CNN’s John King and NBC’s Steve Kornacki Use Magic Walls, Big Boards as Election Night Weapons

When CNN’s John King and NBC’s Steve Kornacki step before their giant interactive displays on Election Night, they’ll be wielding more than just maps and numbers. These “magic walls” and “big boards” have become crucial storytelling tools, helping viewers make sense of complex races in real time. King, who was phoning from Maine ahead of Tuesday’s coverage, says he has a new layer of digital bells and whistles at his command, including a floating “Key Race” alert system. NBC’s Kornacki, known for his rapid-fire analysis, will similarly rely on his network’s big board to break down county-by-county results. For networks, these high-tech visuals are no longer a gimmick—they’re a competitive advantage. They allow anchors to zoom into battleground states, compare historical trends, and explain shifting leads in seconds. As audiences increasingly expect instant, data-rich analysis, the magic wall has become as important as the anchor standing in front of it. Expect both CNN and NBC to push their graphics further than ever as they battle for viewers on the biggest political night of the year.