The New York Times has found not one, but two new co-hosts who will join Michael Barbaro on its flagship podcast The Daily, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The Times will add Natalie Kitroeff and Rachel Abrams as co-hosts of the podcast, per a memo to staff sent Thursday morning. Kitroeff has been the Times‘ Mexico City bureau chief for the past five years. “Her perspective on trade, border politics and immigration laws will be invaluable to The Daily during crucial news moments,” per Thursday’s memo.
Abrams, meanwhile, established herself as one of the reporters covering the #MeToo movement, including reporting on the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Les Moonves. Abrams also recently co-wrote the book Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy, alongside James B. Stewart.
Abrams will begin at The Daily immediately, with Kitroeff joining in June so that she can help with the transition in the Mexico City bureau.
“Rachel and Natalie are both sharp, creative journalists who run toward big stories and who have shined during their recent stints guest-hosting the show,” wrote deputy managing editor Sam Dolnick, director of audio Paula Szuchman, Daily executive producer Ben Calhoun and editor Paige Cowett in their memo. “Over the last year, we’ve found that having multiple hosts allowed the team to experiment and innovate in ways that will make the show even stronger.”
Kitroeff and Abrams succeed Sabrina Tavernise, who announced her intention to leave the show last year. Tavernise had co-hosted the show alongside Barbaro since March 2022.
“The Daily deepens people’s understanding of the most important stories we cover and produces original journalism that is best in class in the audio world,” said New York Times editor Joe Kahn in a statement. “Having Natalie and Rachel join Michael as hosts will strengthen the team that makes the show so compelling to listeners.”
“Each stage in the Daily’s history has been a lesson in how much better and more creative the show can be when we expand our roster of hosts,” Barbaro added. “Natalie and Rachel are the perfect journalists to take us into this new chapter. Both are fearless reporters and passionate believers in the power of audio storytelling. I can’t wait to see what the three of us can do together.”
You can read the full memo, below.
Natalie Kitroeff and Rachel Abrams Join the ‘The Daily’ as Co-Hosts
Byline: Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Ben Calhoun, Paige Cowett
When we set out to find the “Daily’s” next co-host, we needed to find a journalist who could guide millions of listeners through the biggest news stories of our time. We needed someone who could represent the newsroom, who was quick on their feet, who could summon both steeliness and empathy, and was comfortable discussing every topic under the sun.
We didn’t find one such journalist. We found two.
We are thrilled to announce that Natalie Kitroeff and Rachel Abrams will be joining Michael Barbaro as co-hosts of “The Daily.”
Rachel and Natalie are both sharp, creative journalists who run toward big stories and who have shined during their recent stints guest-hosting the show. Over the last year, we’ve found that having multiple hosts allowed the team to experiment and innovate in ways that will make the show even stronger.
“The Daily” became even more vibrant when Sabrina Tavernise joined Michael as co-host in 2022. Now that Sabrina has decided to go back to reporting, we’re confident that Natalie and Rachel will each bring deep and varied experiences that will add new dimensions to the show.
“‘The Daily’ deepens people’s understanding of the most important stories we cover and produces original journalism that is best in class in the audio world,” said Joe Kahn. “Having Natalie and Rachel join Michael as hosts will strengthen the team that makes the show so compelling to listeners.”
“Each stage in the ‘Daily’s’ history has been a lesson in how much better and more creative the show can be when we expand our roster of hosts,” Michael said. “Natalie and Rachel are the perfect journalists to take us into this new chapter. Both are fearless reporters and passionate believers in the power of audio storytelling. I can’t wait to see what the three of us can do together.”
Natalie has spent the past five years as Mexico City bureau chief, where she led courageous reporting on the cartels’ drug trade and corruption at the highest levels of power. Her perspective on trade, border politics and immigration laws will be invaluable to “The Daily” during crucial news moments.
Before Mexico, Natalie was already an award-winning reporter covering the American economy. . Anyone who has ever spoken to Natalie recognizes her electric enthusiasm and endless curiosity for every range of story. She has already proven her ability to bring many topics to vibrant life on the show – as both a host and a guest. Natalie has been the beating heart of episodes on everything from global trade to Kendrick Lamar.
Rachel was part of the 2018 reporting team that won a Pulitzer Prize for exposing sexual harassment and misconduct. She first crossed paths with the “Daily” team when we made an episode about one of her sources from her MeToo reporting. That was during her time on The Times’s Emmy award-winning television documentary series “The New York Times Presents.”
From the start, Rachel proved to be a natural at “The Daily” – comfortable interviews with newsmakers and colleagues alike. Like Natalie, Rachel brings a wide breadth of editorial experience and interest, and a passionate appetite for what she wants to hear on the show – jumping into everything from a conversation with Jeffrey Goldberg during Signalgate, to illuminating episodes on the courts, Elon Musk and cosmetic surgery.
Rachel will begin immediately. Natalie will join the team in June after transitioning out of her role as bureau chief.
Please join us in congratulating them and celebrating their new roles.
— Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Ben Calhoun, Paige Cowett