NBC’s “Meet the Press” is expanding beyond television with its first live audience event, “Meet the Moment LIVE,” set for June 29 at City Winery in New York City. Hosted by moderator Kristen Welker, the event will feature a conversation with actor Taraji P. Henson, who will discuss both her career and her advocacy work focused on mental health.
The new event reflects Welker’s broader effort to evolve the long-running Sunday public-affairs program, which has been on the air since 1947 as a forum for major political figures and newsmakers in Washington. Since becoming moderator in 2023, Welker has pushed the show to broaden its scope through “Meet the Moment” segments, which spotlight major national issues and feature guests outside the usual political circle. Past guests have included Olivia Munn, Michael Phelps and Martin Luther King III, while topics have ranged from grief and infertility to sports.
Welker said the program will always include major political discussions, but she believes many topics shaping public life extend far beyond politics alone. She pointed to issues such as public health, saying they affect politics, culture and the wider world. The goal, she said, is to bring in voices and perspectives that can help audiences better understand complex subjects that matter to everyday viewers.
The live event also fits into a growing NBC News strategy to create new revenue through in-person experiences. In recent months, the network has staged live interviews for “Sunday Today” and organized events tied to “Today,” with ticket sales and sponsorships helping support the format. NBCUniversal’s news division appears to be following a model similar to Bravo’s fan-oriented events, which combine live appearances, brand partnerships and audience engagement.
David Gelles, executive producer of “Meet the Press,” said the “Meet the Moment” interviews have performed well with viewers and have helped attract new audiences. He said the show has not lost its key-demo Sunday audience when it airs those conversations, and focus groups suggest viewers see them as informative and compelling. Gelles added that the program has long featured guests from outside politics, citing examples such as Kobe Bryant, and that the new live format is an extension of that tradition.
Welker said she was inspired in part by a classic “Meet the Press” interview with baseball legend Yogi Berra, noting that figures outside politics can still illuminate political and cultural issues because they connect with broad audiences. She said the live conversations are intended to add depth and context to difficult topics.
About 400 attendees are expected at the New York event. NBC executives hope it becomes the start of a longer-running live series and another step in the future of “Meet the Press.”
