Chuck Todd, the former host of Meet the Press, announced his departure from NBC News on Friday, ending a 17-year career with the network.
Todd shared the news with NBC staff, revealing that he had been quietly exploring new opportunities with other media outlets in recent weeks. In his farewell letter, Todd hinted at taking on new projects after leaving NBC, describing himself as “an entrepreneur at heart.”
“At my core, I’m an entrepreneur — I spent my first 15 years professionally working for the company that started the political newsletter craze that dominates today,” Todd wrote. “The only way to fix this information ecosystem is to stop whining about the ways social media companies manipulate things and instead roll up our sleeves and start with local.”
NBC News expressed gratitude for Todd’s work, especially his contributions to political coverage and Meet the Press. “We’re grateful for Chuck’s many contributions… We wish him all the best in his next endeavors,” said a network spokesperson.
Todd also confirmed that his podcast, The ChuckToddcast, will continue after his departure from NBC. “Stay tuned for an announcement about its new home soon,” he said. “I do plan to continue sharing my reporting and unique perspective on politics.”
Todd’s exit comes after his role at NBC News had diminished in recent years. In 2023, Kristen Welker replaced him as the Meet the Press moderator, and Todd’s role shifted to political analyst and special projects. In his memo, Todd suggested that local journalism could be a big part of his future. He noted that national media needs local partners to regain trust, adding, “People are craving community, and that’s something national media or the major social media companies can’t do as well as local media.”
Reflecting on his time at NBC, Todd expressed concern about the current media landscape but emphasized the importance of maintaining journalistic standards. “Being a real political journalist isn’t about building a brand; it’s about reporting what’s happening, explaining why it’s happening, and letting the public absorb the facts,” he said.
Todd joined NBC News in 2007 from the National Journal, where he was known for The Hotline, a political newsletter. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming NBC’s political director by the age of 34. He took over as Meet the Press anchor in 2014 and held the position for nearly nine years. However, in recent years, his visibility at NBC had faded. In 2020, Meet the Press was moved from its regular time slot to early afternoons and eventually to the network’s streaming platform. In 2023, Todd was replaced by Welker as Meet the Press host.
Todd’s decision to leave comes during a challenging time for NBC and many other traditional media outlets. Comcast, NBC’s parent company, is spinning off much of its cable assets, including MSNBC, into a new company called SpinCo. Additionally, NBC’s veteran talent has been leaving due to changes in the industry, including sinking ratings and declining ad revenue.
Todd isn’t the only prominent journalist to leave after nearly two decades. Jim Acosta, who had been with CNN for almost 20 years, recently departed to start a new online show on Substack, where he has already attracted over 100,000 subscribers.
Chuck Todd’s departure marks the end of an era at NBC News, but it’s clear that his career in journalism is far from over.
