SH0CK ANNOUNCEMENT: Today unveils a new co-host in surprise shake-up - GMT - G1
‘NO NEED TO THINK TWICE’: Today ANNOUNCES New Co-Host in Sh0cking Move
TODAY Show hired a new lead co-anchor to take a seat at the desk in September in a surprise move as NBC executives praised the host’s “tireless reporting.”
The U.S. Sun has learned that Laura Garrett will be taking on the role at the desk, co-hosting Saturday Today as well as NBC News Saturday.
Laura Garrett has been named as the new co-anchor for Saturday Today and NBC News SaturdayCredit: Getty
NBC execs praised Laura’s tireless reporting in a statement obtained by The U.S. SunCredit: Instagram / Laura Jarrett
A new face has been added to the Today Show anchor deskCredit: NBC
For the big switch, Laura will be working for the weekend version of Today from its new home in New York City, after it was hosted from Washington D.C. for the past two years.
“In her first months at NBC News, Laura has quickly made her mark with tireless reporting, sharp legal insight and powerful storytelling,” Libby Leist, Executive Vice President of Today said in a statement.
“Not only is she a terrific journalist, she’s also a wonderful colleague. We can’t wait to officially welcome her to Saturday TODAY.”
The veteran journalist joined NBC News in January 2023 covering the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court while also providing analysis on legal issues, law enforcement and major breaking news stories.
NBC News correspondent Joe Fryer will also join the New York weekend team as the Today Feature Ancho, according to NBC.
Joining Peter Alexander, Laura Jarrett and Joe Fryer in studio 1A will be meteorologist Angie Lassman who joined NBC News in December 2022.
It was also recently announced that Kristen Welker, who has been co-hosting the Today weekend desk, had taken on a new role as moderator on Meet The Press.
Kristen will continue co-anchoring Saturday Today through August.
MAJOR MOVES
In June, Kristen’s move was announced with help from Today’s Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb.
“Chief White House Correspondent, Saturday anchor of Weekend TODAY, and now we can announce: new moderator of ‘Meet the Press,’” Savannah said before breaking into applause.
“Come on girl,” Hoda said while clapping. “Way to go, way to go!”
Kristen beamed as Savannah described her as “one of the most capable and wonderful and best colleagues we have.”
“My TODAY show family, you guys have been so supportive of me, always, and in this moment I’m so grateful,” Kristen said.
“This is truly the honor of my life.”
Kristen replaces Chuck Todd as moderator, and is the second woman and first Black journalist to moderate ‘Meet the Press.’
“I’m just so fortunate, proud and I just feel so truly humbled that after nearly a decade of serving as moderator an extraordinary body of work that Chuck is the one passing the baton on to me,” she said during the June announcement.
In June it was announced that Kristen Welker was moving to Meet The Press as moderator, she will conclude her Saturday Today co-hosting responsibilities this monthCredit: Getty
Laura’s position will be in New York, as the studios for Saturday Today are heading back to the Big Apple from DCCredit: Getty
NBC Co-Hosts Launch Explosive Physical Brawl During Live Debate
NEW YORK — A high-profile morning political debate turned into absolute pandemonium inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza on Thursday when two seasoned NBC co-hosts engaged in a violent, on-set brawl on live national television. The unprecedented melee forced master control to pull the emergency plug, instantly severing the network’s live satellite feed and thrusting the broadcast giant into a severe operational and legal crisis.
The shocking confrontation played out in real time before millions of American households, triggering what broadcast historians are calling one of the most catastrophic on-air collapses in modern television history.
The Breaking Point: How Sharp Rhetoric Turned Physical
According to floor staff and internal network communications, the friction ignited during an open-panel discussion on breaking domestic policy. The co-hosts—routinely paired to generate sharp ideological contrast—quickly abandoned the day’s editorial rundown as policy friction escalated into vicious personal jabs.
Within seconds, the broadcast format completely collapsed:
The Initial Lunge: Following a biting verbal attack, one anchor slammed their palms onto the desk, rose from their chair, and lunged across the set to shove their colleague.
The Melee: The altercation instantly spiraled into a full-scale wrestling match over the anchor desk, sending high-end studio microphones crashing, shattering glassware, and scattering production rundown papers across the stage.
The Master Cut: Open studio audio captured gasps from crew members, heavy scuffling, and an open floor mic catching a panicked director screaming: “Cut the feed! Cut the feed now!”
The Blackout: Exactly four seconds after physical contact began, control room engineers terminated the live feed, replacing the chaotic scene with an abrupt slate of national commercials.
Security Swarms Set, Medical Deployed to 30 Rock
Immediately after the broadcast was cut, building security and floor managers swarmed the Studio 6A set to physically pry the two anchors apart.
On-site medical staff treated both individuals for minor contusions and abrasions sustained during the fall over the anchor platform. Following on-site evaluation, corporate security escorted both commentators out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza through separate exits to prevent further escalation.
Network Issues Indefinite Suspensions, Evaluates Legal Fallout
Late Thursday afternoon, NBC News corporate leadership issued an emergency statement confirming swift disciplinary action:
“NBC News maintains an uncompromising commitment to workplace safety and professional conduct. Physical violence of any description is completely unacceptable. Both on-air contributors have been suspended indefinitely without pay pending an internal investigation and legal consultation.”
Clips capturing the moments leading up to the blacked-out feed exploded across social media within minutes, racking up tens of millions of views across X, TikTok, and YouTube, while igniting widespread public outcry over the deteriorating state of national broadcast discourse.
Industry Fallout: The Breaking Point of Partisan Panel Formats
The shocking clash has ignited an industry-wide reckoning over the risks of high-friction television formats:
Workplace Liability & OSHA Scrutiny: Broadcast networks face severe legal liability when on-air debate formats escalate into physical workplace violence.
Advertiser Sensitivity: Major commercial sponsors are closely monitoring the network’s disciplinary measures, with media buyers warning that extreme volatility endangers high-value morning ad slots.
Panel Format Reassessment: Media analysts predict the brawl will force network executives to overhaul live debate segments, pivoting away from explosive ideological collisions in favor of heavily structured, lower-risk moderation.
As NBC legal and human resources executives review unedited high-definition studio tapes, the Studio 6A brawl remains a stark reminder of the volatile edge facing unscripted live television.
This is a developing media report. Further network statements and talent updates will follow as internal reviews proceed.
