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
Total Chaos at Fox News: Anchor Assaults Co-Host Mid-Broadcast, Screen Goes Completely Dark
NEW YORK — A live prime-time broadcast descended into historic, unprecedented mayhem on Friday night inside Fox News headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. What began as a fierce political confrontation on set culminated in an on-air physical altercation, when a veteran anchor lunged across the desk and delivered an open-handed slap to his co-host’s face, forcing control room directors to abruptly cut the live feed and plunge screens nationwide into total darkness.
The incident erupted at 8:44 PM EST during the network’s flagship prime-time panel hour, completely derailing standard network programming before millions of live cable viewers.
The Boiling Point: From Fiery Crossfire to On-Air Hostility
The segment opened as an energetic debate over defense appropriations and alleged media collusion during congressional inquiries. However, the exchange rapidly deteriorated into direct, personal animosity.
As visible in the live broadcast split-screen under the chyron "DEBATE HEATS UP ON AIR" and "BREAKING NEWS":
The Provocation: When the co-host on the right (Jesse Watters) interrupted a monologue with biting remarks, pointing aggressively and mocking his counterpart as "an empty suit running errands for network executives," the anchor on the left (Greg Gutfeld) reached an immediate breaking point.
The Staredown: Gutfeld leaned forward with intense fury, holding one hand up defensively while jabbing his finger forward: "Say that again on this broadcast. I dare you."
The Defiance: Refusing to back down, Watters leaned closer across the acrylic desk, pointing his finger back and shouting into his live microphone: "I said you're a fraud, and everyone behind those cameras knows it!"
The Physical Blow: A Strike on National Television
Before floor staff or stage managers could intervene, the confrontation turned physical.
Rising out of his chair, Gutfeld lunged over the studio desk and struck Watters with a sharp, open-handed slap across his right cheek.
The studio microphones captured the full impact with stark clarity:
The Shockwave: The force of the strike knocked Watters’ head to the left, dislodging his earpiece while water glasses, pens, and briefing notes scattered across the desk.
The Set Meltdown: Watters scrambled backward in disbelief as his studio chair tipped over onto the floor riser. Stagehands and building security immediately rushed onto the set shouting, while other panelists remained seated in sheer shock.
Audio Hot Mic: Just seconds before sound engineers muted the line, Gutfeld’s voice echoed sharply across the room: "Keep your mouth shut on this set!"
Panic in Master Control: The Emergency Blackout
Inside the master control room, directors and technical engineers faced an immediate crisis as the altercation unfolded live on air:
Director Shouts: The executive producer could be heard barking orders over the intercom headsets: "Kill it! Kill the master line! Go to slate right now! Cut the feed!"
Complete Blackout: At 8:44:22 PM EST, while the scuffle continued behind the desk, the split-screen feed abruptly went dark, plunging television screens across the nation into dead air.
Backup Transmission: Within five seconds, automated systems triggered an emergency backup loop composed of generic sponsor graphics, documentary promos, and breaking-news holding screens.
Network Repercussions and Aftermath
When live broadcasting resumed twelve minutes later, the main New York studio remained entirely vacant:
A visibly shaken anchor from the Washington, D.C. bureau appeared to anchor a generic legal panel, offering no initial on-air explanation for the sudden blackout.
By 10:00 PM, a senior network spokesperson issued a formal statement: "An unprecedented, unacceptable physical altercation took place between on-air talent during tonight's live broadcast. Both individuals have been placed on immediate suspension pending a comprehensive executive and human resources investigation."
Screen captures of the confrontation moments before the blackout rapidly circulated across social platforms, racking up tens of millions of views under trending tags such as #FoxNewsSlap, #TransmissionBlackout, and #PrimeTimeChaos, marking one of the most chaotic disruptions in modern television history.
