In its new promo for season two of its local political magazine, Matter of Fact, Hearst Television showcased Soledad O’Brien as the show’s new host.

The award-winning journalist and producer takes over from Fernando Espuelas who helmed the first season when it launched in November 2015.

The half-hour weekly syndicated show promotes inclusive dialogue among local, state and national decision-makers who are shaping the American political landscape.

“Matter of Fact is connecting with viewers of all generations with its thoughtful, in-depth, probing and conversational discourse of the issues important to a cross-section of Americans,” said Emerson Coleman, vice president, programming, Hearst Television in a statement. “The show has blazed a trail with a distinctive format offering a successful blend of high-profile political guests and fresh faces from the worlds of academia, community service, journalism, science and other fields.”

The relaunched program, which premiered September 10, also has grown to reach 75 percent of the country, according to Hearst. It’s been expanded across Hearst stations, as well as on stations owned by CBS, Meredith, Nexstar, E.W. Scripps, Tegna and Tribune, including Fox-owned stations in Los Angeles and Charlotte, N.C.

“Soledad is one of the most recognizable and accomplished journalists in television today,” said Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst Television’s president. “Her breadth of experience in global, political and investigative journalism will be invaluable as we expand the program’s reach.”

Hearst Television also will begin co-producing national specials in a new relationship with O’Brien’s multiplatform media production studio and distribution company Starfish Media Group.

“The format of a weekly political magazine show will help us look at the issues with an added context and perspective of the discourse,” O’Brien said. “It’s a new media landscape, and through the creativity of Hearst, I’m also looking forward to a new distribution strategy that will allow the stories of the under-voiced to reach more of the American people where they are, through an effective network of stations and a unique prism.”

Matter of Fact is distributed by Sony Pictures Television and executive produced by Rita Hagen Aleman along with Senior Producer Sheila Jaskot.

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