Who do people prefer to see on their television screens while brewing their morning coffee?
The answer seems apparent, and it’s promising news for traditional TV networks that host the most favored personalities.
According to our DailyMail+ America 250 Power List, one seasoned broadcaster stands out above the rest.
The leading positions are predominantly occupied by hosts from NBC and ABC.
Interestingly, for Republican viewers tuning into morning shows, the preference shifts to a star from Fox News.
On the other hand, a CNN representative only makes an appearance in the latter half of the list.
This exclusive polling was conducted by JL Partners and explored viewers’ thoughts on morning TV hosts.
It examined which hosts are most likeable, most influential and who is a good asset for the country.
It also established who viewers like the least – which is bad news for one high-profile morning cable news host.
The most powerful morning show host, for the second year in a row, was Al Roker.
Roker, 70, has been an institution since starting on NBC’s Today show in 1996, and continues to be liked and trusted by the nation. The veteran journalist and weatherman shows no signs of hanging up his microphone.
‘Well, let’s put it this way, I haven’t thought about retirement,’ he told People earlier this year. ‘Somebody at NBC, that might be a different story. I love what I do, I feel good, I love this job, I love doing it.
‘At some point I guess I won’t be, but I don’t feel like that’s anytime soon, so I’m just gonna keep going.’
Al Roker and Megyn Kelly in 2018. Roker is the undisputed king of morning TV
Roker, 70, is the most liked morning host in America, according to our America 250 Power List
Al Roker dressed as Rocky III villain Clubber Lang for the 2025 NBC Today Halloween Celebration at Rockefeller Plaza in New York
As he remains the viewers’ favorite, the journalist and weatherman says he isn’t retiring anytime soon
The polling data showed Roker is also considered, by far, the most likeable morning show host, and also the one who is the biggest asset to the United States.
However, among Republican viewers there was a different clear winner.
She finished eighth overall, but Dana Perino, co-anchor of America’s Newsroom on Fox News, beat even Roker among Republicans as the most likeable and influential morning host.
Among all viewers, Perino was the highest-placed host from a cable channel.
Fox News host Dana Perino at the Republican Debate. She was the top choice among Republican viewers
Perino on the red carpet at The Fox Nation Patriot Awards 2025. She is regarded by Republicans as the most influential and likeable anchor on morning TV
Overall, the polling showed NBC and ABC held all five top places among viewers.
After Roker, the top five was completed by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie and ABC’s Michael Strahan.
Guthrie recently returned to Today as investigators continue to search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, who was reported missing on February 1.
Gayle King was the highest-ranked CBS morning host, and she came in at number seven.
Savannah Guthrie on stage at Today’s Citi Summer Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza. She featured highly on the Power List after returning to Today as investigators continue their search for her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie
Mika Brzezinski on set of Morning Joe. She was the least powerful morning show host in the rankings
Brzezinski’s husband and co-anchor, Joe Scarborough, was the least likeable morning show host, according to the polling
The top-placed CNN morning anchor, in 26th place, was Victor Blackwell, who co-hosts a weekend edition of CNN This Morning.
In 27th and last place was MS Now’s Mika Brzezinski, who co-hosts Morning Joe with her husband, Joe Scarborough.
The couple, who have long been critical of President Donald Trump, faced a backlash from some of their own viewers when they met with him at Mar-a-Lago after his election win in November 2024.
Still, there was a glimmer of good news for Brzezinski: the polling showed that, when it came to ‘likeability’ alone, she was second to last – with Scarborough behind her.
