NBC is bringing in Luke Russert, son of the late beloved “Meet the Press” host Tim Russert, as a regular panelist on the Sunday morning show in a bid to turn around its catastrophic ratings slide, Page Six has exclusively learned.
Also joining new moderator Chuck Todd’s team will be former Republican congressman and “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough, who sources say “is taking on a larger role within NBC News as a senior political analyst and would be one of the regular Sunday panelists.”
We’re told the move is part of a plan to bring a right-leaning voice to the program to appeal to viewers turned off by the show’s famously left-leaning former hosts including the ousted David Gregory.
The source added, “Chuck Todd is busily assembling the team of on-air talent that will join him on the new ‘Meet the Press.’ Joe will be a regular alongside Luke Russert, whose father famously moderated the show for 16-plus years.”
Russert, 29, is currently NBC’s congressional correspondent. Nia-Malika Henderson of the Washington Post and a few others, including NBC’s chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell, are also said to be in the mix for a new panel. Todd’s much-anticipated debut as moderator is this Sunday.