evidence: Entertainment TV News Shows Kristen Welker Steps In as the New, History-Making Moderator of Meet the Press: 'She Is All In' NBC News colleagues tell PEOPLE about Welker's journey to the moderator's chair, as she becomes the first Black journalist to lead one of the major Sunday public affairs shows By Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee is a Politics Writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE for three years. Her work has previously appeared in The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Eater, and other outlets. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 12, 2023 09:00AM EDT Close Kristen Welker, the new host of Meet the Press. Photo: Courtesy of NBC News Kristen Welker will make history on Sunday when she takes over the desk at Meet the Press, making her the first Black journalist to moderate a Sunday public affairs program and only the second woman to ever moderate the NBC show. Chuck Todd helmed his last episode as moderator this past Sunday, closing out his nine-year tenure with a special segment in which he officially handed the reins to Welker. "You push yourself hard. You work really hard. You prepare.