The Daily Podcast Welcomes Two New Co-Hosts

 The Daily podcast by the New York Times is one of the most popular podcasts in the industry. For many, it is regarded as a reliable conveyor of news, analysis, and going beyond the headlines and soundbites.

Of course, there are many Fox News advocates who proclaim loudly with no hint of irony that The Daily is biased and only presents news with a progressive slant. Have they ever watched their own channel with any hint of self-reflection?

Unlike the large podcast networks, The New York Times is not looking to dominate the podcast industry. Instead, "The Gray Lady" uses audio -- plus games, puzzles, etc. -- to shore up its bottom line since print journalism is about as profitable as selling cat food to J.D. Vance.

The Daily, despite its evident popularity, is not sitting on its hands. It's evolving. Recently, the New York Times announced that Natalie Kitroeff and Rachel Abrams will be joining Michael Barbaro as co-hosts of The Daily.

According to The Times, "When we set out to find The Daily’s next co-host, we needed to find a journalist who could guide millions of listeners through the biggest news stories of our time. We needed someone who could represent the newsroom, who was quick on their feet, who could summon both steeliness and empathy, and was comfortable discussing every topic under the sun."

The Times says: "Rachel and Natalie are both sharp, creative journalists who run toward big stories and who have shined during their recent stints guest-hosting the show. Over the last year, we’ve found that having multiple hosts allowed the team to experiment and innovate in ways that will make the show even stronger."

This isn't the first time The Daily made changes. In 2022, Sabrina Tavernise joined Michael Barbaro as co-host.

“Each stage in the ‘Daily’s’ history has been a lesson in how much better and more creative the show can be when we expand our roster of hosts,” Michael Barbaro said. “Natalie and Rachel are the perfect journalists to take us into this new chapter. Both are fearless reporters and passionate believers in the power of audio storytelling. I can’t wait to see what the three of us can do together.”

Natalie Kitroeff has spent the past five years as an international correspondent and Mexico City bureau chief, where she led courageous reporting on the cartels’ drug trade and corruption at the highest levels of power. Her perspective on trade, border politics and immigration laws will be invaluable to The Daily during crucial news moments. 

Rachel Abrams was part of the 2018 reporting team that won a Pulitzer Prize for exposing sexual harassment and misconduct. She first crossed paths with The Daily team when we made an episode about one of her sources from her MeToo reporting. That was during her time on The Times’s Emmy award-winning television documentary series, The New York Times Presents.

Rachel Kitroeff will begin immediately. Natalie Abrams will join the team in June after transitioning out of her role as bureau chief.

 

Check out The Daily. Where else can you find reporting on topics as wide-ranging as soybean farmers in Iowa affected by tariffs, children's books being debated at the U.S. Supreme Court, and the student loan program quickly falling apart.