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For the first time in four years, NBC’s Meet the Press has taken the lead in the crucial 25-54 age bracket among Sunday morning political talk shows. This demographic victory marks a turning point for the show, which has undergone a quiet yet impactful transformation under its new moderator.
Kristen Welker brings a new energy
Since taking over in 2023, Kristen Welker has subtly but decisively shifted the tone and presence of Meet the Press. The numbers prove it: in the 2024-25 broadcast season, the show averaged 447,000 viewers per week in the key 25-54 demographic. That’s just enough to edge out CBS’ Face the Nation (440,000) and comfortably ahead of ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos (395,000). For a show that ranked third in that same category just two years earlier, the progress is undeniable.
Welker, the first person of color to host one of these legacy political programs, hasn’t just stepped into a role. She’s redefined what it can be in 2024 — all while retaining the basics that make Sunday morning public affairs programming what it is: the hard questions, the big names, the direct conversations.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. There’s something about how Welker manages to hold power to account without drowning in the noise that’s everywhere else in politics right now. And you can feel that respect from both viewers and guests. To read Gwen Stefani headlines magical 2025 Disney Christmas Parade
Big interviews, timely conversations
This past season, Meet the Press didn’t just ride its legacy. It landed the kind of interviews that matter in an election cycle: not one but two sit-downs with former President Donald Trump, a candid conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and sharp analysis panels featuring key members of Congress and top political analysts.
Executive producer David Gelles spoke very openly about the show’s evolution, crediting Welker with helping to modernize the format without losing the DNA of what makes Meet the Press an institution. One week might lean hard into domestic policy. Another might open with international tension. But at the center is always the effort to bring clarity to a tangled moment in politics.
Some highlights from the season’s guest list:
- Donald Trump (twice), in interviews that drew national attention
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussing the war effort and U.S. support
- Congressional leaders from both parties
- Panels with respected journalists and political strategists
Still trailing in total viewers
It’s worth noting that, while Meet the Press now leads among younger viewers — the audience advertisers chase hardest — the overall rankings tell a different story. CBS’ Face the Nation continues to be the most-watched political show in total viewers, averaging 2.76 million per episode this season. ABC’s This Week followed with 2.42 million. Meet the Press came in third with 2.35 million, though the gap is shrinking.
That difference highlights how each show serves a different slice of the audience. Face the Nation seems to hold on to older viewers who value its steadiness. Meet the Press, meanwhile, is becoming the pick for people who still want deep political conversations but with a bit more urgency and relevance. And Welker feels like the right host for that shift. To read Toho expands into Europe with bold anime distribution moves
Seeing a platform that’s so often been stuck in tradition finally find new rhythm is genuinely exciting. It’s a sign that political journalism on TV doesn’t have to settle — it can still grow, lead, and matter.
