Former Meet The Press host Chuck Todd appeared on his old show and criticized NBC News for hiring Ronna McDaniel in exchange for access.
Todd, speaking as part of a panel after Kristen Welker interviewed McDaniel, said:
I want to address the main issue here. I believe our bosses owe you an apology for putting you in this position. It's hard to know what to believe. She is a paid contributor to NBC News. She didn’t want to breach her contract. She wants us to believe that she was speaking for the RNC, which was paying her. She has credibility problems. Is she speaking for herself? Or is she speaking on behalf of her payers? When she was at the RNC, she did say that she was speaking for the party. I understand that. That's part of the job. But what about here?
I will say this. I think your interview did a good job of revealing many contradictions. And, you know, there’s a reason why many journalists at NBC News are uncomfortable with this, because many of our interactions with the RNC over the years have involved attempts to manipulate and attack our character. So, when NBC decided to give her credibility, we have to ask what she brings to NBC News. Sometimes these deals are for access, whether it's an audience or an individual, and that’s a debate we can have. If you had told me she was being hired as a technical adviser for the Republican convention, that would be justifiable.
We’re talking to her, but let’s see how she performs in interviews and maybe vet her with actual journalists to see what she brings to the network. Unfortunately, this interview will always be questioned in terms of who she is speaking for. I believe you did everything you could. You were put into an impossible situation, booking this interview, and then she showed up because she is paid to. It's unfortunate for the program, and I’m glad you did the best you could. That's why we are here to back you up.
Video of Todd:
Chuck Todd goes on Meet The Press and calls out NBC for hiring Ronna McDaniel for access, "What does she bring to NBC News and when we make deals like this, and I've been at this company for a long time you do it for access." pic.twitter.com/AdeXqkggOG
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 24, 2024
Chuck Todd faced a lot of fair criticism for his time at Meet The Press, but one thing he was always truthful about was that Meet The Press is access journalism, and he couldn't be too tough on Republicans because they would threaten not to come on the show.
If Todd is correct, and Meet The Press booked the interview with McDaniel, and then NBC News announced that she was joining the network, journalistically, that is a terrible thing to do. McDaniel wasn't referred to as an NBC News contributor, which emphasizes what Chuck Todd was talking about. Why was McDaniel there? Was she speaking as the former RNC chair? or as an NBC News employee?
The whole situation is a disaster. For Chuck Todd to go on Meet The Press and criticize the network like he did, it is a sign that the intense opposition is significant and increasing.
NBC News has one option to resolve this situation: to terminate the agreement with Ronna McDaniel and express regret to the reporters, employees, and audience of NBC News for their error.
Any action falling short of this will pose a significant issue for the network in the future.
