It’s official: Andrea Mitchell is hanging up her daily anchor duties on Andrea Mitchell Reports after nearly half a century with NBC, making it one of the longest runs in mainstream news.
At 77 (almost 78), Mitchell has announced that she’ll be stepping away from her MSNBC show sometime after the inauguration to focus on field reporting. Now, after 16 years of delivering her particular brand of news and opinion, she’s looking forward to “connecting, listening, and reporting” as NBC’s chief Washington and foreign affairs correspondent.
Andrea Mitchell announces that she is stepping away from her daily show on MSNBC after 16 years.
Good riddance.
I can’t stand her. pic.twitter.com/aJlrBbGeAB
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) October 29, 2024
And in classic mainstream media fashion, NBC’s leaders poured on the praise with a statement packed with all the requisite accolades. The memo from NBC News higher-ups called her “one of the country’s foremost and most trusted experts” and “invaluable,” highlighting her “deep sourcing” and “ability to land big-name interviews.” Well, for anyone who has tuned in to NBC or MSNBC in the past few decades, there’s no denying Mitchell’s prominence—she’s been a mainstay, especially when it comes to delivering left-leaning perspectives on everything from domestic policy to foreign affairs. But for those of us who’ve been on the receiving end of her “reporting,” it’s fair to say that she’s had her share of controversies and credibility hiccups along the way.
While the mainstream media is already framing this as a graceful shift, the reality might be a little different. Ratings on MSNBC’s daytime lineup have seen their fair share of struggles, and the news cycle has been nothing if not challenging for the network’s loyal viewership. Mitchell has often been at the forefront of controversies over media bias and selective reporting, especially on hot-button issues like foreign policy and election coverage. From her memorable interview gaffes to some eyebrow-raising takes on conservative leaders, Mitchell’s reporting style has made her a celebrated figure on the left but has left conservatives shaking their heads more than once.
LMFAO
msnbc canned andrea mitchell’s show
Expect more of these
Kamala is losing with over 90% favorable media coverage, journalists are literally editing her answers to make her less stupid. plus celebrity endorsementspic.twitter.com/tnqOIQSGlq
— Gio DeBatta 🍸 (@GDebatta) October 29, 2024
Her post as NBC’s “chief foreign affairs correspondent” means she’ll still be giving her take on America’s role abroad. Given today’s foreign policy challenges—think Ukraine, Israel, and China—it’s a safe bet that her reporting won’t stray too far from the familiar territory of championing the administration’s preferred talking points. She might not be on MSNBC every day, but her presence will be just as notable as ever, especially with her penchant for exclusive, high-profile interviews.
MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell appears to fall asleep during live interview as she struggles to keep her eyes open and droops her head during a news segment on Biden.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) July 2, 2024
So here’s to Andrea Mitchell as she steps into her new role—and to the viewers who will now have one less daily reminder of MSNBC’s slant. Time will tell if her “reporting in the field” comes with a fresh perspective or if it’s just more of the same.