In a May 2025 interview with Variety, Holt said his decision was shaped by many long conversations with his wife, Carol Hagen, and a growing desire to pursue more long-form storytelling.

Why is Lester Holt leaving 'Nightly News?' Holt, in a Variety interview published May 8, said the choice to leave "Nightly" for "Dateline" was about getting to do more in-depth reporting.

Velshi transitioned into talking about the infamous Lester Holt interview in which Trump said he fired former FBI director James Comey over the Russia investigation.

Holt added that shifting away from the fast-paced format of "NBC Nightly News" would give him the flexibility to produce more in-depth stories. "I want to be able to tell a producer, 'Yes, I'll be ...

Holt has anchored "NBC Nightly News" since 2015. Lester Holt anchored his final “NBC Nightly News” broadcast on May 30 as he shifts his full focus to NBC’s “Dateline.” ...