“Meet the Press”, NBC’s long-running political interview programme, is preparing to mark 80 years on television in 2027. Current host Kristen Welker says its lasting relevance comes from maintaining rigorous conversations with politicians and newsmakers while adapting to changing political and cultural moments.

The programme began on radio in 1945 and moved to NBC television in 1947, making it the longest-running show in television history. Tim Russert reshaped it in 1991 around prominent one-to-one interviews, while notable milestones include Gerald Ford becoming the first sitting US president to appear on a live network news programme in 1975. Welker, appointed in 2023, is the second woman and first Black journalist and woman of colour to host the show, which was originally created by journalist Martha Rountree.