NBC News Officially Names Chuck Todd ‘Meet the Press’ Host

Chuck Todd has officially been named the new host of NBC’s Sunday political talk show Meet the Press. NBC News president Deborah Turness announced the appointment in a memo on Thursday. Todd will start on Sept. 7, with Andrea Mitchell filling in this Sunday. Todd will continue as NBC News political director, but he will relinquish his post as chief White House correspondent, a job he’s been doing since December 2008.

The news comes after months of speculation about David Gregory‘s position at NBC News. Gregory announced on Twitter that he would exit the news division, saying he is “humbled and grateful” for the opportunity. Gregory had become increasingly frustrated by the lack of public support at NBC News, say sources close to the anchor, as executives became increasingly and conspicuously quiet about Gregory’s future on the show. 

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Meanwhile, Todd was known to be lobbying internally for the job. And he was not the only one. Morning Joe‘s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski also expressed interest in Meet the Press as well as Sunday Today. 

Turness noted in her email to staffers that executives plan to “update and evolve the broadcast.” And indeed, the dynamics on the Sunday shows have changed, with newsmakers and politicians increasingly able to speak directly to constituents through social media, thereby eliminating an at times combative middle man on the Sunday shows.

The full memo is below: 

I want to share some news about Meet the Press. After an exceptional 20 years with NBC News, David Gregory is leaving the network.

I want to express my sincerest thanks to David, who, after the death of Tim Russert, led Meet the Press for almost 6 years. Under his leadership the show has had a string of exclusives, and David has shown a remarkable gift for holding leaders to account and getting answers on issues that matter to our audience. He is an outstanding journalist whose sharp intellect and quick sense of humor have made him a pleasure to work with. I know you all join me in expressing our deepest gratitude and in wishing him the very best.

I am very pleased to announce that Chuck Todd will take the helm on September 7. There is no one with a bigger passion for politics than Chuck. His unique ability to deliver that passion with razor sharp analysis and infectious enthusiasm makes him the perfect next generation moderator of this beloved broadcast. Chuck will ensure that Meet the Press is the beating heart of politics, the place where newsmakers come to make news, where the agenda is set. We have some exciting plans to evolve and update the broadcast under Chuck’s leadership that we will be sharing with you shortly.

Chuck will continue as NBC News political director, and will hand over his roles as chief White House correspondent and anchor of MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown.

Andrea Mitchell will serve as moderator of Meet the Press this weekend, and will continue to be a central figure of the broadcast, along with some new names that we will announce in the coming days.

For nearly seventy years, Americans have turned to Meet the Press on Sunday mornings for unrivaled insights on the news stories, political battles and public affairs debates dominating the national discussion. The next-generation Meet the Press, led by Chuck Todd, is certain to be the must-watch political destination on Sundays and beyond.

Deborah