Esteemed MSNBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent, Andrea Mitchell, announced her decision to relinquish the full-time anchor position of “Andrea Mitchell Reports” on MSNBC. This change took effect on Friday, February 7, 2025, as the network grapples with dwindling viewership and significant internal restructuring.
At 78, Mitchell first revealed her plans to step back from her daily anchoring duties in the fall, amid escalating cost-cutting pressures at MSNBC. She stated, “After 16 years of being in the anchor chair every day, I want time to do more of what I love the most: connecting, listening, and reporting in the field,” to her audience on October 29.
This development comes as MSNBC is striving to manage the industry-wide transition away from cable, leading to necessary cost reductions. Traditional media entities, including MSNBC and CNN, continue to face financial challenges as audiences increasingly turn to online streaming platforms.
These cost-saving initiatives have taken a toll on the network’s prominent personalities. Top-tier anchors, including Joy Reid and Stephanie Ruhle, have been informed about compulsory salary reductions to maintain their posts. Famed anchor Rachel Maddow reportedly saw a $5 million cut from her annual $30 million remuneration, although MSNBC has contested these numbers. Jonathan Lemire, who recently advanced to co-host “Morning Joe” from “Way Too Early,” is said to have been offered a revised contract with less compensation.
These changes follow other notable departures from NBC’s news division, including former “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd, who recently left after nearly 20 years. In his exit note, Todd stated, “There’s never a perfect time to leave a place that’s been a professional home for so long, but I’m pretty excited about a few new projects that are on the cusp of going from ‘pie in the sky’ to ‘near reality.’”
Former MSNBC president Rashida Jones, who made history as the first black woman to lead a major television network, resigned after a four-year stint. Her departure came alongside Comcast’s decision to separate MSNBC and CNBC from NBC News, forming a standalone entity under the guidance of executive Mark Lazarus.
Since starting at NBC News in 1978, Mitchell’s career has spanned seven presidential administrations and every presidential race since 1980. She has covered every national political convention since 1972, reinforcing her standing as one of the foremost figures in political journalism.
In an internal communication, NBC executives commended Mitchell for her trusted voice in foreign policy and domestic politics, emphasizing her extensive network and ability to secure high-profile interviews that generate significant attention.
During her departure announcement in October 2024, Mitchell underlined the value of field reporting, mentioning that the victor of the upcoming election would have to handle two ongoing wars overseas and deep political divides domestically.
Despite stepping down from her daily anchoring role, Mitchell will retain her positions as chief foreign affairs correspondent and chief Washington correspondent for NBC News, roles she has held since 1994. She will persist in reporting for all NBC News and MSNBC platforms, contributing to breaking news coverage and significant political events. As of now, MSNBC has not named a successor for “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” the network’s longest daytime show, launched in 2008.
