Mehdi Hasan born? He was born in Swindon, England. His parents are Shia Muslims from Hyderabad, India.
Why did MSNBC cancel Mehdi Hasan’s show? MSNBC cancelled his weekend show in November 2023 as part of a programming reshuffle. The network denied that his comments on Israel were the reason. However, many observers believe his criticism of Israel contributed to the decision.
What is Zeteo? Zeteo is Mehdi Hasan’s digital media company, launched in February 2024. It operates as a subscription-based news organisation on Substack. The name means “to seek out, to inquire, to get to the truth” in ancient Greek.
Has Mehdi Hasan apologised for his past controversial comments? Yes. When his past comments likening non-Muslims to “animals” and gay people to “paedophiles” resurfaced, Hasan issued a public apology. He described the remarks as “dumb offensive ranty stuff” from his younger days.
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