THIS WEEK ON MEET THE PRESS REPORTS: “CONCESSIONS: THE POLITICS OF LOSING”

Chuck Todd is joined by experts and writers of past concession speeches to explore the purpose, process and the legacy that the speeches help build.

Tune in tonight, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC News NOW and Peacock.

Five days after Joe Biden was declared the President-elect, President Trump has yet to concede. This week’s episode of Meet the Press Reports looks back at past concession speeches, the purpose they serve and the impact that they have on the legacy of those on the losing side of an election.

“Politically speaking, the concession speech is central to who we are as a country, and who we aspire to be,” Chuck Todd says. Todd adds that it is “a once-every-four-years reminder that what we have in common is far greater than what divides us.”

The episode explores how concession speeches are deeply ingrained in the politics of the country. Todd speaks with past speechwriters about what makes for an artful concession speech and the speechwriting process; plus a discussion with presidential experts on the ability of concession speeches to help a country move forward in unity post-election.

In the episode, Todd is joined by speechwriters, presidential historians and election experts, including:

  • Eli Attie, speechwriter for the Gore 2000 campaign
  • Mike Barnicle, political commentator and NBC News contributor
  • Michael Beschloss, NBC News presidential historian and author of “Presidents of War”
  • Lindsay Hayes, director of speechwriting for the Romney 2012 campaign
  • Peggy Noonan, columnist for The Wall Street Journal and NBC News political analyst
  • Mark Salter, McCain 2008 campaign aide and speechwriter
  • Dan Schwerin, director of speechwriting for the Hillary Clinton 2016 campaign

Meet the Press Reports, anchored by NBC News Political Director and Meet the Press Moderator Chuck Todd is available on NBC News NOW, streaming live and on demand across OTT platforms, including Peacock, NBCUniversal’s new streaming service.

The once-weekly 30-minute program focuses on a single topic explored through the Meet the Press lens and takes viewers through deep-dives on pivotal election issues, historical moments and under-reported political issues with long-form interviews, expert discussions, historical archives, and more.

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For more information, contact:

Joya Manasseh
NBC News
e: Joya.Manasseh@nbcuni.com

Claudia Meyer-Samargia
NBC News
e: Claudia.MeyerSamargia@nbcuni.com

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