After discussing the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Ill, O’Reilly was quizzed about the GOP primary. Regarding the recent rhetorical back-and-forth between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, O’Reilly sort of shrugged with a “who cares?!” attitude, claiming that both of these guys will say whatever they can to get the nomination. He is a big fan of Michele Bachmann as a person, though not as a serious presidential candidate. And the legion of Ron Paul supporters will note that O’Reilly thinks that Paul’s foreign policy disqualifies him to serve as commander-in-chief (though some have surmised that his loyal support comes as a result of the very same foreign policy.)

Watch the clip below, courtesy of NBC News:

Last night, Ms. Clinton filed her first segment for the show, and it came out almost exactly as one might expect: a feel-good, sometimes cloyingly sweet, look at a woman in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who has dedicated her life to helping the children of her town. The focus was on Miss Annette Dove, who gave up her life as an educator to start TOPPS, Inc., a not-for-profit service which helps kids out by providing food, guidance and love.

Clinton acquitted herself reasonably well, with a capable, if somewhat stiff, report entitled “Making a Difference.” The segment’s title not only sounds like a parody of a cliche human interest story, it almost actually is; Stephen Colbert does just such a parody entitled “Difference-Makers.”

But here we are, a sweet segment on a woman helping poor kids in a rural Arkansas town, who is, in fact, making a difference. Jaded media bloggers can find fault with the whole enterprise, but the producers of the show are almost certainly considering an entirely different target demographic with this feel good piece, and for that, everyone should be happy with the end result.

Watch the bit below, courtesy of NBC News:

RELATED: NBC News Hires Chelsea Clinton To Boost ‘Making A Difference’ Series

Chelsea will be working on NBC’s Making A Difference and will join fellow political offspring Jenna Bush and Meghan McCain in their journalism wing.

NBC News president Steve Capus said he had met with Chelsea and asked her ‘What are you interested in doing?’” She said she was fascinated in people volunteering their time for the greater good.

Watch Clinton and Todd talk about Chelsea below via NBC:

According to a story by Bill Carter in Monday’s New York Times, NBC will announce today that Chelsea Clinton has been hired to work on the station’s “Making a Difference” series, which highlights the good deeds and works of everyday people. Steve Capus, president of NBC News, told Carter that Clinton will begin work immediately.

Clinton landed the “Making a Difference” spot after Capus heard that Clinton had been “kicking the wheels” on what to do with her life:

Mr. Capus said he had met with Ms. Clinton and had a long conversation that began with a simple question. “I asked her: ‘What are you interested in doing?’”

Ms. Clinton told him, he said, that during her mother’s campaign for president in 2008, she had been moved by stories of people making personal contributions.

There’s no solid idea of what Clinton’s exact role night be — she’ll report, but also wants to be in the field and help with edits — but Carter suggested that the “Making a Difference” features might eventually find their way to Rock Center With Brian WIlliams, NBC’s new Monday night show. Clinton’s high-profile presence would likely be welcome with open arms; FOX News’ The O’Reilly Factor nearly beat Rock Center in the ratings last week.

NBC has also now completely cornered the market in the “Daughter of a Presidential Candidate Working For Us” category. Clinton marks the third such hire by the network, joining Meghan McCain (contributor to MSNBC) and Jenna Bush Hager (Today show correspondent) in the Peacock’s family.

As for Clinton, there’s no telling how long this will last or if she’ll eventually climb up the ranks. For now, all sides seem hopeful that this will be the beginning of a long and fruitful pairing. “[The job] will be full time for the near-term future,” Capus told Carter. “But I hope it’s the beginning of a nice, long-term relationship.”

There probably aren’t two more respected players in the world of news media than Williams and Stewart, at least in the blue-state world of savvy media consumers. Both are known for a combination of intellectual heft and cunning wit, though in some respects, they are foils for one another. Williams is the respected nightly news anchor who’s hobby is showing his impressive comedic chops, while Stewart is a well-regarded comedy show host who is also respected for his insightful media criticism and political news analysis.

The two seamlessly navigated light conversation about taking kids trick-or-treating, complete with the sort of pedestrian commentary that one might expect on a Monday night set at The Comic Strip. Though it wasn’t a terribly funny back and forth, it was a nice and light discussion that served as a reminder that at the end of the day, these two news media giants go home to their kids and deal with the same family ordeals as anyone else.

But the discussion became far more interesting in the second half of the interview when Williams challenged Stewart about what was deemed as Daily Show mockery of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Stewart denied that he was making fun of the protesters, clarifying that while the dance circles are terrific fodder for fun, he had “great respect for what they are trying to accomplish, or at least the frustration they are expressing.” Williams then asked Stewart if he saw the Occupy movement as representative of a looming “permanent era of protests.” Stewart shot back saying “you’re a news man,” before reminding the NBC News host of the Tea Party movement, and the Iraq War protests as examples.

While Williams gets a pass for looking to extract some funny from Stewart, the more interesting bit came from the serious discussion of the news media. He also showed great judgment in trading in the 19 appearances he’s made on TDS to get Jon Stewart to give up a Halloween night with his kids for his premier show.

Watch the segment below, courtesy of NBC News:

The two segment long interview was the most recent evidence of efforts made by Madoff family survivors to distance themselves from the action of the man at the center of the Ponzi scheme from two plus years ago. Ruth Madoff seemed particularly divorced from his actions and repeatedly claimed no knowledge of the scandal, as did son Andrew. Lauer proved to be a particularly relevant interviewer with the disclaimer that he lives in the same building that houses the penthouse apartment where the Madoffs once lived.

The first segment dealt with recent allegations in the news, while the second focused more on the knowledge of the deceitful scheme while the second followed with how the family members have coped.

Watch for yourself, courtesy of NBC News:

Part 1:

Part 2:

RELATED: War Is Over: Obama Will Have U.S. Troops Home From Iraq By Year’s End

Capital NY reports that The New York Times, for instance, is aware that, simply because our troops will no longer be fighting, working and training in Iraq, this particular story arc is far from done and over with. In fact, the months to come will prove to be a crucial time in assessing what impact the U.S. and years of conflict have had on Iraq, its government and its people:

When you take America out of the equation, what kind of country does it become?” asked The New York Times‘ foreign editor Joe Kahn. “We’re not going to stop covering the country because the American military has pulled out. We’ll continue to watch the story.”

As such, the paper will keep three full-time correspondents in that country in addition to its network of local stringers. The NYT‘s Tim Arango will remain as its bureau chief in Baghdad.

In addition, The Wall Street Journal and Reuters also have plans to maintain a presence in Iraq in the near future, as do CNN, NBC News and ABC News. The AP, meanwhile, which has lost three staffers in Iraq since 2003, is “still assessing the situation.”

h/t Capital NY

NBC’s Chuck Todd told the crew on Morning Joe this morning the Republican presidential field may be–in the opinion of the conventional wisdom–down to a “top tier” of Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, but Todd says a key question today is whether there’s “an opening” for “one more in the field.” Todd says now former candidate Tim Pawlenty was considered a voice of the establishment, or “the Chamber of Commerce candidate, if you will.” For some big money donors, the choices of Perry, Bachmann and Romney may not be satisfying, leading to a call for one more big name–a Chris Christi, for instance.

Asked what would “tip this” for a potential candidate like Christi, who has insisted for months he would absolutely not enter the race, Todd said “it’s if this Perry rocketship that’s lifted off the launch pad fizzles out in a hurry.”

Watch it here, from MSNBC:

In an exclusive, TODAY will reveal Charla Nash‘s new face for the first time. Nash, the Connecticut woman who was disfigured in a horrific chimp attack, underwent face transplant surgery. NBC News reports TODAY’s Ann Curry will debut post-surgery photos and video of Nash (shown in photo taken before the attack) on Thursday morning’s show. Nash’s daughter Briana and brother Stephen will join Curry in studio to talk about how Nash is doing since the face transplant.

Nash was disfigured in the 2009 attack, losing her eyes, hands and most of her face when a friend’s pet chimpanzee attacked her. The 200-pound animal was shot and killed by police.

CBS News recently reported that Nash’s first post-surgery request from doctors was for a hamburger:

Dr. Bohdan Pomahac led a 30-member surgical team to perform the 20-hour operation, which included a double hand transplant on Nash, but the hands failed to take and were removed.

Nash’s brother says she looks “fantastic.”

Remember the story of the bladder cancer survivor who said he was “humiliated” by an intrusive airport search at the hands of a TSA agent–a search that was done in such a way as to rupture the man’s urostomy bag at the TSA checkpoint? Thomas Sawyer described the incident–and the way it made him feel–last fall, arguing that the TSA needs to focus on showing travelers respect when they have special issues that might require a little discretion (and, as he correctly pointed out, all travelers have the right to ask for (demand) that a hand search be done in private). In the aftermath of his nightmarish experience, Sawyer met with TSA chiefs in Washington, got a bunch of heartfelt apologies, and shared his thoughts. And then last week it happened all over again.

“Before I could even get (out) the words, ‘I want this done privately,’ the TSO agent began patting me down in public,” said Sawyer. “I said ‘Whoa! I have a medical condition.’ He said, ‘I know,’ and continued the pat-down.” As MSNBC reports, Sawyer filed a formal complaint:

“I just don’t get it. Why can’t the Detroit TSO agents follow the procedures? This pat-down was rough and not done appropriately,” said Sawyer. “The screener squeezed my bag several times and they are not supposed to even touch it.”

However, the seal on his urostomy bag did not break this time, Sawyer told msnbc.com, despite news reports claiming that he was once again left covered in urine.

TSA spokesperson Greg Soule said the agency takes every passenger’s claim seriously. “We are reviewing the circumstances surrounding this passenger’s screening to determine if the proper procedures were followed,” he said.

Watch it here, from CNN:

NBC’s Meet the Press will host a “Facebook debate” ahead of the New Hampshire primary, host David Gregory announced in a web video (suitable for sharing on Facebook) posted today. Gregory described it as a “one of a kind experience” that starts “right now” with an ongoing political discussion of the 2012 campaign on the MTP Facebook page and leading up to the debate, to happen the Sunday before the primary. The debate will happen, Gregory says, “not just on air, but within your social network.”

The event will air on NBC and via streaming on Facebook:

This is sure to add a ground-breaking new chapter to the rich history of ‘Meet the Press’ political debates,” said Steve Capus, President of NBC News. “What really sets this partnership apart is that we are able to combine the reach of NBC’s audiences and Facebook’s users to connect with engaged, informed communities. The debate will take place next year, but the conversation has already started on the ‘Meet the Press’ Facebook page and on the broadcast every Sunday.”

Watch the announcement here, from NBC News:

He’s the guy many Americans know as the sweet and adorable British prime minister from romantic comedies, and now he’s the face of the U.K.’s outrage over the phone hacking scandal engulfing Rupert Murdoch‘s News Corp–Hugh Grant, who this morning told NBC’s Matt Lauer that one of the reasons the hacking of celebrities, politicians and others went on for years is that the government lived in fear of Murdoch’s power. “He had the power through his papers to get them elected, and his paper knew dirty details about individual MPs and so they were unwilling ever to take him on.”

Grant, who was a phone hacking victim himself, described a culture where reporters used any means necessary to get exclusive stories, police were paid off, and politicians chose access to Murdoch over investigating what was happening at his newspapers:

Only three weeks ago, all our major politicians in this country were sucking up to Rupert Murdoch and drinking champagne on his lawn at his summer party, and so it’s almost comic that today in Parliament they’re all competing to say he’s a terrible person.

Watch it here, from NBC:

Was it you? Were you the one who clicked that thumb around 8:23 Friday morning (during the show! synergy!) and became TODAY‘s 500,000th fan? Somebody did it, and NBC’s top-rated morning show is celebrating the social media milestone that few shows have hit. TODAY’s half a million fans outnumber those of other breakfast shows–twice the number of ABC’s Good Morning America and ten times the number of fans CBS has for the Early Show.

“The TODAY brand is about family and community. Facebook has been a great platform to extend that brand and create a two way conversation with viewers and users,” said Ryan Osborn, NBC News’ director of social media, who uses TODAY as an example of how to build communities around a television program.

Part of growing that TODAY community (and it keeps growing–at this writing TODAY‘s reached 500,719 fans on Facebook) involves taking content from Facebook and sharing it on the show’s website. “Facebook is a strategic part of our growth plan for TODAY.com,” said Jen Brown, director of TODAY.com. “The page is an outlet for segments from the show and also helps us reach new audience for original content that is web only.”

TODAY‘s fans don’t include the Facebook fans for the late morning duo of Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, who have their own army of 218,000 fans.

Harry Smith, who was replaced in January as co-host of CBS’ Early Show in the struggling morning show’s most recent makeover, will leave the network and join NBC News, where TV Guide reports he will be a part of the upcoming primetime news hour hosted by NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, set to debut this fall.

Smith joined CBS News in 1986 as a Dallas-based reporter and was named a correspondent in March 1987, reporting primarily for the CBS Evening News. Prior to that, he was a reporter and anchor for KMGH-TV, the CBS affiliate in Denver. He also worked in radio in Denver and Cincinnati. In his years at CBS, Smith has served as a fill-in anchor on nearly every news show, and won numerous awards including several Emmys, an Edward R. Murrow award, and he’s won recognition from the American Women in Radio and Television and the National Association of Black Journalists. Smith was also given the Silver Anniversary Award by the NCAA for former varsity athletes who have gone on to a career of distinction.

NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders, who’s covered the Casey Anthony story for three years, was outside the Orange County Jail this morning, telling viewers of TODAY that this could be the last full day and night in custody for Anthony, who faces sentencing tomorrow on lesser charges of lying to prosecutors and could–conceivably–be released for time served. “Had Casey been convicted of murder, she could have faced the death penalty,” said Sanders. “The judge could sentence Casey to four years, but with the time she’s already served, she could walk free.”

What could be next for a free Casey Anthony? Sanders reminded viewers of a jailhouse letter previously written by Anthony, saying when she gets out, she wanted to “get pregnant, and have another baby.”

Watch it here, from NBC News:

You know how it is, you get all caught up covering the president, you can’t take time to check in with Mom. And, well, she worries. But good thing for NBC News deputy Washington bureau chief Ken Strickland, he’s got a buddy named Brian Williams who’s got his back. And Mom’s, of course. After President Obama’s live news conference Wednesday morning, Williams was anchoring coverage on MSNBC (NBC was airing Wimbledon) and in a chat with Strickland, his cell phone rang. Williams, ever the smoothest of operators, was kind enough to ask Strickland if he needed to take the call and they could get back to talking about the debt ceiling later. But Strickland said no, he was going to let it go to voicemail, adding “it may be my mother.”

At the end of Strickland’s liveshot, Williams reminded him of the call. “Ken, call her back. You’d think your Mom would know you’re fine if you’re on TV with your friend Brian.”

Watch it here, from MSNBC:

NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel told NBC’s Jay Leno Wednesday night “it’s probably time to end the global war on terrorism.” Discussing Wednesday night’s speech by President Obama (which had not happened at the time the Tonight Show taped, though Engel had been briefed on the speech), Engel compared the 9/11 attack to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, describing one as the work of “19 guys with box cutters” and the other the work of a 24-man SEAL team:

“What did we do in between? All the ground wars. Afghanistan. The Iraq War, which had nothing to do with Al Qaeda. Aghanistan, which is still going on. That’s what needs to end. This chapter in our history.”

Watch it here, from NBC:

For the team that brought Olbermann back to prime time last night–many of them some of the most experienced people in cable news–may have felt a bit like brilliant surgeons forced to do elaborate surgery in a glistening new operating room, but suddenly cut off from their modern–and elaborately equipped hospital. Get me a whatchamajigger consult and have a team from otolaryngodoscopy get down here just in case this guy’s helioflatterus goes into T-6. Oh, and hit the lobby Starbucks. I need a triple espresso.

Yeah. We don’t have those anymore. We’re pretty much on our own. In a warehouse. On the West Side.

Whereas the MSNBC version of Countdown was filled with the most modern graphics, live remotes from around the world, and plenty of entertaining effects, the new Countdown was by necessity more streamlined. Or, as some suggested with snark on Twitter during the debut, the show had a dated, nearly cable access feel to it at times. Sound elements were sometimes inaudible, and at other points, the audio levels between Olbermann and his remote guests were annoyingly uneven.

These complaints, anybody who works in TV will tell you, are the very reasons a network newscast or cable news show is an elaborate piece of television produced nightly by a team that can number into the hundreds–or more, depending on how far off into the world the show reaches, and how many stories the show covers. When tsunamis wash over nuclear power plants, a cable news show will call in the resources of thousands. And that’s the weakness that may soon be displayed by Countdown on Current.

Keith Olbermann, with his intellect, loyal contributors and die-hard fans, delivers most of the show he did at MSNBC simply by sitting at a television camera and speaking–alone, or with a familiar friend, as he did with Michael Moore. And that part arrived undamaged in the move from NBC. The show, with its Special Comment and Worst Persons, felt so familiar you had to wonder why they didn’t just go all the way and put Olbermann in front of a projected image of the flags outside 30 Rock, instead of the generic skyline shot.

Surely, the loss of three-dimensional graphics, laser-sharp production and crisp audio probably went unnoticed by many of those who have missed hearing Olbermann’s voice and his take on current events. But when big news breaks–and it will–the show may suddenly seem like that shiny surgical suite in a warehouse that it is. There won’t be a fast-deploy unit of NBC News journalists on the first flight out, backed by a Queens-based team of specialists devoted solely to moving technical crews and journalists around the world at a moment’s notice–and backing them up with the satellite support and logistics expertise to get them on the air. It all happens off camera, as smoothly as the specialists, technicians and labs support surgeons in our best hospitals.

Surely, Current has plans in place for the necessity of covering big news, whether it’s politics, terror, or natural disaster. And yes, the new Countdown clearly passed its first test: it proved that Keith Olbermann doesn’t need NBC to do his nightly show. He’s back, and his voice is once again a part of the national debate. And that’s probably a good thing no matter what your politics. But one day soon, he’ll want to talk about something, he’ll want to show it to us as it’s happening, and he’ll want to call on experts at a moment’s notice to bring perspective. And he may end up feeling like that world-class surgeon who suddenly realizes he’s not in that amazing modern hospital anymore.

In the past six months a number of high-profile personalities and producers, in addition to O’Donnell, have left NBC, including: CNBC/NBC News star Erin Burnett left for CNN, Meredith Vieira apparently retired from her role as cohost at TODAY but is staying within the NBC family), CNBC anchor Trish Regan appears to have quit to take another gig and is currently sitting out a mandatory contractual period, MSNBC Morning Joe Executive Producer Chris Licht left for CBS, NBC’s respected Washington Bureau Chief Mark Whitaker bid farewell for a high level CNN gig, (and our own Mediaite founder Dan Abrams left NBC/MSNBC for ABC News.) Throw in whatever happened with Keith Olbermann and at the very least you have a suspicious trend. No question, the days of loyalty to one network are long gone.

But since Comcast leaders have made clear that they are allowing NBC News and CNBC to make their own editorial decisions, why are top NBC producers and talent are fleeing for the greener pastures of other networks? Insiders speculate that it could be the absence of recently departed NBC Universal Chief Jeff Zucker. While Steve Capus has long held the official title of President, NBC News, it was no secret that Zucker, a long time Today Show Executive Producer, made many, if not most, of the big picture decisions for NBC News and MSNBC. Now with Zucker out, Capus has taken on more responsibility but some NBC insiders fear (and his competitors hope) Capus may lack the relationships and/or power to woo and keep and talent the way Zucker did. CNBC Chief Mark Hoffman, on the other hand, has long had more autonomy than Capus, but one has to wonder why he too is suddenly having a tougher time holding on to his network’s stars?

An NBC News spokesperson tells Mediaite “NBC News has the deepest bench in all of TV News, we have the greatest number of platforms and opportunities, the greatest on air and off air teams and our unmatched audience size reflects that.” A valid point to be sure.

We asked our founder Dan Abrams to weigh in and he seems to side with NBC on this one: “I think in a lot of these cases another network just has more to offer. There’s no question that Jeff was terrific with talent, but I am not sure anyone, no matter how persuasive, can combat a better package.”

This may be so, but NBC should have a distinct advantage since they have much greater reach. With a cable arm (CNBC and/or MSNBC) as well as the NBC News network they should be better able to keep top talent, on air and off, busy and happy. It seems the recent exodus strays from what might or should be considered the norm.

Furthermore, these moves are different than, say, the resignation of someone like longtime NBC Sports Chief Dick Ebersol which has more to do with the normal shift in power after Comcast took control of the executive suites.

With Current TV preparing to challenge MSNBC, CBS trying to compete in the evenings and on Sunday morning and major changes afoot at the network morning shows, no matter why it’s happening, it has got to be an issue that both NBC and its competitors are watching closely.

Note – this post was updated with a comment from an NBC News spokesperson.

In a major move, MSNBC’s chief Washington correspondent, Norah O’Donnell has decided to jump networks, signing with CBS News as White House correspondent. As Politico’s Mike Allen writes, “it’s a stunning shakeup for both the front row of the White House briefing room and for Washington’s intensely competitive network news bureaus.”

O’Donnell’s been with NBC since 1999, and before that reported for Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper. In her role at MSNBC, O’Donnell’s reported on politics, served as a contributing correspondent for NBC’s top-rated TODAY, and anchored Weekend TODAY. She’s also been a regular on The Chris Matthews Show, the Sunday public affairs program.

In a statement announcing the hire, CBS News says Chip Reid, the current CBS chief White House correspondent, will become a national correspondent based in Washington, ‘with greater editorial range,’ CBS said.” O’Donnell will also become the principal substitute anchor of Face the Nation. In the statement from CBS, O’Donnell says “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m thrilled to cover the White House for CBS News. It is an honor and a privilege to join the great journalists at this legendary network.”

Here’s the full announcement, from CBS News:

NORAH O’DONNELL NAMED CBS NEWS’ CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT

Emmy award-winning reporter Norah O’Donnell has been named CBS News’ Chief White House Correspondent, it was announced today by CBS News Chairman and 60 MINUTES Executive Producer Jeff Fager and David Rhodes, President, CBS News.

O’Donnell will also become the principal substitute anchor for FACE THE NATION, the growing Sunday morning public affairs broadcast anchored by CBS News’ Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer, and will report for all CBS News broadcasts, including occasionally for 60 MINUTES.

“It’s very exciting for all of us at CBS News to have Norah on our team,” said Fager. “She’s an accomplished reporter with extensive experience and she will be terrific as our Chief White House Correspondent.”

“Norah’s experience on Washington’s top beats—at the White House, on Capitol Hill, and at the Pentagon—will make her a great addition to our growing Washington bureau,” said Rhodes. “At the White House, on the campaign trail with the President, at the Conventions and into Election Night, we will be even more competitive in our reporting with Norah on board.”

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said O’Donnell. “I’m thrilled to cover the White House for CBS News. It is an honor and a privilege to join the great journalists at this legendary network.”

O’Donnell has been the Chief Washington Correspondent for MSNBC and a contributing correspondent for “TODAY” and “Weekend TODAY.” She also appears regularly on “The Chris Matthews Show” and has co-anchored the 9:00 AM hour of “TODAY.”

O’Donnell provided in-depth coverage of the 2008 presidential election, during which she anchored throughout the primaries and reported on the exit polls. She was one of the main anchors for MSNBC’s primetime coverage of both the Democratic and Republican conventions, and moderated a panel of MSNBC’s chief political analysts. She won an Emmy as part of NBC News’ election night coverage.

O’Donnell joined NBC News in 1999. Prior to that, she was a staff reporter for the Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, and worked as a contributor and analyst for MSNBC.

During her 12-year tenure at NBC, O’Donnell’s assignments have taken her around the country and the globe. They include coverage of the 2004 presidential campaign of President George W. Bush, as well as the 2000 presidential campaigns of John McCain and George W. Bush. She provided analysis of the debates, the Republican and Democratic conventions, Election Night, as well as the 2000 Florida recount.

For her “Dateline NBC” story, “D.C. In Crisis,” which aired on September 11, 2001, O’Donnell was honored with the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Breaking News Coverage. In the months following the attacks, she traveled extensively with then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, reporting on the war in Afghanistan and the war on terrorism.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, O’Donnell is a graduate of Georgetown University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. She also holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University. She is married to Geoff Tracy, a restaurateur in Washington, D.C, where they live with their three children.

With Rep. Anthony Weiner‘s wife,Huma Abedin, back in the U.S. from an overseas trip with boss Hillary Clinton–and amid calls from key Democrats, including President Barack Obama to resign–the congressman’s future may be determined within days. NBC’s Luke Russert, on TODAY, said any effort to return to Congress by Weiner would find him surrounded by frustrated and furious fellow Democrats, one of whom said Weiner would be “a man without a country.”

Weiner associates have told reporters the congressman will decide whether or not to step down only after speaking “face to face” with his wife. Weiner’s current location is unknown, with a spokesperson saying only that he has left for treatment–the exact nature of that treatment also unclear.

Watch the latest from NBC News:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What’s in store today? The content of the emails isn’t known, but plans for their distribution are:

Msnbc.com will open the paper records immediately to citizens of Alaska, to whom the records belong. Volunteers from the League of Women Voters and the Retired Public Employees of Alaska will be at Juneau’s Centennial Hall convention center, chewing through bagels and the stacks of documents. The volunteers will look for any significant or interesting emails, stick a post-it note on the page, and pass them to journalists, who also will be reading through the 24,000 pages. Exact copies of the best of those emails will be posted online immediately.

Here’s the story from NBC News:

In a typically over-the-top and viral-ready farewell from TODAY to its departing co-host Meredith Vieira, the NBC morning show’s entire staff, from co-host Matt Lauer to Vieira’s replacement Ann Curry and every member of the show’s production team–all wearing matching t-shirts–took to Rockefeller Plaza in a lip sync performance right out of Glee.

Running arm in arm with her fellow anchors through a huge crowd of fans to the tune of Journey’s arena anthem Don’t Stop Believin,’ Vieira was clearly emotional–and surprised–as her final day at TODAY came to a close Wednesday morning. NBC’s Jimmy Fallon was among the unexpected guests bidding Vieira farewell, along with Carole King, who performed You’ve Got a Friend.

The production number is well worth watching. Here it is, from NBC:

MSNBC’s Rundown co-host Chuck Todd said farewell to his co-host Savannah Guthrie Friday, popping the cork for an on-set champagne toast as Guthrie prepares for her move to NBC’s TODAY. In a tweet about the morning, Guthrie told followers she and Todd were “kickin it like KLG and Hoda,” a reference to TODAY’s Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, who’ve been known to enjoy a late morning mimosa from time to time.

Guthrie moves into the news reader role at TODAY as part of the shuffle that includes Ann Curry replacing the departing Meredith Vieira.

Prior to her work at NPR, Schiller oversaw the operation of NYTimes.com and spent four years as the senior vice president and general manager of the Discovery Times Channel.

Shortly after announcing her departure from NPR amidst the video controversy, Schiller vowed to return to media, saying she planned to remain in journalism. She’s made good on that promise: Schiller is currently in talks with NBC News, where she will oversee digital projects.

All Things Digital brings up a good question regarding her possible hire: If NBC bring her on, will it see a backlash over its suspected political leanings? Put another way: Is Schiller a controversial asset for any potential (supposedly nonpartisan) employer?

NBC News doesn’t have a start date or a name for its new prime-time news show to be led by Nightly News Brian Williams, but it does have an executive producer, as of today. Rome Hartman, who helped create the BBC’s American flagship newscast, BBC World News America, has signed on with NBC in an announcement from the network today.

“We are tremendously excited to have Rome on board,” said Steve Capus, president of NBC News, who also announced that David Corvo, executive producer of NBC’s Dateline, will be elevated into a new role as senior executive producer of primetime news.

Hartman has been a critic of the broadcast and cable news networks, telling Mediaite last December last his mission at the BBC was to provide American viewers a window on the world, not just Washington, New York and Hollywood.

“Our real reason for living at BBC World News America is to bring to an American audience a smart, sophisticated view of events and issues in the world beyond U.S. shores,” Hartman said. “That’s frankly a view that TV viewers in the U.S. have a hard time finding anyplace else, because the cable nets are so relentlessly focused on domestic events and issues. We think that there has never been a time when it’s more important for Americans to understand the wider world, nor a time when it’s harder to do that based on the standard fare of Amercian networks.”

NBC has said the new show will be a showcase not just for Williams to do longer form interviews and stories, but as a platform for other NBC News talent, including someone like Meredith Vieira, whose departure from TODAY has left NBC looking for a way to keep her in the family. The new show is scheduled to debut in the fall.

Williams might as well have said that Netanyahu “will not, as President Obama has called for, start a professional Kitten Skeet Shooting League,” for all the relationship his statement had with reality. President Obama did not call for a return to the ’67 borders, and if Williams didn’t know it, either of the two NBC reporters who attended Jay Carney‘s briefing on the topic, minutes after the Obama/Netanyahu meeting, should have clued him in. Here’s what Carney told reporters that day:

Q    But on the issue of borders, I know the President didn’t specifically bring this up in the pool spray, but Prime Minister Netanyahu did.  He said that going back to the ’67 borders is indefensible.  How does that square off with what the President said yesterday?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, I think what the President said yesterday was quite clear.  The President said the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines, with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states.  That is a formulation that has been understood by parties to these negotiations and by anybody who’s been a close observer of these negotiations in this region for years.  He felt it was important to articulate that.

The security issue here is recognized by the President, was recognized clearly by the President in his speech yesterday and again today in the Oval Office.  He made clear that every state has a right to self-defense, that Israel must be able to defend itself by itself against any threat.  He made clear that security provisions must also be robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism, to stop the infiltration of weapons, and to provide effective border security.

And I think that, again, anybody who knows this issue knows that this has been an understood starting point for resolving one of the four major issues between these two peoples, which is territory, for a long time.

Q    But I guess the question is then what is happening today on the U.S. side –

MR. CARNEY:  Do you mean, did they resolve the Arab-Israeli — I mean, the Palestinian-Israel negotiations today?  No.

Q    Is there progress being made to get the Israeli side to move closer to the U.S. position on the border issue?

MR. CARNEY:  I think, again, there is nothing that the President said yesterday that contradicts the 2004 letters that were exchanged between President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon, or what Prime Minister Netanyahu said today in the Oval Office.  We — the President said in his speech that a starting point for resolving the territorial issue is the 1967 lines, with mutually agreed swaps and security for both nations.  I think that’s — there’s nothing in that statement and the President’s speech yesterday that is contradicted by what the Prime Minister said.

Q    So why is he so mad?

MR. CARNEY:  I’m not sure that I accept that he was mad.  I think they had an excellent meeting.

Q    He said it’s indefensible.

MR. CARNEY:  No, no, he said the borders — first of all, it’s important to understand — I mean, I shouldn’t have to parse words from the President or the Prime Minister.  He said the borders were indefensible.  That’s an issue about security –

There are legitimate grounds for criticism here, although O’Donnell’s explication of the necessity of Netanyahu’s posture renders much of it moot, but there is no wiggle room on the fact that President Obama did not do what Williams said he did. Compounding the error is the fact that, despite heated ratings competition among cable news channels, they represent only a fraction of the broadcast networks’ audience size. When they get it wrong, tens of millions of Americans get it wrong.

Newt Gingrich‘s refusal to discuss in detail his reported half-million dollar interest-free account at high end jeweler Tiffany has entered the next phase of the media cycle, having crossed from Sunday morning show questioning into the realm of late night comedy, and now, on this morning’s TODAY, the fact-checking and follow-up on the political fallout.

Comparing the political impact of the story to John Edwards’ $400 haircuts, NBC News chief investigative correspondent Lisa Myers said reports of massive luxury spending–and the use of sweetheart deals unavailable to most consumers–may carry a significant political cost:

Political analysts say just as John Edwards became defined by his $400 haircuts, Newt Gingrich risks being known for bling, which may make it even harder for the candidate to relate to voters struggling in a fragile economy and working to pay off their own credit line at Sears.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The New York City hotel maid who accused IMF chief Domique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault will testify before a grand jury sometime today, according to her lawyer, Jeffrey Shapiro. Shapiro, who appeared on NBC’s TODAY, described his client as a woman who’s not only “a rape victim, the victim of a physical assault,” but also a woman who has not had “a moment of peace” since she reported the attack to hotel security. Shapiro says client has yet to return to her home, but is in “a safe place” with her fifteen-year old daughter as the criminal case moves forward.

Shapiro says his client’s a single mom who came to the U.S. for “a better life,” and has worked at the hotel for three years. A native of Guinea, Shapiro says his client comes “from a part of the world where laws were few and far between” and now, accusing a tremendously powerful man of a crime that could send him to prison, “she fears not only for herself, but maybe more importantly for her daughter.”

Watch the interview here, from NBC News: