The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.
Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.
 |
|
 |
|
 |
advertisement
About the broadcast | Biographies
RSS is an easy way to get the news you want as it is updated even if you are not on MSNBC.com. More information about MSNBC.com's RSS feeds.
Podcasting brings you audio and video from each weekday broadcast on your iPod or other portable MP3 player anytime, anywhere. More information about MSNBC.com's podcasts.
Sign-up for our daily e-mail newsletter. It offers a preview of the stories and special reports featured on each weekday broadcast.
What a turn of events for the White House this morning. Our morning editorial meeting was interrupted by Gena Fitzgerald in Washington informing us all that Scott McClellan was resigning (cue the replacement speculation) and just as we thought the news was over and the President was safely buttoned up inside Marine One... it started acting like a '74 Maverick. The venerable Sikorsky VH3D "white top" so familiar to television viewers -- proudly maintained by the USMC -- didn't take off. We were told it was an "avionics" problem that happened when they tried to fire the #2 engine. Whatever it was, the President exited and shook the hands of all the folks who had come to see the departure.
During daylight hours, presidents seldom come or go to the chopper without an audience. Its a way of treating important White House visitors (sometimes family and friends of staff) to an extra and rare visual treat - for all those willing to risk debris in their hair and teeth.
The Secret Service put together an impromptu motorcade, and minutes later the leader of the free world was off to Andrews.
We'll start off tonight with the substance of today's personnel moves. The story that many of the media have perhaps underplayed all day is that of Karl Rove, whose responsibilities will now change. Different people have different opinions on whether this constitutes a real "demotion" for Rove and why. NBC’s David Gregory reports there is huge sensitivity at the White House on that topic. Whatever the case, the “Era Of Bolten” is underway. Rove loses his official control over policy, and Bolten is going about solidifying the base and concentrating on the upcoming mid-term elections. As for McLellan, Hotline is reporting he received "an internal signal and wanted to get it over with." Politics can be a cruel business.
Also tonight we're pleased to air Andrea Mitchell's exclusive interview with the Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte. It breaks new ground and is a rare conversation with a man who grants few interviews, but holds a crucial position and is among the first people to see the President each morning.
Kevin Tibbles will have the fascinating story of split-race education being proposed in Omaha. We'll report on today's immigration raids.
Another security scare has shut down an entire terminal at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, delaying countless flights and ruining countless travel plans. (Someone on CNN just reminded me of the old traveler’s lament, "You can't even go to Hell without going through Atlanta first." Many people wonder when we're going to get airline security right. A lot of people are wondering that in Atlanta this afternoon.
Today in History
Eleven years ago this morning I was attending an Oval Office photo opportunity as Chief White House correspondent for this network. I watched Chief of Staff Leon Panetta lean over and whisper something into President Clinton's ear. I asked Press Secretary Mike McCurry what was up, and he said, "We think there's been a gas explosion at the Federal building in Oklahoma City." I remember wishing it had been merely a gas explosion.
During a busy time in our off-air lives, I want to give special thanks to the nice folks with the Marfan Syndrome Foundation for hosting my wife and me at last night's dinner here in New York. I hope we raised a fortune, along with awareness. Tonight will be spent entertaining our visiting NBC affiliate stations... then tomorrow night: the Overseas Press Club annual awards dinner. It is officially the "high season" for benefits here in New York.
It is also officially time for me to go to the newsroom and start preparing for this evening's broadcast. We hope you can join us.
Read more from Brian Williams 2006
EMAIL THIS
TRACKBACKS
Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b0aa69e200d83487eb5953ef
Air Force One Graffiti?
Thank you for your comments reflecting the sad events in Oklahoma 11 years ago. I was disappointed more national news outlets didnt reflect on our day of suffering on this 11th anniversary.
John Woods, OKC, OK (Sent Apr 20, 2006 2:30:59 PM)
I have some things to say about the law LB 1024! The reason this ever started is for that Omaha Public Schools tried to overtake many of the smaller school districts in the city limits in Omaha. This is a back fire for the Omaha School district.
Andrew N. Omaha, NE (Sent Apr 20, 2006 10:51:22 AM)
Another thing about the Omaha school story. Many people do not know the entire essence of the new law. LB 1024 (the law in question) does break up the Omaha Public Schools into three smaller parts, but it does NOT change any individual student's school, so if one says it creates segregated schools, it is important to know that they are already segregated. Also, the new law allows for a learning community to be created that includes the entire area (and multiple school districts). Any student has the ability the transfer to any school in the entire area with transportation provided.
Karri Huismann, Omaha, NE (Sent Apr 20, 2006 10:46:53 AM)
What a pleasure to read your thoughts!!! I am a stay at home mom and look forward to reading your blogs daily!!! Thanks for sharing your insights! You are a great writer!
(Sent Apr 20, 2006 7:54:23 AM)
Scott McClellen - it sounds like a case of keeping the message and killing the messenger.
Dewey Quong, Reno, NV (Sent Apr 19, 2006 10:26:32 PM)
Just new faces same policies. Rove is still in charge just passing it to the front man. As for Scotty well lets face it the Bush team told Scotty what to say now they send him to Fox for a job. I guess all the friends of Bush that get fired he'll get them a job with his Fox station. Now we know that Fox is the White House. Rummy knows to much on Bush to get fired plus it money to be made for Rummy with the fake drug bird flu. We will give Rummy millions and he'll take it. Bush get put in his place by the China President. He visited Bill Gates, Bowing and Starbucks before visiting Bush. Watch other world leaders to show no respect to Bush just to show him he's full of himself.
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Apr 19, 2006 9:37:30 PM)
Some backround missing from the Omaha school story: The urban district, Omaha Public Schools, decided several months ago to enforce an ages-old law allowing it to take over 5 of the suburban school districts. The Nebraska legislature could not agree on a bill to resolve the issue as the districts were protesting a take over, hence the bill put forward by Ernie Chambers. Essentially, I think, Omaha Public Schools has shot itself in the foot. But, there is a larger issue of race that simmers under the surface and hopefully this will finally bring it to the surface.
Sara Wolfson, Omaha, NE (Sent Apr 19, 2006 8:58:20 PM)
SEND A COMMENT
PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to this post, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.