Chuck Todd

About Me

I've been with NBC since the Spring of 2007. Before venturing into television, I spent nearly 15 years covering campaign politics for The Hotline, a publication under the National Journal umbrella. As leader of The Hotline, I'd like to think I helped keep the publication into what was a must read for political professionals and junkies alike. I'm a political numbers geek; My first beat at The Hotline was House races which I'd argue is the single best way to get started in covering campaign politics. If you become a House race expert, it's easy to be an expert about politics on any other level. House races are the weeds where the trendlines are first spotted.

I grew up in Miami (born and raised; a rarity in Miami, I know); I came to DC to get into politics, ideally (I thought) to some day run a presidential campaign. But as they sort of say, those who can't in politics become members of the media. So now I backseat drive campaigns for a living and I love it.

The political statistical side of my brain is probably also the home of my sports fanaticism which begins with Miami Hurricane football (I'm rabid about it); I have season tickets and try to make it back for a game or two; it was tough in 2007 to get back to the old Orange Bowl and I imagine I'll struggle to find a Saturday to escape to Miami this fall. Still, I'll try. After the Hurricanes comes the Dodgers (remember I grew up in Miami when the only pro sports franchise we had was the Dolphins, a team my father taught me to hate). I bleed Dodger blue and hate the fact they will no longer train in Florida; that's how I grew up seeing them, Spring at Dodgertown. After the Dodgers come the Packers (adopted passion from my late father). I was a Packer fan when it wasn't cool; I'll never forget my first Packer game; It was against the Dolphins in '78… some rookie WR named James Lofton scored the only Packer points. Most searing memory of that game? Some bald Packer fan who had painted his head to look like a helmet; as a 6yo, I thought that was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.

Shows & Blogs

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.