‘Nightly News’ in a New Era

Two months into his tenure as anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” Tom Llamas is finding his stride in one of journalism’s most visible seats. This summer, he became the first Latino journalist to lead a weekday network evening newscast, stepping into the chair at a moment when the very future of television news is being questioned.

Llamas is betting that the nightly broadcast still matters, but he’s also working to expand its reach across streaming and digital platforms, while continuing to report from the field when major news breaks.

In a conversation with Status, he reflected on what he’s learned in his first months on the job, how he determines which stories to cover in a chaotic news environment, why he believes millions of viewers still turn to the evening news when the world feels most uncertain and more.

Below is our Q&A, lightly edited for style.

You've been in the "NBC Nightly News" anchor chair for more than two months now. What have you learned since taking over?

I knew this going in, but now I believe more than ever before that our journalism needs to be everywhere. “NBC Nightly News” is a brand people trust because we deliver quality journalism and take our viewers to where the news is happening. A.I. can’t do that. We don’t depend on a news algorithm or aggregate—we do our own reporting. That said, we have to make sure it is available everywhere—from broadcast, to streaming, to social, on YouTube, etc. I hear from viewers more than I have ever in my career who tell me they watch on every platform you can imagine.

Your job isn’t always behind the desk. Sometimes you’re anchoring from the studio—other times you’re out in the field reporting from where the story is happening, like this week when you were in Alaska covering Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin. What does a typical day look like for you, and how do you balance those two worlds?

I think anytime the world pauses to witness something happening in our country or the world, we need to be there. We need to listen to those affected. Whether that’s in Kerrville, Texas, or Anchorage, Alaska. In Alaska, there were so many wild cards and no one could’ve predicted the moments we saw in real time. The people I’ve always admired in this business brought a reporter’s sensibility to the anchor chair. So when news breaks, my instinct is to go there and bring the viewers with us.

Since we’re talking about travel, I must ask: I'm assuming you have a go-bag. What's in it?

I have my essentials for gear—hiking boots and socks that are good in any weather conditions, along with a pair of beat up jeans that still look presentable a decade later. Some tees and button downs that work in a lot of scenarios. I always have a passport in my bag (one in the office and one at home). I carry a drawing one of my kids did of our family—it’s on construction paper and folded over a million times but it makes me smile when I open it. Also, a Yankees hat and some other essentials like a portable mic, my IFB, portable charger and tablet, as well as a few items that can get me by if we’re not going to see a shower anytime soon.

Back to the serious questions. There are so many important stories to tell on any given day, especially with Donald Trump in office stirring mayhem in Washington. How do you decide what to prioritize in the chaotic information environment, especially as it relates to all the Trump-related stories?

There are few metrics we look at, but we also have to trust our gut. What story is buzzing around the newsroom, what is trending online, what do our viewers need to know right now?—those are the questions we ask ourselves. Is this something significant or a dangling object to distract from a key issue? Timing is also important—did something vital happen that people may not have been reading/seeing about all day. I think one of “NBC Nightly News’” strengths is that we prioritize stories that are impactful above all.

You're the first Latino journalist to anchor a weekday evening news broadcast—and it comes at a notable moment when immigration is a major story in this country. How does your parents' immigrant journey from Cuba, in addition to your own background, inform your reporting?

When I’m reporting on immigration in the field or covering it in the show, I’m doing it as the anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” which means I’m focused on the facts, not opinions, or advocacy, or mistruths. I think one way my reporting is elevated is I’m the son of Cuban immigrants. I grew up speaking Spanish. I can interview both sides of this issue seamlessly and in real time. I understand why people pick up and leave their countries because they fear for their lives or for the future of their families. That’s my family’s story. But this is a nation with borders and laws.

Linear television is obviously in decline. What would you say to those who would question the relevance in 2025 of a traditional evening news broadcast? And how are you and your team approaching digital platforms to engage audiences beyond the broadcast?

For those that question the relevance—millions of Americans tune in every night to “Nightly News,” to get their news delivered down the middle, responsibly and fair. Network evening news broadcasts are consistently the most viewed shows on television right now. And those numbers grow during critical news events and major breaking news.

There’s no question that how people consume news is evolving. That's why I anchor “Top Story” on NBC News NOW, a newscast built for a slightly younger audience and one that has increased its audience every year. We’re also working on something for social right now that we’re all excited about, which will hopefully launch soon. I think our loyal viewers will love it and we hope it brings a new audience to Nightly News.

What do you hope to accomplish in your first year as "Nightly News" anchor? What does success look like to you?

That we maintain the trust and quality journalism millions have expected from “NBC Nightly News” every night. That we keep covering the world and keep asking the tough questions. That our audience grows on every platform. But ultimately that we deliver on the promise we make at the end of every broadcast—that tonight and always, we are there for the viewer.

The latest episode of our podcast, Power Lines, just dropped.

In this week’s episode: We unpack Donald Trump’s unprecedented move to seize control of D.C.’s police force—and the MAGA Media spin that’s all but abandoned the old “Don’t Tread on Me” mantra. We break down Alex Jones’ latest crisis as Infowars hits the auction block (again) while he’s forced to liquidate assets to pay Sandy Hook families. Plus, Taylor Swift’s podcast debut and surprise album announcement, which landed with a wave of corporate bandwagoning. And yes, we end with a lively debate over the best Swift album, including Jon’s pick for the one that nearly put him to sleep.

You can watch on YouTube—or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

• Donald Trump, not happy with the coverage of his failed Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, trained his ire on the press: "It’s incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me," he whined Sunday on Truth Social. [Mediaite]

  • Notorious right-wing conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec revealed he was part of the press pool on Trump's Alaska trip (despite not being a journalist) and blasted reporters for having the audacity to shout questions during a photo op. [Mediaite]

  • 👀 Fox News anchor Bret Baier golfed—again—with Trump at his Virginia golf club on Saturday. [AP]

• Media Matters won an injunction in federal court, blocking the FTC from demanding documents from the progressive watchdog as part of its antitrust probe. "This case presents a straightforward First Amendment violation," the judge declared. [Bloomberg]

• Before selecting Dan Bongino, Kash Patel apparently approached Jeanine Pirro about the job, Glenn Thrush reported. [NYT]

• YouTube “has inquired about buying the rights” to the Academy Awards telecast, which currently airs on ABC, Lucas Shaw reported. [Bloomberg]

• Marvel is abandoning Georgia for the U.K. over rising costs, Ben Fritz reported. [WSJ]

• Conan O'Brien said the traditional late-night format "is going to disappear," but added that hosts like Stephen Colbert "are not going anywhere." [Deadline]

• Gal Gadot said there is "a lot of pressure on celebrities to bring up things against Israel," and blamed her pro-Israel rhetoric for having bombed "Snow White" at the box office. [The Wrap]

• James Gunn said he is ready to work on the "Superman" sequel: "We’re scheduling it now," he said, adding that "it's going to be much sooner rather than later." [Collider]

• "Weapons" topped the box office for a second consecutive weekend, adding $25 million to its coffers.

• "Freakier Friday" printed another $14.5 million in its second weekend.

• "Nobody 2" debuted with $9.3 million.

• Elsewhere, "The Fantastic Four" earned $8.8 million, "The Bad Guys 2” $7.5 million, "Superman" $5.3 million, "The Naked Gun" $4.8 million, "Jurassic World Rebirth" $2.9 million, and "F1: The Movie" $2.7 million.

[Data via Box Office Mojo]