Americans woke up on New Year’s Day to the terrible news of a terrorist attack in New Orleans, Louisiana. A vehicle I intentionally took Bourbon Street in the early morning hours of January 1, charging into a crowd and killing 15 people.
Authorities have since called the attack an act of terrorism and named Shamsud-Din Jabbar42 years old, as suspect. President Joe Biden the Islamic State group said inspired the early morning attack.
After realizing the severity of the situation, cable news networks quickly shifted from holiday programming to breaking news mode. Meanwhile, television networks produced special reports that interrupted their weekday morning news broadcasts. (All times ET.)
Fox News was the first network to break the news at 6:19 a.m. Wednesday during Fox & Friends, followed by CNN at 6:28 a.m., NewsNation at 6:29 a.m. and MSNBC at 7:15 a.m. coverage of the drama in the hours that followed and during prime time.
On the broadcast side, NBC News’ Hallie Jackson published a special report on the attack which began at 7:11 a.m. Lester Holt anchored Los Angeles’ Nightly News, while Tom Lamas, Jesse KirschAnd George Solis reported on the ground from New Orleans.
CBS News broadcast its first special report at 7:41 a.m. on January 1. New Orleans-based national network reporter Kati Weis was in the French Quarter when the tragedy occurred and shared her account on that evening’s CBS Evening News broadcast, anchored by Major Garrett. Thursday Morning, CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil anchored from New Orleans joined by CBS Saturday Morning co-host and former First Lady of New Orleans Michelle Miller.
.@cbsnews‘ @KatiWeis was in the evening in the French Quarter of New Orleans when the deadly car-ramming attack began. She ran into a building, but as New Year’s revelers were freed by police, she remembers seeing “bodies strewn all over Bourbon Street.” pic.twitter.com/tcwaXyxAel
– CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 2, 2025
Co-anchor of the weekend edition of Good Morning America Whit Johnson was on the ground for ABC News, which aired its first special report at 7:30 a.m.
Below are times when media reported the news coming out of New Orleans. (In alphabetical order.)
ABC News — 7:30 a.m.
CBS News — 7:41 a.m.
CNN — 6:28 a.m.
Fox News — 6:19 a.m.
MSNBC — 7:15 a.m.
NBC News — 7:11 a.m.
NewsNation — 6:29 a.m.
Teleworld — 7:09 a.m.
Univision — 7:04 a.m.
