[ad_1]
NEW YORK (AP) – Chuck Todd announced Sunday that he’s stepping down from “Meet the Press” after nearly a decade of tumultuous years hosting NBC’s political panel.will be replaced by Kristen Welker in the coming months.
Todd, 51, told viewers, “I’ve seen too many friends and family get down to business before it’s too late,” and promised his family he wouldn’t do that.
Todd has often been an online punching bag for critics, including Donald Trump, in an era of polarization, and when executive producers were reassigned late last summer, his tenure on the show was muted. There were rumors that it might be cut short, but NBC gave a no. This indicates something other than Todd’s decision. It’s unclear when Todd’s last show will be, but Todd told viewers that this will be his last summer.
“I leave with concerns at this moment in history, but I am reassured by the standards we have set here,” Todd said. “We did not tolerate propaganda.”And this network and program will never be. “
Welker, a former White House correspondent, has worked for NBC News in Washington since 2011 and has been Todd’s acting chief for the past three years.she earned her praise for hosting the final presidential debate The battle between Republican Trump and Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
NBC News Editor Rebecca Blumenstein said in a memo announcing Welker’s promotion on Sunday that she was “a master of political interviews with her penetrating questions of lawmakers.”
Welker, now 46, is once again embroiled in a controversial presidential election cycle.
The Sunday morning political interview show, hosted by inventor and original host Martha Rowntree, has been on the air since 1947. Its peak came in the years between 1991 and his death in 2008, hosted by Tim Russert, but its footing has been less uncertain since then. After Russert’s death, Tom Brokaw took his place temporarily, and David Gregory replaced him until he retired to replace Todd.
Welker will become the first black host of “Meet the Press” and the first female host since Rowntree’s departure in 1953.
Todd said he is proud to expand the Meet the Press brand into daily programming. Originally broadcast on MSNBC, it has moved to streaming alongside podcasts, newsletters and even film festivals.
“He has transformed the brand into a significant modern franchise, expanding its footprint into a variety of new mediums and continuing to keep Meet the Press at the forefront of political debates,” Blumenstein said. .
I couldn’t stop critics from jumping on social media if they didn’t like the interview Todd gave. President Trump gave Todd one of his signature nicknames, “Sleepy Eyes,” and then in 2020 over CBS airing a video interview with then-Attorney General William Barr. He called on NBC to fire Mr. Todd. Todd later apologized for the mistake, stating that he was unaware that the show had a longer soundbite of the interview that was supposed to provide more context.
Todd was taunted by Trevor Noah at the 2022 White House Correspondents’ Club dinner, when he pointed to Todd in the audience and said, I would like to follow up, but I know you don’t know what it is. “
Todd hinted at his critics when announcing his resignation on Sunday.
“If you’re doing this job for popularity, you’re doing this job wrong,” he said. “I take attacks from the partisans as a compliment. And I accept genuine compliments from the partisans.”
The goal of each show, he said, is to “make you mad, make you think, at one point nod your head in disapproval, and at another nod your approval.”
In the TV season that just ended, “Meet the Press” was third in terms of viewership behind CBS’ “Face the Nation” and ABC’s “This Week,” each averaging 250 viewers. 10,000 to 2.9 million, Nielsen Ratings said.
[ad_2]
Source link
