I never thought I’d write these words.
I’ve been watching Meet the Press since the mid-1970s. Back when Bill Monroe hosted the show with the kind of journalistic rigor that made you sit up and listen. Later, with Tim Russert, the program didn’t just report the news—it dissected it, held power to account, and asked the hard questions. Sunday mornings were not complete without it.
But today, July 6, 2025, I came to the painful conclusion that Meet the Press no longer deserves its place on the air.
This morning’s episode—a special entitled Meet the Moment—featured Olivia Munn, Bob Costas, Sal Khan, and Amanda Gorman. Let me be clear: I have admiration for all of them, and two I truly revere. The segment was well-produced, inspirational even. But it was the wrong episode at the wrong time.
This week, one of the most consequential budget bills of the past 40 years passed Congress—an omnibus piece of legislation that could reshape the federal government for a generation. It included sweeping changes to Social Security, healthcare funding, climate programs, and tax policy. The public deserved clarity. They deserved explanation. They deserved Meet the Press to rise to the moment.
Instead, Kristen Welker and her team offered a pre-packaged, evergreen special that could have aired during any slow August Sunday.
What happened to the Meet the Press that used to dig into the fine print of landmark bills? What happened to the pointed questioning of members of Congress, to real-time fact-checking, to tough, nonpartisan scrutiny? Meet the Press used to be a vital public service. It has become a missed opportunity.
I would’ve gladly watched Meet the Moment on another weekend. I would have appreciated the thoughtfulness of Amanda Gorman’s poetry, the wisdom of Bob Costas, the opinion of Sal Khan on the future of education and AI, and the grace of Olivia Munn and her heartfelt story. But not today. Not this week. Not when the American people are hungry for context, insight, and accountability.
This isn’t just about a scheduling misstep. It’s about editorial priorities. It’s about a show that no longer understands the weight of its legacy or the urgency of its moment. I don’t place the blame solely on Kristen Welker, though she’s ultimately the face of the show. This is a network decision, a production failure, and perhaps a sign that the venerable program has finally run its course.
As a lifelong viewer, it gives me no pleasure to say this: Meet the Press should end. Let its long history rest with dignity, rather than fade further into irrelevance. America needs tough journalism now more than ever. If NBC can’t provide that through this platform, it’s time to make space for someone who can.
