Ali Vitali, a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering politics and Capitol Hill for NBC News, is set to make a significant career move. She will be transitioning from her correspondent role in Washington to become the new anchor of “Way Too Early,” the 5 a.m. program that precedes the popular “Morning Joe” show on the cable-news outlet. Jonathan Lemire, the current anchor of the program, will shift to providing analysis and commentary during the 9 a.m. hour of “Morning Joe.” Vitali is scheduled to start her new role on January 6.
Expressing her excitement about the new opportunity, Vitali stated that she is looking forward to anchoring a show that has been led by some of the brightest reporters in Washington. She emphasized her commitment to continue delivering fresh reporting, news-making interviews, and insider perspectives from Capitol Hill and across Washington.
Vitali’s journey at NBC News began in 2012 when she joined MSNBC as an intern, eventually moving up the ranks as an editor and graphics producer. Over the years, she covered various political events, including the Trump campaign as an embed and later transitioning to White House and broader political coverage. Notable moments in her career include interviewing former presidential candidate Nikki Haley on the sensitive topic of in vitro fertilization and reporting on the activities of the January 6th Select Committee.
The decision to promote Vitali to the early-morning anchor role underscores MSNBC’s continued reliance on the work of traditional journalists like those at NBC News. This move comes at a time when NBCUniversal parent company Comcast is planning to spin off its cable properties, raising questions about how MSNBC and CNBC will operate without direct access to NBC News resources. The spin-off is expected to take place within the next 12 months.
In 2022, Vitali authored a book titled “Electable: Why America Hasn’t Put A Woman In the White House…Yet,” drawing from her experiences on the 2020 campaign trail to explore the challenges and double standards faced by female presidential candidates. She is a graduate of Tulane University.
“Way Too Early” has been a staple on the MSNBC schedule since 2009, originally anchored by Willie Geist. Over the years, the show has seen various hosts, including Brian Schactman and Thomas Roberts. In 2016, the show was rebranded as “Morning Joe: First Look” before returning to its original title in 2020 with Kasie Hunt at the helm. Lemire took over as anchor in 2021, paving the way for Vitali to take on the role in 2022.
With Vitali’s expertise and dedication to journalism, her transition to anchoring “Way Too Early” signals a new chapter in her career and a continued commitment to delivering insightful news coverage to viewers.
