Latest news with #NBCNightlyNews'
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Tom Llamas brings ‘challenging' management style to NBC after laid-back Lester Holt: report
New 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas has reportedly angered staffers after taking over for Lester Holt last month — and the show's longtime executive producer has called it quits. Llamas' hands-on, aggressive management tactics have staffers bristling after a decade of Holt's laid-back style, multiple sources familiar with the matter told Breaker. 'He has a management style that has been extremely challenging on some of the team,' one staffer told the outlet. 4 Tom Llamas has aggressive management tactics, a report said. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images There will soon be one high-level departure after the anchor chair change. Megan Rafferty, who has served as executive producer of 'NBC Nightly News' for nearly four years, told staffers Tuesday that she was leaving to join MSNBC's new parent company Versant, according to Breaker. Her decision stemmed from a desire to avoid the hectic, 'rat race' schedule of producing a high-stakes nightly show, insiders familiar with Rafferty's move told the outlet. She reportedly did acknowledge that it was 'super fun' working with Llamas during a lunchtime meeting at NBC's 30 Rock headquarters Tuesday. Another correspondent at the network defended Llamas, saying the 46-year-old newsman is pushing staffers to raise the bar. 'He challenges people to do their best, to think more deeply about the editorial process,' the source told Breaker. 'It helps us to raise our game. The expectations are high, but they should be.' NBC News did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment. 4 Lester Holt hosted 'NBC Nightly News' for a decade before leaving the show earlier this year. AP Llamas' reportedly intense management style could come from his desire to catch up to ABC's David Muir, 51, in the nightly news ratings. Muir, who hosts 'ABC World News Tonight,' last week notched his largest ratings win over NBC in more than a year. Llamas took over from Holt last month. Holt, 66, had anchored the newscast for 10 years. He has stayed on with the network as host of the investigative news show 'Dateline.' 4 ABC News host David Muir is firmly in first place for late-night news shows, according to the latest Nielsen figures. Getty Images Prior to joining NBC, Llamas worked under Muir as a weekend anchor on 'ABC World News Tonight.' He's made clear his goal of returning 'NBC Nightly News' to the top slot, discussing his desire 'to be number one.' 'It's not easy,' Llamas previously told the Washington Post. 'But it's something I think we can do.' 4 Llamas has reportedly angered staffers. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Since taking the helm, Llamas has done well in the 25-54 age demographic – a key sector for advertisers seeking out high-income viewers. He beat Muir in that age category for the first time in the week of July 8, about a month after taking over. But ABC – which used to trail behind NBC's nightly show – is firmly in first place. Muir's show raked in about 7.3 million average total viewers during the week of July 21 – far above Llamas' 5.6 million, according to Nielsen. Llamas has continued to anchor his other show 'Top Story' on NBC News Now, which he started hosting in 2021.
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: Illinois' 9th Congressional District race heats up
Good morning, Chicago. The race to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is getting more crowded. State Sen. Mike Simmons will launch his campaign Tuesday, he told the Tribune, joining recently announced state Rep. Hoan Huynh — who also planned a campaign kickoff event Tuesday evening — and some 10 other Democratic candidates vying for the seat. The latest campaign announcements come just ahead of the Cook County Democratic Party's planned slating meetings next week, when the party is expected to endorse candidates ahead of the 2026 primary. But the 9th District isn't the only congressional race to watch next year — at least three other seats could be open for the 2026 election. See what candidates have announced their campaigns in each district. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what to know about the flash floods in Texas, why adult education programs are in limbo and when 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas is bringing the national broadcast to Chicago. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Flash floods in Texas killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and left others still missing, including girls attending a summer camp. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions. Here's what to know about the deadly flooding, the colossal weather system that drove it in and around Kerr County and ongoing efforts to identify victims. As Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg expands his ravenous data centers, he's agreed to take over subsidies that Illinois ratepayers have been providing to a nuclear power station in central Illinois since 2017. The move could be the first step in a Silicon Valley bailout of nuclear power stations that supply half the electricity generated in Illinois. Adult education programs in Chicago and across the nation are in limbo after the Trump administration abruptly froze nearly $7 billion in already-approved federal education grants last week. State agencies were notified the night before funds were set to be disbursed July 1, with little explanation from the Education Department. It's the latest in President Donald Trump's sweeping offensive to cut back the federal government's role in education, leaving schools and nonprofits scrambling to stretch funding. An attorney for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon's political operation says state election authorities reached an 'absurd' conclusion earlier this year in issuing nearly $10 million in penalties against Harmon's campaign fund after determining he violated campaign fundraising limits. The Illinois-based American Academy of Pediatrics and five other prominent medical groups are suing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., over changes made to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. Tom Llamas, the new 'NBC Nightly News' anchor, is headed to Chicago this week to participate in the annual National Association of Hispanic Journalists conference, which is taking place Wednesday through Saturday at the Hilton Chicago on South Michigan Avenue. While in town, Llamas is planning to anchor Thursday's 5:30 p.m. national newscast live from downtown Chicago. The Chicago Bears raised some eyebrows when they selected Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 draft pick in April. It wasn't that Loveland wasn't deserving of being a top-10 pick but more so the notion that the team had bigger needs at offensive tackle or on the defensive line. But the Bears are doing things differently under coach Ben Johnson. The tight end position is a priority. Here's what Bears fans need to know about Loveland ahead of his rookie season. It's a rare occasion when fans of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals agree on anything, writes Paul Sullivan. But the longtime rival fan bases found some common ground Sunday night at Wrigley Field when almost everyone in the crowd of 40,319 booed the performance of seventh-inning stretch singer Alex Cooper, a prominent podcaster. Mike Tyson's fame was, as writer Mark Kriegel puts it, 'a lethal dose of a peculiarly American disease, a form of insanity whose victims include Elvis, Marilyn and Tupac.' Those words come early in Kriegel's remarkable new book, 'Baddest Man: The Making of Mike Tyson,' writes Rick Kogan. The book moves from the boxer's birth in 1966 to 1988, what Kriegel calls 'the year of (Tyson's) first public crack-up.' Potential solutions to combat and mitigate climate change abound, but there's one thing that we can all do. We can support our local farmers. This year, Martin Sorge will be buying and baking with as many Michigan apricots as he can and toasting their appearance with a bottle of Stranger Wine Co.'s 2024 'Yeastie Boys' sparkling wine.
Chicago Tribune
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
New ‘NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas brings national broadcast to Chicago
When former Chicago anchor Lester Holt ended his run as anchor of 'NBC Nightly News' on May 30 after 10 years in that role, he left some pretty big shoes to fill. His successor, Tom Llamas, who last month became just the fourth anchor of the network's signature weeknight newscast in 40 years, has hit the ground running. In addition to the nightly 30-minute TV broadcast, Llamas is also doing double duty as host of a one-hour primetime newscast on the NBC News Now streaming network. The shows, which run back-to-back, bridge the gap between traditional broadcast and streaming TV, and firmly establish Llamas as the new face of NBC News. 'My life has definitely changed,' Llamas, 46, told the Tribune. 'It's a great responsibility, but it's one I have been dreaming about and thinking about for a very long time.' Born and raised in Miami to Cuban parents, Llamas is headed to Chicago this week to participate in the annual National Association of Hispanic Journalists conference, which is taking place Wednesday through Saturday at the Hilton Chicago on South Michigan Avenue. While in town, Llamas is planning to anchor Thursday's 5:30 p.m. national newscast live from outside NBC Tower at Cityfront Plaza in the Streeterville neighborhood. The scheduled remote will mark the second time in his nascent role as the top NBC anchor that Llamas has taken the New York-based newscast on the road, after hosting earlier this week from the flood zone in Texas. Llamas, who reported from Rome following the April death of Pope Francis, is hoping the Chicago newscast will include a segment on his papal successor, Pope Leo XIV, who grew up in south suburban Dolton as Robert Francis Prevost. 'I was there in the Vatican, and then Pope Leo emerges, the first American pope, and it's incredible,' Llamas said. 'It's a huge story. So I think we're going to be covering that as well.' Since Llamas took the helm June 2, 'NBC Nightly News' has gained traction in the ratings, averaging more than 5.6 million total viewers last month, besting the 'CBS Evening News,' which averaged 3.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen data supplied by NBC. 'ABC World News Tonight' remained the top-rated evening newscast in June with nearly 7.2 million viewers, but NBC was the only network to gain ground in the key 25- to 54-year-old demo, closing the gap with ABC, according to Nielsen. In Chicago, 'NBC Nightly News' was up 29% year-over-year in June among adults 25-to-54, according to Nielsen data supplied by NBC 5 Chicago. Llamas has been in broadcast journalism for 25 years, starting as an NBC News overnight production assistant. A former anchor at WNBC-TV in New York, he joined ABC News as a correspondent in 2014, and became weekend anchor for 'World News Tonight' the following year. In 2021, he rejoined NBC as senior national correspondent and anchor of 'Top Story' on NBC News Now. In March, NBC named Llamas to replace Holt, who previously announced he would step down after 10 years as the network's top anchor. Llamas credits Holt and other mentors, as well as fortuitous timing, for his elevation to anchor and managing editor of 'NBC Nightly News.' Unlike his predecessor, whose broadcast résumé included a 14-year run in Chicago as a local TV news anchor, Llamas has spent most of his career in New York, where he lives in the suburbs with his wife and three kids. But Llamas professes an 'obsession' with Chicago cuisine, which he plans to tie into his visit — whether on the air or behind the scenes. 'I don't know if we'll be doing a story, but I know I'm going to be eating,' Llamas said. 'So I'm going to be grabbing some beef sandwiches and some deep dish.'
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Miami bar that threw a watch party for hometown hero Tom Llamas makes the news
You know what they say. You can take the guy out of Miami ... While Tom Llamas was prepping for his prime-time debut taking over 'NBC Nightly News' on Monday, some folks from his hometown were ready to cheer him on from afar. Hours before the 6:30 p.m. newscast, a sign outside Duffy's Tavern beckoned, 'Tom Llamas, live tonight, NBC-6.' The iconic establishment near Coral Gables is right around where the 45 year old journalist grew up and attended Belen Jesuit Prepatory School. His parents still are customers, said owner Wayne Russell. 'Hometown boy done good,' said Russell, who added that once he put up the sign, 'everything went bananas.' Bananas meaning: Llamas shared a picture of the billboard his parents sent him on his Instagram and Al Roker mentioned it during his chat with his NBC colleague on the 'Today' show. 'There's one local bar down in Miami,' Roker asked. 'They're holding a watch party?!' 'This is funny .... We had nothing to do with this,' Llamas answered, adding he would be live at 30 Rock and the event was being held for his family who was unable to travel up north. 'I didn't know you can watch a newscast at a bar but they're gonna try and that means a lot to me.' 'Every time you say a certain word, you take a shot!' Roker joked to laughs. 'I'm excited for that,' said Llamas. 'Just seeing this in my hometown is great.' Russell said about 70 people turned out for the watch party, including lots of 'Belen people.' 'NBC Nightly News' also shared a snippet of the party showing the crowd watching Llamas' intro, which is drowned out by cheers and clapping. 'Everyone had their hands in the air when Tom came on,' he said. 'It was like a football game. He definitely has a lot of fans.' Last March, NBC announced that Llamas, who started out as an intern at Telemundo 51 at age 15, would be taking over for Lester Holt. 'It's an honor,' he told the Miami Herald last month. 'There's a lot of pressure, but I do think pressure is a privilege.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's an honor': Miami's own Tom Llamas on taking over a national nightly newscast
Tom Llamas is more than ready for his closeup. When the Miami native takes over 'NBC Nightly News' Monday evening, he brings 30 years of experience to the anchor desk. Did we mention he's only 45? A good chunk of that experience came from logging many hours at local TV stations, where he started at the tender age of 15. First job: Interning for Telemundo 51 in Hialeah. 'I walked in with a blue blazer and they told me to take that off immediately,' Llamas told the Miami Herald while in town in early May for a promo tour. Duties ranged from the mundane, like answering calls on the assignment desk, to the terrifying, like going out to cover crime scenes. 'I saw my first dead body when I was 16,' he stated calmly. 'It was a really serious job for a teenager, but I loved it. It put me on a path to where I am at today.' About that path, it's pretty stratospheric, and not lost on him. Llamas is just the fourth lead anchor in the last 40 years of 'Nightly News,' and the first Latino. His Cuban immigrant parents — constantly consuming newspapers and TV to know what was happening on the island — get a hat tip for that one. 'I remember waking up in the morning smelling Cuban coffee and my dad reading the Miami Herald cover to cover,' recalled the fellow news junkie. 'My mom was the same way.' Llamas landed the Telemundo gig soon after a serendipitous career day at Belen Jesuit Prep when local anchor Louis Aguirre, then with Channel 10, returned to his alma mater. The starstruck freshman told Aguirre he had an interest in current events and writing; Aguirre recommended going into broadcasting. 'Because he took the time out to speak to us, it changed my life,' Llamas said. Aguirre didn't realize the impact he'd had on Llamas until the fall of 2015 when the two men reconnected at the GOP debate in Simi Valley, California. At the time, Llamas was with 'ABC World News Tonight' and Aguirre with 'The Insider.' 'He came up to me and said, 'You may not know this, but you made such an impression on me,'' Aguirre told the Miami Herald. 'He'd already hit it big in New York, so I thought that was so generous and gracious to tell me that anecdote. It's a testament to what kind of person he is, not to mention a hell of a journalist.' Now with WLPG Local 10, Aguirre thinks it's a bonus that they're both graduates of Belen's 'hallowed halls.' Founded in 1800s Havana, the all boys school was re-established in Miami in 1961 after Castro (an alumnus) confiscated the property and expelled the Jesuits. 'I'm proud to be an alum,' said Llamas. 'It has such a rich history. It has grown to this incredible institution that is educating young men and has never lost its focus or its roots. It also teaches every student the importance of being Hispanic and why you need to love this country.' Llamas, who now resides in Westchester County with his wife and three kids, will always have a soft spot for his hometown. When he was born his family was living in Little Havana, then moved for a brief, 'freezing' three-year stint to Flint, Mich., for his father's pediatric dentist residency. They then returned to South Florida and lived in the Coral Gables area. 'It was a great life. Little League... roasting pigs in the backyard, a very typical life in Miami. An amazing experience. You could play sports year round. You could be at the beach year round,' said the avid fisherman. 'I am 305 through and through. It's in my DNA.' The 305's weather isn't too shabby either: 'Right when February rolls around and there's still snow on the ground in New York and you don't see the sun, I'm going, 'What is going on here? How did I leave!?'' Favorite old-school (and now defunct) hangouts included the Bakery Centre (the site of Shops at Sunset Place); Specs records store; the original CocoWalk; and — going way back to the archives — Whirlyball. 'It was like this concept of bumper cars and wiffle ball and jai alai,' Llamas explained. 'It sounds like a Miami fever dream.' These days, you'll catch the media superstar with his wife and three kids at iconic spots like Versailles ('a classic'), Pinecrest Bakery ('the best pastelitos'), Joe's Stone Crab (for the colossals) and Faena (their kids love the 'blinged out fossil.') As for local sports? Llamas is still all about the U, aka the University of Miami's Hurricanes, which won five national championships in the 1980s and '90s. 'Some of my best memories with my dad are going to the Orange Bowl and watching them just dominate,' he said, adding he still catches Marlins and Dolphins games every now and again. 'Those were great teams and great years for a very long time.' Shortly after graduating from Loyola University in New Orleans, Llamas began cutting his teeth with the NBC family in various behind the scenes roles. His first on-air position was at NBC 6 South Florida, with his folks cheering him on from their living room a few miles away. 'I was really green when I started and made a lot of mistakes, especially when I was live,' Llamas admitted, laughing. 'I called my mom and I'd say, 'How'd I do?' And she'd say, 'You did great.' I knew I was terrible!' Llamas got better, way better. He went on to win multiple awards, including an Emmy for his report on human smuggling while embedded at sea with the U.S. Coast Guard. Among the vastly fascinating stories in his highlight reel, some stick out more than others, namely natural disasters. He's covered all the big storms, from Katrina and Irene to Sandy, and lived through Andrew as a kid. 'Hurricanes remind us we're not in control,' he said. 'When you have no power and you have no food and you're just trying to get by, and you're trying to help each other out, it's hard, even in a modern world.' In 2014, Llamas was hired as a correspondent at 'ABC Nightly News,' where he eventually moved onto the weekend anchor desk filling in for David Muir. A few years in, he went viral when President Donald Trump singled him out during a press conference for questioning donations to veteran groups. OK, that snippet won't go in the highlight reel, though he did eventually score an exclusive sitdown with the first lady in in Nairobi, Kenya. Without discussing politics in general, Llamas will allow that the country is divided, a topic he hopes to eventually delve into in the future. 'We're at a time right now ... I mean, people are split up, and that's OK. It's happened throughout history, right? I don't think this is unique, but I do want to remind our viewers that we're all Americans, and there's certain things we can all agree on.' Since rejoining NBC network in 2021, Llamas has reported across the globe on major breaking news, including the New Orleans terror attack, the war in Ukraine, the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse as well as the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Lester Holt's reins were handed down in March, while the 66-year-old TV vet pivots his focus to 'Dateline.' 'Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity,' said Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News' executive vice president, in a release at the time. For Llamas, it's literally a dream come true, but not without challenges. 'It's an honor; there's a lot of pressure, but I do think pressure is a privilege,' he said, adding he'll look to Holt, who is both a friend and mentor, for guidance. 'His brand is the most trusted journalist in America,' he continued. 'I want to make sure once I take that seat the viewers know that I'm working for them. I work for NBC, but I really work for them. It's a public service.' When that camera goes on at 6:30 p.m. Monday how does one prepare for that full circle moment? What would the kid walking into the newsroom in Hialeah say? 'Everything that brought me here — I'm going to use,' he said, getting emotional. 'You don't get to the top of the mountain by stumbling. There's a reason why you're there. I've worked really hard.'
