After virtually twenty years because the host of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Experiences, Andrea Mitchell signed off for the final time on Friday (February 7) with an emotional farewell to audiences.
Within the last moments of her present, Mitchell stated to audiences, “Just some last ideas concerning the tales that we’ve shared over these 17 years, you and I, and the miles I’ve traveled to deliver them to you. I’ve anchored this program all around the world, as you simply noticed, from Moscow to Beijing, Nairobi to Ramallah, Havana, Islamabad, Kabul, Baghdad, sure, telling America’s story, as properly, all around the United States, beginning with Iowa and New Hampshire.”
“This hour has all the time been pushed by what I really like most, deep reporting on politics and overseas coverage,” Mitchell continued. “As I introduced final October, in these difficult occasions, I wish to get again to my roots and study extra about your lives, inform your tales as we face tectonic adjustments in our nation and our world, after additionally doing that for 17 years, internet hosting this each day present on MSNBC, I’ll be doing that to any extent further full time, the place this wonderful journey first began 47 years in the past, proper right here at NBC Information as chief Washington and chief overseas coverage correspondent, persevering with to cowl politics and overseas coverage.”
She went on, “Above all, I’m proudest of the younger journalists who appeared first on our program and at the moment are amongst our prime correspondents, and particularly the ladies from print and broadcast who at the moment are regulars on all of the networks, however received their first breaks proper right here. And I’m grateful to my fellow correspondents at NBC Information, this unimaginable staff, who introduced their nice reporting to this program day after day, proper right here in Washington and from all around the world. And eventually, tv information is a staff sport. I shall be ceaselessly grateful to Phil Griffin and Yvette Miley who launched this present, and Rashida Jones for her fixed help over a few years, and to my companions within the trenches, Casey Dolan and Michelle Perry, the studio crew proper right here, unimaginable producers who carry out miracles, imagine me, seemingly each day, when information breaks into our hour and so they have to modify gears with an entire new present, journalism is a gigantic privilege and a accountability. It’s by no means been extra essential to do it. Properly, that’s my vow as I proceed on this journey.”
Kristen Welker was available to bid her adieu as properly, saying, “Andrea, it’s going to be probably the most thrilling journey since you’re going to be busier than ever … Andrea, I simply need everybody to understand how beloved you’re by me and by so many individuals. You taught me a lot of what I find out about being a journalist, about asking essential questions, about asking robust questions. And I’ve simply regarded as much as you ceaselessly, and you’ve got been so beneficiant together with your time and your data and your coronary heart. And Andrea, I believe the factor that stands out most is that I’m one among so many individuals who right now needs to say thanks.”
The studio then crammed with dozens of staffers of Andrea Mitchell Experiences to shock the host, bringing her to tears earlier than she issued her last sendoff.
Andrea Mitchell wipes away tears as former and present staffers shock her on set on the finish of her last present as an MSNBC host pic.twitter.com/HYEsQnyxtB
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 7, 2025
Forward of her hour, at midday Jap time, Jose Diaz-Balart concluded his present hour with a message about Mitchell. “Andrea goes to proceed reporting, serving our neighborhood as chief Washington correspondent, chief overseas affairs correspondent for NBC Information. But when I may, for those who allow me, I simply need you to know one thing how extraordinary Andrea Mitchell is, how diligently, how passionately Andrea Mitchell takes her accountability to serve. She’s been reporting for greater than 47 years. You realize what? Nobody, nobody works tougher, nobody prepares extra. Nobody cares greater than Andrea Mitchell. Her work ethic, her extraordinary depth of expertise and intelligence, are a present to our occupation, and it’s an honor for me to work by her facet and to study from her each single day.”
For her half, Mitchell started the present on a moderately routine be aware, promising protection of matters such because the controversial defunding of USAID and the authorized challenges rising in opposition to Donald Trump‘s administration, together with in opposition to w.
One in every of her friends of the day, Jay Johnson, began out his remarks on the topical dialogue by issuing a private be aware to say, “First Andrea I’m happy to be in your present… I added it up just lately. I believe I’ve been on this new present greater than another new present, and you’re the unofficial dean of the Washington press corps. You’re deeply substantive and educated concerning the points, because the final interview mirrored. I additionally know from private expertise, you’re probably the most honorable and reliable reporter that I’ve ever handled. So congratulations, and I hope you proceed to chase information tales even after the present is over.”
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell additionally appeared in studio with some considerate phrases for Mitchell earlier than digging into the substance of the dialogue, saying, “To start with, I’m so honored to be right here in your final present, and I missed a aircraft. Didn’t miss… I skipped as a result of I needed to be with you to offer salute to you. So glad you’re right here, and also you and I are going to maintain speaking about these points, regardless of the subsequent chapter is as a result of they matter a lot.“
The present additionally showcased a long time price of clips of Mitchell’s protection on the bottom each in D.C. and overseas. “Wow, reminiscence lane. I wish to thank Russell Jones, unimaginable producer who discovered all of that tape,” she stated via tears. “And I wish to say thanks to all of my extraordinary producing staff. These are the individuals who assist deliver you Andrea Mitchell Experiences each day.”