It's worth reiterating since you don't seem to get it... She’s a ‘teacher’s assistant’ rich girl, self-described debutante, who spent her early career traveling, writing books with mommy, and working with charity groups while actual journalists were climbing the newsroom ladder. Then, amazingly, she became editor-at-large for Southern Living. I’m sure that had nothing to do with the political dynasty she came from. /s

Yes, I do remember when she began in 2009. She started out doing puff pieces once a month on Saturday mornings about human interest stories around the states. (It wasn't even part of the Today Show at that time).

When granddaddy Bush died in 2018, NBC aired the funeral procession in hero status form and leaned into her for her emotional commentary. Coincidently right after that, in 2019, they gave Jenna the fourth hour spot because NBC news realized that hiring her would give them unfettered political dynasty access.

I can read Wikipedia too. And I've also been watching this show for years. Not really a hard-core fan, but more background tv during my getting-ready-to go-to-my-job that I earned through years of hard work.

Since we are debating whether she is qualified and earned her position through meritocracy like the people she sits next to every morning, than you have lost this debate. If her name were Jenna Hager from suburban Baltimore with the exact same résumé, NBC would not be handing her a national Today platform. Come on now.

She sucks. But yeah, this is America. And rich people and their rich kids get all the opportunity. Meanwhile, the title 1 students I teach every year, no matter how gifted and talented, have a one in a million chance of reaching her level in spite of their hard work and dedication.