June 6, 2023, published at 5:00 PM ET
Dan Abrams exclaimed NBC News Chuck Todd‘s exit, claiming it’s clear the network forced him despite Todd claiming he stepped down to spend more time with his family, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Abrams urged his news network rival to be more transparent with the Meet the press host departs, saying NBC’s twist is “almost certainly a lie.”
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While Abrams noted that “most people just don’t care if Chuck Todd hosts the show or not”, he said the handling of Todd’s departure spoke volumes.
“This is what matters,” the NewsNation host and Mediaite founder stated Monday. “That is a news operation that is supposed to get to the truth and provide its viewers and readers with accurate information, taking fact out of fiction. And yet they are almost certainly creating a fictionalized version of what happened.
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According to Abrams, Todd was “obviously forced out of the role and replaced”. Kristen Welker. He also doubted that Todd had resigned voluntarily in the upcoming election.
“I love Chuck Todd. I think he was in a lot of situations on that show, but he’s staying with NBC and just choosing to give up his most prominent role with the 2024 election right around the corner? The one that arguably takes less time than being NBC News’ chief political analyst? You don’t have to get up early every morning to host a Sunday show,” he argued.
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As Abrams pointed out, rumors that Todd could lose his position started last year, with sources telling RadarOnline.com in August that he was already on the chopping block following low ratings.
Despite the rumors, Todd insisted he wasn’t leaving his Meet the press anchor chair “soon.”
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Dan Abrams
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“That was eight months ago. That’s pretty fast,” Abrams said. “Look, ratings were down for the show. Out of the three Sunday shows that aired, it has gone from number one in the main demo and second in total viewership to last in total viewership and second in demo. Todd’s show on MSNBC and NBC were likely under pressure to replace a white male host from a show that was both suffering ratings and being blasted by many on social media.”
He said NBC’s alleged tactics during Todd’s outing were similar to those used by rival networks, including CNN’s firing. Don Citroen and doing away with Fox News Tucker Carlson. Abrams argued that news organizations need to be more transparent.
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“Shouldn’t the news industry be different?” asked Abrams. “We’re meant to call out the spin, not create it… If we want the public to trust us in the news business, how can the entities themselves lie or distort their own news?”
Todd revealed that he was stepping down from his longtime position on Monday but will remain with NBC as their chief political analyst. He will be replaced by Welker from this fall.
