Gannett is launching a new morning newscast, "Connecting America," on its free, ad-supported streaming television channel, USA Today FAST. The show will air from 7 to 9 a.m. eastern, directly competing with established morning shows.
Anchoring the show are three industry veterans: Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs, former CNN anchors, and Jim Rosenfield, a former Philadelphia local news anchor. "Connecting America" will debut August 18, 2025, from a set designed to resemble a traditional diner. "What other place serves up a mix of opinions, ideas, and human connection like a diner? If America is the melting pot, then the diner is the flavorful stew," said Dianne Doctor, the show’s showrunner.
Cross Country Media is producing the show. It's expected to blend fact-based journalism with diverse voices from across America. The show will also feature contributions from various USA Today journalists, psychologist Dr. Jeff Gardere, former FNC foreign affairs correspondent Amy Kellogg, and political analyst Jim McQueeny. The launch marks a return to morning TV for Camerota and Briggs.
The show's branding features a red, white, and blue color scheme and a stylized "CA" logo. On August 11, 2025, a preview of the show's open was posted online. Most of USA Today’s FAST content is in 16:9 landscape orientation, but the preview clip was in vertical format, potentially due to editing or intentional cropping.