Rick Klein: Last News

Averi Harper has been named political director for ABC News, with plans to relocate from New York to Washington, D.C.

She’s never been shy in sharing her opinion — but now Sunny Hostin has one less platform to do it on. “The View” co-host has confirmed she deleted her X account in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential election win, saying she believes it was a “patriotic” act.Hostin, 56, made the admission on the “Behind The Table” podcast earlier this week, saying she no longer wants to be associated with the site because it’s owned by avid Trump supporter Elon Musk.

David Chalian, CNN‘s longtime political director, has been promoted to senior VP and Washington, DC bureau chief.

“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin slammed “uneducated white women” for Donald Trump’s victory and said she’s worried about “internment camps” during a moribund episode of the program Wednesday.“I’m profoundly disturbed… we know now that he will have unfettered power,” Hostin said.Hostin, wearing all black, said that Donald Trump’s historic win makes her worry for her daughter who now has “less civil rights” than she does.“I remember my father telling me many, many years ago that I was the first person in his family to enjoy full civil rights and now I have less civil rights than when he told me that.”The former prosecutor went on to say that America’s healthcare system is now at risk and that Trump’s win makes her worried about “mass deportation and internment camps.”“I think [Trump’s victory] had nothing to do with policy, I think this was a referendum on cultural resentment in this country.”Hostin faulted white women and latino men for Trump’s victory, and claimed the vice president ran a “flawless campaign.”“Black women tried to save this country again, last night… what we do not have is white women, who voted about 52 percent for Donald Trump — uneducated white women is my understanding. You have Latino men actually, voting more for him,” Hostin opined.

There’s a little election this week that you might have heard about.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Rick Klein, a veteran of wrangling politicians and newsmakers, has been named ABC News‘ next Washington Bureau chief, a move that shows the Disney news operation working to fill some notable holes among its senior staff. “As a seasoned and highly respected journalist, Rick is uniquely qualified to lead our Washington bureau at such a pivotal moment in our nation’s history,” said Debra OConnell, the Disney executive who oversees both ABC News and ABC’s local stations, in a prepared statement.

ABC News will simulcast next week’s CNN presidential debate, with plans for pre- and post-debate coverage led by anchor David Muir.

Have you heard it’s cold in Des Moines? The subzero temperatures are making Monday’s caucuses in Iowa the coldest on record, a running theme of coverage throughout the day and into this evening. It’s not trivial, as the frigid weather may very well impact turnout.

ABC News has tapped Brooke Brower to serve as executive producer of This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Brooke Bower, a veteran of CNN and MSNBC, will take the reins of ABC News’ “This Week With George Stephanopoulos” as its new executive producer, filling in a gap left by the tragic demise of the show’s previous leader. Brower, who had been managing editor of CNN Politics, will report to Kim Godwin, president of ABC News. Kendall Heath, who had been working as the show’s interim executive producer, was named executive producer of politics, reporting into Stacia Deshishku, ABC News’ executive editor, and will work with political director Rick Klein during the election season. “As the 2024 election season gets underway, I look forward to Brooke and Kendall working closely with the talented teams at ‘This Week’ and all our great reporters and producers in the Washington bureau, led by Jonathan Greenberger, and the political unit under the leadership of Rick Klein and Averi Harper, to bring straightforward political journalism to our viewers at a time when it’s needed more than ever,” Godwin said in a memo sent to staff Wednesday.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorOne year into the Biden administration, the nation’s big TV news organizations’ hopes for a return to normalcy have yet to be borne out.While White House activity has found a more familiar cadence during President Joe Biden’s first year — ABC News political director Rick Klein calls it “professional” — many of the TV reporters who cover the place say their working lives have yet to return to pre-Trump rhythms. The ongoing pandemic and ramped up demands for streaming initiatives have increased pressure on correspondents and news organizations at a time when traditional ratings are down.“Today was bananas,” says Cecilia Vega, ABC News’ chief White House correspondent, during a recent phone interview that started just after 11 a.m.