Inside Nicolle Wallace's very private maternity leave with baby Isabella (2024)

MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace has been on a very private maternity leave with her baby Isabella since the end of last year.

In the fall, Nicolle welcomed her daughter via surrogate at the age of 51 and has since been adjusting to life with a newborn.

Fans have begged the political analyst to return to the network news program, though Nicolleappears to be in no hurry to do so and has been enjoying bonding with Isabella instead.

In November, Nicolle revealed she welcomed her second baby when she gave the huge life update in a phone call on Deadline: White House and confessed how she was able tohide the news.

Speaking onMSNBC's show, she announced that she and herhusband Michael Schmidt, 40, had a baby.

"I have not looked at my phone in a week," Nicolle said of her time away from the program.

READ MORE ON NICOLLE WALLACE

WHERE'S NIC? Nicolle Wallace 'has not given MSNBC bosses a return date' in maternity leave

WHERE'S NICOLE? Nicolle Wallace's fans fear host will 'never come back' after having baby

"Mike and Liam and I are all smitten with her," she said, referencing her other child, an 11-year-old boy she shares with herex-husband.

"Our dogs are still rendering judgment," she playfully added.

"We were able to keep it a secret, obviously, because I wasn't pregnant," Nicolle revealed.

The View alum said she was elated to share the happy news with her viewers and, at the time, didn't mention whether or not sheadopted the babyor had it throughsurrogacy.

During the program,Nicolleshared a photo of the precious newborn, namedIsabella Sloan Schmidt, and said she had to step away to be with her family but greatly missed hosting the program.

"There are pros and cons to being a mom again at 51," she admitted.

"You are tired. I was up all night last night and I was like 'Oh wow, yeah this is what 3:45 am looks like.'

"But it's a blessing to be focused again on what has always grounded me, and that is my beautiful family," she said.

"My son Liam is eleven and was in the hospital and scooped her up in his arms and was calmer than we were at the beginning.

"He has a knack for the sway and the 'shh,' the things you do no matter where you are when you have a baby. I found myself at the bank today swaying without Izzy in my arms."

She said that her viewers and the show are her other family and that she would "never leave in a moment this dire."

Wallace plans to take a few months off to be with Izzy and her family.

Deadline: White House shared aclipof Nicolle's announcement on X, formerly Twitter.

Fans gushed over the news in the reply section with one person writing, "Congrats to Nicolle Wallace on her new baby daughter. What a surprise!"

ONE DAY ONLY!

In December, Nicolle announced a return date to MSNBC's lineup after two weeks off the air but revealed the return to her hosting duties on Deadline: White House was only temporary.

"I will be back tomorrow for an important conversation day only ! (Then back to my family!) Hope to see you there!"Nicollereplied onX, formerly Twitter, to a viewer's question on when she will return to MSNBC.

The broadcaster returned tothe news program for an interview with former Representative Liz Cheney.

The MSNBC host dished the latest on her life outside and briefly discussed her new normal shortly after the interview.

Chatting with Ari Melber as she handed viewers over to his show, The Beat with Ari Melber, the proud mom said, "We've worked out the family dynamic on family nights."

She added that she is "so appreciative" of the support and the well wishes she has received from viewers.

"You can come visit anytime for bottle time or burping or feeding that fill up my days now," she told Melber.

FAN REACTION

Fans were thrilled to see Nicolle back on Deadline, with many rushing to share their appreciation for the star.

"Yay for Nicolle Wallace, back for the day," one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"You have been sorely missed."

"How nice to see@nicolewallace," another said.

By January, however, die-hard fans of Nicolle were eager for the commentator to return to the show.

At that time, Nicolle had been absent from Deadline: White House, which airs on weekdays at 4 pm ET, for about 10 weeks - since November 6.

Many viewers explained onX that they specifically watch the show to see her and want her to come back as soon as possible.

Anytime the show airs fans beg for her return.

“Does anyone else miss Nicolle Wallace?” one usersaid.

“Anyone know when Nicolle Wallace will be back? I miss her!” another agreed.

"Nicolle Wallace needs to get back now!” one posted.

"Nicolle Wallace never misses," this user said.

SOURED SUBSTITUTE

Alicia Menendez andAli Velshihave temporarily replaced Nicolle while she's on leave.

Just last week, however, it was suggested that MSNBC execs are not happy with Alicia as her father is suffering from major legal woes.

Sources close to the network's production have told The U.S. Sun that Senator Bob Menendez's ongoing legal issues have cast an unfavorable light on his daughter's position at the cable news network as she continues to fill in forNicolle.

The senator is facing a slew of charges including bribery and conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.

Alicia, 40, has been regularly filling in forNicolle while she's on maternity leavefrom Deadline Whitehouse, as has fellow anchor Ali, in the 4 and 5 pm blocks.

"Nicolle has been busy at home enjoying her time and getting into the groove of being a new mother again, so she hasn't bothered to get involved in the drama around Alicia in her timeslot," an insider said.

“It feels like MSNBC bosses are burying their heads in the sand, hoping this will go away - it won’t. In fact, it is going to get worse.

“How can MSNBC criticize Donald Trump and his legal issues when their own anchor's father is accused of accepting bribes and gold bars?”

The insider continued that on top of the optics issue at her job, the scandal is a real-life problem for Alicia who has to deal with the very public allegations against her father on a more personal level.

“Alicia is sweating it. She got the job because of her dad and will probably lose it because of her dad too," the insider added.

Bob and his wife Nadine Menendez were first indicted this past fall for an alleged bribery scheme, however, two superseding indictments have since been handed down for the senator.

BABY PHOTOS

In December, Nicolle revealed hilarious photos of her new "baby" on social media, leaving fans in stitches.

She warmed her fans' hearts with adorable new photos weeks after she announced the birth of hernewborn daughter.

The MSNBC host was smiling ear to ear in her kitchen while holding her dog in her arms.

"Baby pic," she captioned the sweetphotoon Instagram.

Wallace kept it casual, wearing a gray T-shirt and black pants with a white sweater wrapped around her waist and cozy slippers.

Fans were happy to see Wallace looking as jovial as ever.

RETURN DATE

Nicolle has revealed her return date from maternity leave to her MSNBC colleagues, The U.S. Sun can exclusively report.

One insider familiar with the inner workings at the cable news network shared that a date has been set for the 51-year-old beloved anchor's return.

"Plans for coverage around her return to the anchor desk has begun, as Nicolle has shared her highly-anticipated date with execs," one insider said.

That insider added thatNicolle's return date is still being kept as a tightly held secret thus far.

Another insider previously shared that there has been some grumbling about the timing ofNicolle's maternity leave.

"This is election season and Nicolle being absent has left a huge hole in the 4 and 5 pm hours, while her show Deadline: White House has been helmed by fill-in anchors who are keeping the seat warm until she returns," the insider shared.

While Nicolle has been out, the show's numbers have slipped with therotating replacement hostsin her seat.

"The replacement hosts are not delivering ratings numbers even close to what Nicolle delivers," the insider continued.

Deadline: White House ratings have plummeted since Nicolle went on maternity leave, according to Adweek's TVNewser stats.

With Nicolle at the helm, Deadline: White House typically rivaled ratings-rich Fox News in the time slots.

Since her leave, however, the show's numbers often struggle to even match with CNN in the same blocks.

The insider quipped, "Ironically, her leave is going to help her in the long run and they will no longer take her for granted."

"She’s loving being at home with baby and doesn’t miss work one bit. She’s not rushing back," they added at the time.

FAMILY MATTERS

Nicolle married Michael Schmidtin April 2022 in an intimate ceremony with immediate family.

The couple first went public with their relationship in 2019.

Michael is an MSNBC contributor,Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and investigative reporter for The New York Times.

He coversWashingtonwith a focus on tracking and explaining high-profile federal investigations, according to his bio on the news site.

Read More on The US Sun

PANIC STATIONS Woman tells of moment she knew masked 'Batman' attacker was her husband

'DESPICABLE' Diddy's ex Kim's dad wonders what his daughter went through after attack video

Nicolle was married to the former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Mark Wallace, for 14 years before the pair divorced in 2019.

Theformer coupleshares one son, Liam Wallace.