The New York Times’ ‘The Daily’ Hires Two New Co-Hosts to Join Michael Barbaro (Exclusive)

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times has recruited not just one, but two additional hosts to team up with Michael Barbaro on their leading podcast, The Daily.

The Times is set to bring on Natalie Kitroeff and Rachel Abrams as co-hosts for their podcast, according to a staff memo sent out this morning. For the past five years, Kitroeff has served as the Mexico City bureau chief for The Times. As stated in the memo, her insights into trade, border politics, and immigration laws will be incredibly beneficial to The Daily during critical news events.

Simultaneously, Abrams emerged as one of the journalists delving into the #MeToo controversy, investigating figures such as Harvey Weinstein and Les Moonves. More recently, she collaborated with James B. Stewart in writing the book “Unscripted: The Epic Struggle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy“.

Or,

In the midst of the #MeToo uproar, Abrams became one of the journalists examining the cases of powerful men like Harvey Weinstein and Les Moonves. Most recently, she teamed up with James B. Stewart to co-author “Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy“.

Abrams will start working at The Daily right away, while Kitroeff will join in June to assist during the transition process at the Mexico City office.

In a memo penned by deputy managing editor Sam Dolnick, audio director Paula Szuchman, executive producer Ben Calhoun from The Daily, and editor Paige Cowett, it was stated that Rachel and Natalie, two talented and innovative journalists, have excelled in their recent guest-hosting roles on the show. They praised these women for their ability to tackle big stories head-on and highlighted how they’ve contributed to the show during the past year by introducing variety and experimentation, ultimately making the program even more robust.

Kitroeff and Abrams are taking over from Sabrina Tavernise, who announced she was leaving the show last year. Since March 2022, Tavernise had been hosting the program alongside Barbaro.

In a statement, New York Times editor Joe Kahn expressed that The Daily increases people’s comprehension of significant stories we report and generates outstanding journalism, leading the pack in the audio sphere. By bringing Natalie and Rachel on board alongside Michael as hosts, our already captivating team will be even stronger.

Every step in Daily’s history has demonstrated that enlarging our team of hosts significantly improves and enhances the quality and creativity of the show. Natalie and Rachel, with their fearless reporting skills and strong belief in audio storytelling, are ideal journalists to lead us into this next phase. I am eagerly looking forward to the collaborative efforts we’ll make 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

In our search for Daily’s next co-host, we aimed to discover a journalist capable of navigating millions of listeners through the most significant news events shaping our era. We sought an individual who could embody the spirit of our newsroom, be agile and adaptable, display both resilience and compassion, and feel at ease discussing any subject imaginable.

We didn’t find one such journalist. We found two. 

We’re excited to share the news that Natalie Kitroeff and Rachel Abrams have been chosen to work alongside Michael Barbaro as the new co-hosts for “The Daily”!

Rachel and Natalie, two talented and imaginative journalists, are quick to pursue major news stories and have excelled during their recent temporary hosting roles. Over the past year, it’s been beneficial for us to have more than one host on board, as this has enabled our team to try new things and push the boundaries of innovation, making the show more robust.

2022 saw “The Daily” flourish further with Sabrina Tavernise teaming up with Michael as co-host. With Sabrina returning to reporting, we’re certain that Natalie and Rachel’s rich and diverse backgrounds will infuse the program with fresh perspectives and depth.

According to Joe Kahn, “The Daily” offers a more comprehensive perspective on significant stories we report and creates exceptional journalism in the audio realm that is unmatched. By welcoming Natalie and Rachel alongside Michael as co-hosts, he believes this team will make the show even more captivating for listeners due to their combined strengths.

Michael stated, “Every phase in ‘Daily’s’ past has taught us that our program becomes even more impressive and innovative when we broaden our team of hosts. Natalie and Rachel are ideal journalists to guide us into this next phase. They are both fearless reporters and ardent advocates for the impact of audio storytelling. I am eagerly anticipating what we can achieve together.

For the previous five years, Natalie served as the Mexico City bureau chief, spearheading bold coverage on the cartels’ illicit drug trade and exposing corruption within the upper echelons of power. Her unique insights into trade policies, border politics, and immigration regulations will significantly contribute to “The Daily” during critical news events.

Prior to her stint in Mexico, Natalie was an acclaimed journalist, specializing in reporting on the U.S. economy. Her infectious energy and insatiable curiosity for a wide variety of stories are traits that anyone who has interacted with her can attest to. She has demonstrated her knack for breathing life into diverse topics, both as a host and a guest, on the show. Natalie has been instrumental in creating engaging episodes about subjects ranging from international trade to hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar.

Rachel was a member of the 2018 investigative team that received a Pulitzer Prize for revealing instances of sexual harassment and misconduct. Her initial encounter with our team occurred when we produced an episode based on one of her sources from her MeToo research. This took place while she was working on The Times’s Emmy-winning television documentary series, “The New York Times Presents.”

Rachel was part of the 2018 team that won a Pulitzer Prize by exposing sexual harassment and misconduct. Our paths first crossed when we created an episode based on one of her sources from her MeToo investigation. This happened during her time with The Times’s Emmy-winning television documentary series, “The New York Times Presents.”

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Back in 2018, Rachel was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that uncovered sexual harassment and misconduct. Our collaboration began when we produced an episode featuring one of her sources from her MeToo research. During this time, she was working on The Times’s Emmy-winning television documentary series, “The New York Times Presents.

Right off the bat, Rachel excelled at “The Daily” due to her innate ability to conduct effortless interviews with both newsmakers and colleagues. Similar to Natalie, Rachel’s editorial background is extensive, encompassing a diverse range of topics, and she approaches each show with an eager enthusiasm to delve into subjects such as Signalgate discussions with Jeffrey Goldberg, deep dives into the courts, Elon Musk, and cosmetic surgery.

Rachel starts right away, while Natalie will join our team in June, following her departure from her position as bureau chief.

Please join us in congratulating them and celebrating their new roles.

— Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Ben Calhoun, Paige Cowett

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2025-04-24 17:55