ABC News has announced significant appointments within its organization, with Bonnie McLean taking on the role of Director and Los Angeles Bureau Chief, Dimitrije Stejic as Director and London Bureau Chief, and Andrea Owen assuming the position of Executive Director and Deputy Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief.

Katie den Daas, the VP of Global Newsgathering at ABC News, informed the staff about the promotions.

Bonnie McLean, who has been a part of ABC News for nearly 25 years, previously served as the Deputy Bureau Chief and will now report to Michael Kreisel in her new role. “Bonnie has been instrumental in our news coverage on the west coast, championing stories from everywhere between Los Angeles and Dallas, and helping to grow our L.A. bureau,” said den Daas. Previously, David Herndon held the position of L.A. Bureau Chief.

Dimitrije Stejic, who joined ABC News in 1992, has been appointed as the London Bureau Chief and will report to Kirit Radia, the Director of International News at ABC News. Den Daas described Stejic as an integral part of the international news team for over 30 years and highlighted his expertise in planning and executing coverage for 13 Royal events. Katie den Daas previously held the position of London Bureau Chief.

With a tenure of 30 years at ABC News, starting as an intern in London, Andrea Owen has been promoted to the role of Executive Director and Deputy Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief. She will report to Jonathan Greenberger. Den Daas acknowledged Owen’s consistent contributions on both the editorial and operational fronts.

“I am confident that Bonnie, Dimitrije and Andrea will continue to bring immense value to our coverage, as we continue to collaborate across shows and platforms each and every day,” den Daas said. 

Meet The Press host Chuck Todd will step aside in September, calling the decision a voluntary one. NewsNation host Dan Abrams isn’t exactly buying that.

During Dan Abrams Live Monday, the eponymous host argued that it’s like both Todd and NBC News are lying about the circumstances behind Todd’s departure.

“That a news operation that is supposed to be seeking out the truth and providing its viewers and readers with accurate information, calling out fact from fiction,” said Abrams. “And yet, they are almost certainly creating a fictionalized version of what happened.”

Abrams then noted that under Todd, Meet The Press has gone from the most-watched Sunday political affairs program to being in third place behind offerings from CBS and ABC.

“They had already canceled Todd’s daily show on MSNBC, and NBC was probably under pressure to replace a White male host of a show that was both suffering in the ratings and which was blasted by many on social media.”

He added that while he likes Todd, he doesn’t believe the host would voluntarily “relinquish his highest profile role with the 2024 election around the corner”.

Abrams’ opinion is backed up by previous media reporting that claimed as far back as last August that Todd would be replaced by Kristen Welker, who was simultaneously announced as his successor.

While announcing his departure from Meet The Press this weekend, moderator Chuck Todd said he would rather “leave a little bit too soon than stay a tad bit too long.” That statement drew a strong reaction from Fox News host Jesse Watters.

During Monday’s edition of Jesse Watters Primetime, the Fox News host openly mocked Todd’s comments, laughing out loud in the process.

“Chuck Todd thinks he’s leaving too soon!” Watters joked. “Oh man, imagine if Chuck Todd’s guests came on this show, it would change the course of the country. ‘Hey, senator, why do you want men changing in your daughters’ locker rooms?’ ‘Mr. Secretary, do you drive an electric car?’ ‘Mr. President, why do you keep calling everybody racist?’”

Watters then said Todd turned the venerable NBC News program into a “safe space for the most powerful people in America”. He then pointed out questions that former moderator Tim Russert asked to both presidential candidates in 2004. He argued Todd would never hit “both sides” the way Russert did.

“Meet the Press used to cover what Chuck Todd today would call a conspiracy theory,” Watters continued. “Do you think Chuck would ask Kerry a secret society question? Chuck Todd doesn’t even know Hunter’s laptop is real.”